Z356

I am starting this thread to provide general information & some local recommendations for those Rennlisters planning to attend. The 2014 PCA Parade will be held this year in Monterey, CA from June 15th to the 21st.

http://parade2014.pca.org

http://parade2014.pca.org/docs/form_event_gantt2014.pdf

Registration started last Tuesday - April 1st. I registered today and I was already entrant #1008! So if you are thinking of coming, I suggest you register ASAP. For those planning to come for the weekend & just attend the Monday Concours d'Elegance, I suggest you get your hotel reservations in order!

Doing a full PCA Parade is an acquired taste. If you have never attended, this one might be worth considering due to its beautiful location & because it will draw some of California's nicest Porsches to its Concours on Monday, June 16th! For those that want to test the waters before committing to a whole week of Porsche activities with perfect strangers, I suggest you attend the Monday Concours. I recommend you arrive on Saturday or Sunday to see the entrants clean, polish & prep their cars at the headquarter hotel (Hyatt Garden Inn) for the Concours on Monday. Some of the best memories I have of past Parades are of talking to the participants as they prepared their cars for the Concours! Some of the more 'fanatical' folks will arrive with their Porsches on Thursday & Friday and work on their cars for three/four straight days to get it ready for Monday's Concours! It's a rather unique automotive ritual that you will probably NOT experience in any other car club event in the world!

The last time we had a Parade in Northern California was 'Sacramento' in 2000. And before that, 'Monterey' in 1990. So this will be something special. The 2015 Parade will be held in far-away French Lick, Indiana. And it will be a while before another Parade is hosted near us here in Northern California. So Carpe Diem!

Hope others join in with their own comments & recommendations to help Rennlisters get the most from their attendance at this year's PCA Parade in Monterey.

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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John 996 TT Cab

I got up at 2 am Tuesday the 1st (Pacific Time)d and registered and got number 365. Got my hotel reservation where I wanted at 8 am the 1st.

Z356

That is interesting. So in two hours they already had 365 entrants! I registered two days later and my number was 1008! So it's going to be one of the best attended Porsche Parades ever! For those Rennlisters that live in Northern California, I recommend showing up for the Concours on Monday June 16! Anyone will be allowed to see that - you don't need to register at the Parade to witness that incredible car show!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Z356

These are local contacts that some of you might be in need during your visit to Monterey Peninsula for the Porsche Parade June 15th - 21st, 3014:

Brushless Car Wash: El Estero. A few blocks away from the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey.
http://www.elesterocarwash.com

Porsche Dealer: 'Porsche of Monterey' is located in Seaside, just north of Monterey & the Hyatt.
http://monterey.porschedealer.com/ab...directions.php

Local Mechanics that can work on early Porsches:
David Loop: Mobile (831) 238-3189 for 356, 912 & early 911
Jim Fowler: Mobile (831) 229-6294 for VW, 356 & 912.

Stereo/Electronics/Alarm issues: Tim Haines (997 Turbo owner) Mobile: 831-204-0831
https://www.kartunes.com

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Homeles

I don't know if I can read anymore about this parade. I'll be in San Francisco working on a project 7 days a week starting on the 9th. No way will I be able to get there. This really sucks!

To all you going, enjoy it for me. And if someone could pick me up a t-shirt, I would be forever in your debt!

Z356

In case you are new to the area and would like some recommendations, here are some of my favorite restaurants in the area after 14 years of living in Carmel:

My favorite French restaurants in Carmel:

Andre's Bouchee on Mission between 7th & Ocean.
http://www.andresbouchee.com

Casanova on 5th Ave between Mission & San Carlos
http://www.casanovarestaurant.com

La Bicyclette on Dolores at 7th
http://www.labicycletterestaurant.com

*****
My favorite Italian restaurants in Carmel:

La Balena on Junipero between 6th & 5th
http://labalenacarmel.com

Lucca on Dolores between 7th & Ocean
http://www.cantinettaluca.com

DaGiovanni on Lincoln between 6th & 5th
http://www.threecarmelrestaurants.co...-giovanni.html

*****
My favorite Sushi restaurants in Carmel:

Akaoni on Mission between 6th & 5th.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/akaoni-carmel-by-the-sea-2

Sushi Heaven on Dolores between 7th & 8th
http://www.carmel.com/sushi-heaven-b266407

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Other recommended dining restaurants in Carmel:

