Two Italian car events vie for your amore on Monterey weekend

Last week we heard that Concorso Italiano, everyone's favorite Italian car happening, had been bought and was on its way to a new location on a golf course on the Monterey Peninsula. Now it turns out there are two Italian car events scheduled for the same day--Aug. 14--on the same peninsula.

This is good news for you, the Italian-car-event consumer.

On Tuesday, official word came in that an Italian-car gathering called La Dolce Vita will be held at the Black Horse golf course, site of the old Concorso, on the Friday before the Pebble Beach Concours. Concorso Italiano, meanwhile, will also be held that day on a Monterey Peninsula golf course to be named soon.

What is going on?

It started last year. The Concorso Italiano was held at the Marina City airport north of Monterey. Its traditional location, Black Horse golf course in Seaside, had been closed in 2008 for construction.

You may recall that the Marina City airport site was a little less than spectacular in the minds of many attendees. All the cars were parked on acres and acres of sprawling concrete, and there was something of a fierce wind howling over the tarmac. Fierce wind and lots of concrete are good if you're trying to take off in an airplane but less good if you're trying for an amiable stroll through beautiful cars.

So within hours of seeing last year's Concorso, the guys who would form La Dolce Vita met with the Black Horse golf course principals to see if they could work something out for 2009. They had an agreement in principle that same day.

La Dolce Vita is modeled after the original Concorso Italiano, with music throughout the day, picnics on the green, scads of stands selling automobilia and plenty of the Etceterini automobiles true Italian car lovers love. The staff of La Dolce includes four members of the original Concorso Italiano team.

Concorso Italiano, meanwhile, announced that it was close to signing a deal with a new location for this year's fest.

"It has not been easy, but we have zeroed in on a location that should be very workable," said Concorso Italiano co-owner Tom McDowell. "It is a well-known golf course, well located, with excellent access, terrific on-site parking for spectators and in a very sunny area of Monterey. The golf course management and I have agreed on the terms and we are in the process of 'inking the deal.' As you might guess, a venue of this caliber is considerably more expensive than in prior years, but we are holding the line on ticket prices. I should have a confirmation before the end of this week if not sooner. This is sensational news."

Will this mean more choice for the Italian-car lover, or will it be like finding a sanctioning body for heavyweight boxing or world wrestling? Maybe both. In any case, we can't wait till August!

By Mark Vaughn