In spite of rain and cold temperatures, spectators and drivers alike gathered in Old Town La Quinta, east of Palm Springs, Saturday morning for the start of Tour Classique, a road trip of vintage and exotic motor vehicles through the east Coachella Valley. The event is affiliated with The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance 2011 and was free to the viewing public.
The streets were closed to general traffic and participating vehicles began gather prior to 8:00am Saturday where the general public was invited to view the autos and talk with owners and drivers. Approximately 50 cars lined the streets and although it was a little wet, spectator's and attendee's spirits were not dampened.
Tesla Motors also had an exhibit which featured two of their Sport Roadsters. The electric Roadster by Tesla is the only zero-emission sports car in the world that is fun and efficient. With the capacity to go from 0 to 60 miles in 3.7 seconds and 245 miles per charge with zero tailpipe emissions, the Roadster is the most environmentally friendly sports car on the market. A nicely equipped Sport Roadster is priced at $118,000.
A spokesman for Tesla at today's rally hinted that the company is working on a 7-passenger, 5-door SUV type vehicle which could be released as early as 2013. With several battery options he stated that the market price would be around $55,000 and styling would compare to a sporty Chevrolet Suburban. Although not as fast as the Roadster, he said an optional battery would produce around 300 miles per charge. We'll be keeping an eye out for that product in case it too gets pre-market road tests here in The Coachella Valley.
Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Mercedes Benz and Porsche were all well represented at Tour Classique but other vehicles attracting attention included a Ford Bronco, Aston Martin, and an East German built Trabant. The Trabant 601 remained basically the same from 1962 through 1991. It has no cam shaft and it has no valves. It has a two cylinder, two stroke air-cooled 0.6 liter engine and has a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Nonetheless, it was indeed a crowd favorite. A slideshow of photos from the morning event are available here.
At 9:30am the vehicles left for the two hour cruise from La Quinta to The Salton Sea Visitor Center then looped back to Cuistot Restaurant in Palm Desert arriving at noon. The cars remained on display at the restaurant until 2:00pm.
Many of the cars in today's event will be part of The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance on Sunday at The La Quinta Resort and Club. Gates open at 10:00am on Sunday and admission is $35 payable at the entrance. In addition to the vintage car show, a vintage car auction produced by EG Auctions will also run on the hotel grounds. The auction is restricted to rare and finely restored automobiles only. Among some of the cars that will be on display are a 1925 Lincoln Model L Limousine owned by Greta Garbo and a 1956 Rolls Royce owned by Cary Grant. Additional information may be obtained by calling (760) 766-1777 or visiting The Concours d'Elegance website, http://www.desertconcours.com/.
Real Estate in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta
McCormick's of Palm Springs officially began a three day classic car auction in downtown Palm Springs Friday afternoon with greetings from the mayor and a chance to peruse the inventory to be liquidated. Admission was free so curious spectators and auto enthusiasts mingled with registered bidders for a chance to view the 600 vehicles that will hit the auction block this weekend.
Bidders and Sellers alike were in good spirits as the champagne flowed and mutual admiration exchanged as the sale got underway with a 1963 Ford Thunderbird opening the show. In anticipation of the sale, owners and handlers patiently waxed and polished machinery for the best possible presentation. Owners I spoke with were hopeful reserves would be surpassed since this particular auction was drawing record crowds.
This is McCormick's 25th auction anniversary in Palm Springs and many of the attendees claimed to have been to all of them. Each auction has been considered a successful event and all auction slots were reserved long before today. Many hopeful car sellers unable to participate in the auction bring vehicles to park on side streets surrounding the event grounds in hopes of luring a prospective buyer from the action. Because of that the car show literally begins in the parking lot since many car enthusiasts will bring a vintage daily driver to the event.
Although admission was free on Friday, admission prices are $10 per day for Saturday and Sunday or a two day pass can be purchased for $15. Spectators must be registered to bid and registration can be done at The McCormick Office on Indian Canyon or at the auction grounds in The Spa Resort Casino parking lot. 225 Vehicles will be auctioned on Saturday and the remaining 175 automobiles will be auctioned on Sunday.