Dametra on Ocean at Lincoln (Middle Eastern)
http://dametracafe.com

Christopher's on Lincoln between 6th & 5th (American)
http://christophersrestaurantcarmel.com

Mission Ranch on 26270 Dolores Street behind the Carmel Mission. (American) Clint's only remaining restaurant in Carmel. Don't bother with the one he sold long ago - Hog's Breath.
http://www.missionranchcarmel.com/restaurant.htm

Also late evening music / piano bar (Caution: Cougars* known to prowl)

*****
My favorite breakfast places in Carmel:

The Cottage on Lincoln between 7th & Ocean
http://www.cottagerestaurant.com

Em Le's on Dolores between 6th & 5th
http://emlescarmel.com/home/4540688974

*****
A favorite 'Classic' place for afternoon drinks or evening music in Carmel!

The Cypress Inn on Lincoln at 7th
http://www.cypress-inn.com

http://www.cypress-inn.com/carmel-mu...ypress-inn.pdf

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Best 'Happy Hour' (drinks/appetizers at low prices) in Carmel!

Il Fornaio on Ocean at Monte Verde (4:30 to 6:00 PM)
http://www.ilfornaio.com/?page=138&restaurant_id=3145

Vesuvio on 6th at Junipero (4:00 to 6:00 PM) Go to the rooftop!
http://chefpepe.com/restaurants/vesuvio/

Next I'll post about my favorite Monterey County restaurants outside of Carmel!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

*Cougars: 'An older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, to an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie or milf.' Source: Urban Dictionary

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Suzy991

When I see that list of restaurants, I somehow get the feeling that your kitchen isn't used very much Eduardo


I would love to experience an event like that!

To everyone that is participating or even watching it, enjoy and have a great time!

chuck911

Kudo's Eduardo for promoting Parade- and Carmel! I was down there for the Historics when Porsche was the featured marque a few years back. Unlike many places where someone shows photo's like yours above, but then you go there and wonder how they made it look so good in pictures (see: Rodeo Drive) Carmel is even better in person. For a Seattle native like me its a little on the warm side, but there are these remarkable trees that grow high and have a vast canopy that provides the most perfect sun-dappled shade. Truly a remarkable paradise.

Its funny you say Parade is an acquired taste. I've only been to one, Boise, about 10 years ago. I think a lot of people are turned off by the word "club". PCA has been famously described as the world's biggest group of non-joiners. So for those who don't know, its like this. Just in the past few months first Hammer911 then Z356 happened to visit Seattle and we were able to get together and visit for a while. Both times, two guys I'd never really met, and we had just the most enjoyable conversations. Different in each case but alike in many ways. For those who've never been, imagine a thousand or more people like this, people you can meet and instantly enjoy their company, immediately and effortlessly find something really neat to talk about. And that's even before we get to the cars. That's Parade!

Z356

You should...at least once in your lifetime. PCA is the largest car club in the world and the Parades in California are the best attended because...our state has the most Porsches in the country!

It's not so much 'promoting' as informing those who are not familiar with this area about some of my favorite places.

In fact my wife makes good use of our kitchen (attached photo)! But I thought it might be useful to Parade visitors to have a recommended list of restaurants to supplement the steady diet of Parade banquets!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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Suzy991

California is also the most convenient place in my case. My father in law lives in Ventura, which is not that far from Monterey (4,5 hour drive via route 101)
Unfortunately I can't make it this year. There might be a tiny chance that I can visit Pebble Beach in august this year, but that's not the Porsche Parade of course.

That's a kitchen with a view!

Z356

Other restaurants in Carmel Valley & Carmel Valley Village that I recommend:

Baja Cantina (Mexican) on 7166 Carmel Valley Road (not far from Carmel-by-the-Sea):
http://www.carmelcantina.com
The weekly gathering of sport cars & hot rods is on Thursdays! So for Parade week that would be June 19th! (first two photos).

The Baja Cantina owner, my friend & auto collector Pat Phinny, also owns 'Turn 12' restaurant (American) in downtown Monterey - named because Laguna Seca has 11 turns! Might be worth a visit too! http://www.turn12barandgrill.com

*********

Carmel Valley Village (20/30 minute drive from Carmel- can also be accessed via Laurales Grade from Route 68 in vicinity of Laguna Seca):

Cafe Rustica on 10 Del Fino Pl / Carmel Valley Village
http://www.caferusticavillage.com

Corkscrew on 55 West Carmel Valley Road / Carmel Valley Village
http://www.corkscrewcafe.com
The owners, Walter & Gaston Georis, also are the proprietors of Casanova & The Biclyclette in Carmel. Gaston drives a Boxster.

