Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Revving Up

Reprint from ksbw.com


Every year, on the third Sunday of August, 200 of the most rare and priceless cars and motorcycles in the world roll cruise onto the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach. Tire meets turf for one of the most competitive events in the automotive world: The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Car enthusiast enjoy wandering among exquisitely restored cars with Pebble Beach's coastline as a backdrop. Concours automobiles and motorcycles are judged based on their historical accuracy, technical merit and style from the grand prize, Best In Show.
 

PHOTOS: 2011 Monterey Auto Week 
The 2011 featured marques and special classes include: Mercedes-Benz and 125 Years of the Automobile, Stutz Centennial, Ferrari 250 GTO, Edwardian Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts and Italian Motorcycles.

During the week leading up to Sunday's competition, innovative concepts and new cars are unveiled for the first time, antique cars with multimillion dollar price tags are auctioned off, and glistening one-of-a-kind automobiles are paraded around town.

There are tons of car events going on every day this week. In addition to Sunday's Concours d’Elegance, this week's biggest auto events are:

Wednesday:
Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center
Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center is one of the most exclusive lifestyle events of its kind in the country. The one night event privately kicks off the World-Class automobile week held each August on the Monterey Peninsula. With an "A-List" of VIP guests from Hollywood celebrities to Captains of Industry, this "Jet Set" crowd arrives in first-class style, to feast on the latest offerings from some of the world's top luxury brands in a relaxed and elegant party setting.

Thursday:
Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance Presented By Rolex
The Pebble Beach Tour D'Elegance is open to all entrants in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Spectators are invited to view the tour at key points along the route, particularly along Ocean Avenue in Carmel. Admission is free. Schedule: 7-8 a.m. cars line up near Collins Field in Pebble Beach, 8:30 a.m. tour departs, tracing portions of 17-Mile Drive and nearby scenic roads, 11:30 a.m.-noon tour arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea, noon-2 p.m. cars are displayed on Ocean Avenue, 2-2:30 p.m. tour returns to Pebble Beach.

Friday:
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Held at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club at 8205 Valley Greens Dr. in Carmel, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. "The Quail provides an unequalled lifestyle experience that combines landmark automobiles, a culinary presentation able to please the most demanding palate, a setting contrasting rolling green lawns and rugged mountain peaks and the renewing of old friendships and the making of new ones in an incomparable atmosphere of serenity, luxury and exclusivity."
Wednesday-Saturday:
RM Monterey

"RM Auctions will hold its annual Monterey auction featuring 145 of the world’s finest automobiles and spanning a magnificent range of sports and racing cars, coach built classics and unique concepts." The auction is held at Portola Hotel & Spa and Monterey Conference Center at 2 Portola Plaza in Monterey.

Wednesday:
Automobilia Monterey 9th Annual International Expo
"The largest automobilia show in America, and the only time during Concours/Race Week to find these top international dealers in a single venue." Admission is $15 and it runs from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the ballroom of the Embassy Suites hotel in Monterey.
Saturday-Sunday:

Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company
Held at 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, within the Pebble Beach grounds at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. "Gooding & Company is recognized the world over as a leading exotic and rare car auction house specializing in the finest antique, classic, sports and racing cars. We have consistently achieved record-breaking results including the highest exotic car sales."

United States Starts Hosting America's Cup Races Begining in 2012

Are you as excited as we are to learn that America's Cup will be hosted here in the U.S. for the first time since 1995?  As boating enthusiasts, us folks here at Horizon Income are beyond ourselves with joy! There is no more beautiful place on this earth to view the magnificent boats than on San Francisco Bay. Book your hotels early!  Here's a reprint of the Golden Gate Yacht Club press release to give you a little more info.  And if you need a quote on your boat insurance don't forget to check us out first at http://horizonincome.com/boat+insurance.html

