THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE original Pebble Beach road race was a central theme of this year’s annual Concours d’Elegance at the celebrated Californian resort – albeit a year late after last year’s Covid-enforced cancellation.
The first Del Monte Trophy race meeting took place on November 5 1950, using 1.8 miles of public roads around Pebble Beach (although the course was subsequently extended to 2.1 miles). It cost $15 to enter and attracted a blend of Jaguars, Allards, MGs and locally built specials. Future world champion Phil Hill was one of the inaugural victors, heading fellow Jaguar XK120 racer Don Parkinson to win the 25-lap Pebble Beach Cup. The town’s first concours took place simultaneously, but was largely secondary to the racing.