Wine Tasting
Bernardus Winery Tasting Room on 5 West Carmel Valley Road / Carmel Valley Village
http://www.bernardus.com/winery/tasting/index.htm

Bernardus' owner, another friend named Ben Pon, is an ex-factory driver whose family are Porsche's importers for Holland! (Last photos. Ben is the one w. dark polo shirt; the other guy is Gijs van Lennep)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Pon

*******

By the way, you can drive from Carmel to Greenfield (on 101, south of Salinas) via Carmel Valley Road and Monterey County G16 Road. Pretty twisty...and a good Porsche interior road to drive!
http://www.inn-california.com/centra...alleyroad.html

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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Suzy991

Just as a side note Eduardo. (As you will probably know) Ben Pon sr. was the man that was responsible for idea of the Volkswagen van that becamse so famous all over the world.

PON is indeed the VAG and Porsche importer in the Netherlands (also one of the richest families in the Netherlands BTW)

Gijs van Lennep was holder of the distance record on Le Mans for a very long time. He set the record in 1971, together with the Austrian driver Helmut Marko in a Porsche 917. It remained the distance record untill 2010.

Hammer911

Thanks Chuck...your nudging got me to the track, now you may get me to a Parade at some point! I guess my golden opportunity was a few years ago in Keystone, Colorado, but a Cali Parade sounds pretty good. How far in advance do they select/announce locations?

Z356

Suzy, that is very true. Also Ben Pon Sr. made the first importation of the VW Beetle to the United States (see first photo)!

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...thank-ben-pon/

I also own a very rare metal tag from just after WWII of 'Pon's Automobiel Handel b.v. amersfoort' (see second photo). These were attached to the vehicles (VW & Porsches) which the Pon's sold in Holland. Note the very early 4 digit telephone number!


Today, Pon's Automobiel Handel is a European automotive giant:

http://www.pon.com/welkom-bij-pon.2.lynkx?language=EN

Porsche AG even made a very special Limited Edition MY2009 997 4S in honor of the Pon family:

http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/03/17/p...mited-edition/

Bernardus Wine has a well-positioned hospitality tent at Laguna Seca near turn 4 during the Historics. I have personally enjoyed the Pon hospitality there for many years on the Saturday of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion races which is a treat! So the Pon heritage is alive & well...in Holland as well as in Carmel Valley!

Hope to see you here in Carmel if you come for the August Historics. Please pm or email me if you are able to make it.

**************

Two years in advance. Last year at the end of the Parade in Traverse City, MI, the 2015 PCA Parade was announced for French Lick, Indiana (and no...I am not going to comment on that name!). The dates are 06/21/2015 to 06/27/2015. At the final Parade Banquet on June 21th, 2014 in Monterey, the site for the 2016 Parade will be announced!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

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Z356

Here are some more recommendations for those attending the PCA Parade in Monterey:

Big Sur down the coast on US 1:

Deetjens (Breakfast or Lunch - you will not soon forget the place or the ride!)
http://www.deetjens.com/restaurant.html

Ventana (Lunch)
http://www.ventanainn.com/#/dining

*******

City of Monterey

Tarpy's Roadhouse on 2999 Salinas Hwy (Close to the Hyatt on Route 68, just pass Airport)
http://tarpys.com

Fish House on 2114 DelMonte Ave (close to the Hyatt)
https://plus.google.com/113534305022...ut?gl=us&hl=en

Sandbar & Grill on Municipal Warf #2 (less tourist than Fisherman's Warf).
http://www.sandbarandgrillmonterey.com

Crystal Fish on 514 Lighthouse Ave. (Best Sushi in Monterey)
http://crystalfishsushi.com

Bistro Moulin (Best French restaurant in Monterey)
http://www.bistromoulin.com

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French Bakeries

Paris Bakery on 271 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey
http://parisbakery.us

Lafayette Bakery at 3672 The Barnyard near Carmel
http://www.lafayettebakery.com

That should keep most of you busy for the week...at least eating wise!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Monterey Bay Aquarium in Cannery Road, Monterey (if you do one tourist stop, this is the one!)
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org