2013 America's Cup in San FranciscoPress Release San Francisco, December 31, 2010

California here we come. Image: 2011 Gilles Martin-Raget/americascup.com Competition for oldest trophy in international sport once again returns to American waters. San Francisco has been selected as the host venue for the 34th America's Cup. An official celebration event will be hosted in San Francisco on January 5th, event location details to be announced. "We sought a venue that fulfills our promise to showcase the best sailors in the world competing on the fastest boats," said Richard Worth, Chairman, America's Cup Event Authority. "And hosting the America's Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise." "We thank Mayor Newsom, Board President Chiu, Supervisor Mirkarimi and all of the Board of Supervisors, the staff at City Hall and the Port Authority, Mark Buell and San Francisco America's Cup Organizing Committee, and all who have worked so diligently on securing the bid," Worth continued. "We look forward to working closely with City of San Francisco over the coming months to create a world-class America's Cup event, and a large and lasting beneficial impact on the City." The world-famous San Francisco Bay will be home to the 2013 America's Cup Finals and the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup, as well as an America's Cup World Series event in 2012. This will be the first time the America's Cup has been hosted in the United States since 1995. "Today is one of great celebration, with San Francisco winning the right to host the America's Cup, and all of the economic benefit, jobs and excitement that comes with it," said Mayor Gavin Newsom. "San Francisco is the best place on Earth to host an event of this stature, and we could not be more proud to be the city that brings the America's Cup back home to the United States." Independent studies show that the America's Cup delivers the third largest economic impact in sport to host countries, behind the Olympic Games and soccer's World Cup. The 34th America's Cup is projected to pump an estimated $1.4 billion dollars into the San Francisco region. "As a native San Franciscan, I grew up sailing in front of the City. Racing for the America's Cup in San Francisco is something I have dreamt of my whole life," said Paul Cayard, CEO of Sweden's Artemis Racing, a challenger for the 34th America's Cup. "By hosting sailing's most important event in the Bay, the world will see sailing as it never has before. As a team, Artemis Racing is particularly looking forward to competing in San Francisco." Racing will be held on the iconic San Francisco Cityfront and be visible from world-renown tourist destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, Crissy Field, the Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf. An influx of millions of tourists is expected for the Challenger Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Finals in late 2013. "My support for San Francisco hosting the America's Cup goes beyond the opportunity to see our team competing on home waters," said Russell Coutts, CEO, Oracle Racing, the current America's Cup defending team. "We are excited to sail for our sport's greatest trophy, on a stretch of water legendary among sailors worldwide." The Race Village will be constructed on Piers 19 and 29, with the team bases at and around Pier 30/32. As part of the plan, the America's Cup Event Authority will redevelop these piers as well as the surrounding infrastructure to support the racing, while rehabilitating the piers for the enjoyment of generations of San Franciscans to come. With a goal of creating the most dynamic America's Cup in history for fans and participants, changes have been introduced to the 34th edition. Enhancements include the introduction of groundbreaking new 72' wing-sailed catamarans capable of speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour, new race formats and rules, and a transformed media and online broadcasting approach to enable an interactive viewer experience. In the summer of 2011, America's Cup teams will commence racing in the new America's Cup World Series in the new wing-sailed AC45 catamaran. The America's Cup World Series calendar of events will be published in early 2011. http://horizonincome.com/boat+insurance.html

Taking Care of Your Boat Engine

 

 Engine Exhaust Manifolds

   Marine engine exhaust manifolds and risers must be inspected and replaced regularly or they can fail and cause catastrophic damage to the power plant. Risers and manifolds are the part of the engine that allows exhaust gases and cooling water to be discharged from the system during operation.

   Manifolds and risers are water-jacketed, which means the water chamber is separated from the gas section by a dividing wall. Over time, hot exhaust gases and raw cooling water, especially salt water, corrode the chamber allowing the water to enter the dry side of the part. When this happens, the water can fill the engine, causing all kinds of damage that can put the engine out of commission permanently. The failure often occurs when the engine is running, which means the misdirected water enters the cylinders when the pistons are moving. Because water does not compress, the connecting rods, push rods, and engine block end up distorting and breaking. Sometimes the damage is so severe that the block is not even suitable as a core for rebuilding. To prevent damage of this magnitude, many manufacturers recommend replacing risers every three years and manifolds every five years. Although changing these parts this often may be may be questionable, inspecting them often is not.

   One telltale sign of impending failure is rust around the manifold to riser joint. This joint will often leak during operation, because the water passages are partially obstructed and cannot handle the volume of water that is pumped through the engine. Another sign of a failing riser is an engine that overheats. Many boat owners spend a lot of time and money replacing water pumps, exchangers, and thermostats only to find that their engines still overheat. A competent marine repair facility can pressure test manifolds and risers to check for leaks. Visual inspection is also valuable.

   If you take good care of your manifolds and risers, you’ll save money, and maybe even your boat, in the long run.

   For more information go to http://horizonincome.com/boat+insurance.html