Real Estate in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta
Fresh and locally grown produce can be found weekly at three certified farmers markets in the Palm Springs area. Every Saturday in Palm Springs, Sundays in La Quinta and Wednesdays in Palm Desert local growers and farmers set up an open air market to sell their goods.
The Certified Farmers Market is sponsored by the Palm Springs Cultural Center. It operates in three locations, and on three different days of the week, as follows:
-On Saturdays in Palm Springs, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, adjacent to the Camelot Theatres in the Palm Springs Mall parking lot at 2300 E. Baristo Road at Farrell.
-On Sundays in Old Town La Quinta, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, at 78100 Main Street, just a few blocks west of La Quinta City Hall off Calle Tampico.
-On Wednesdays in Palm Desert, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, at the Palm Desert Visitor Center, 72-567 Highway 111.
Vendors include:
L'Artisan Valley Baking, Gourmet Artisan Bread, PS,PD,LQ
Temecula Olive Oil, Olive and Olive Oils, PD,LQ
The Bean Coffee, Organic Anti-oxidant Coffee, PS,PD,LQ
Malibu Olive Oil, Gourmet organic Olive Oil, LQ,PS - NEW
SpringHill Cheese, Organic and unique cheeses, PD - NEW
Farms:
Arriaga Farms, fresh cut flowers, PS,PD,
LQ Bautista Dates, organic dates, PS,PD,LQ
Belavado Avocado Oil, Organic Avocado Oil and farm soap, PD - NEW
Bela Juice and grapes, Organic Grape Juice, grapes, raisins, PS,PD,LQ
Burkhart Farms, Organic raisins, PS,PD,LQ
Doug Powell Farms, transitional produce, PD,PS
Evergreen Nursery, orchids and plants, PD,PS
Farquhar Farms, no-pesticide/spray citrus and avocados, PD,LQ
Ha's Apples, organic apples, dried fruit and juice, PD,PS
Fruit Fairy/Naylor Organics, organic stone fruits, PD,PS -
Jaime Farms, organic produce, eggs, PS,PD,LQ
Lichen -Z - Farms, hydroponic herbs, medicinal herbs, lavender, PD,LQ
Old Orange Grove, no-pesticide/spray citrus and avocados, PS
Ramirez Farms, no-pesticide/spray produce, PS,PD,LQ
Sage Mountain Farms, organic produce, eggs, PS,PD,LQ
Santiago Soto Farms, organic produce, PD, NEW
Winchester Cheese, raw gouda cheese, LQ
MnM Macadamia nuts, California Macadamia nuts, PS,PD,LQ - NEW
Stackhouse Farms, Almonds PS,PD,LQ
Wong Farms, Hydroponic tomatoes, cukes, PS,PD,LQ
Lori's Plants, Plant starts, PD - NEW
Santa Barbara Pistachio, Pistachios, organic pistachios, PS,PD,LQ
Real Estate in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta
Every Thursday morning at 10:00am during season, Kathy Leonard, a volunteer for The Palm Springs Historical Society, leads groups of people on a tour of downtown Palm Springs. A long term resident, Leonard points out buildings and points of interest to tourists and locals alike making sure to intersperse personal stories with historical facts. It's that detailed interest that Kathy Leonard puts into the tour that makes it enjoyable and informative.
The tour starts at The Village Green in downtown Palm Springs just one block north of Baristo Road. Tickets can be purchases at the time of the tour from the lobby in The McCallum Adobe. History of the buildings surrounding The Village Green courtyard area are discussed before the groups heads north up Palm Canyon Drive cutting through The La Plaza towards Indian Canyon Drive. Points of Interest include the no longer used underground parking of La Plaza, the intersection of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Palm Canyon Drive, Oasis Hotel Tower and a stop at Peabody's Café & Bar. Debby Alexander, proprietor of Peabody's, shares photos and memories of early Palm Springs with tour attendees.
On occasion the tour guide would relate personal memories with famed locations or tell stories of friends and family during their years in Palm Springs. The tour becomes an interesting history lesson of the origins of Palm Springs including relationships between the Native American tribes and early settlers. The Hollywood influence and why celebrities chose to frequent the desert are also covered.
Until more docents are trained the tours are currently only on Thursday mornings. Ticket prices are $10 per person and include entrance into the museums at The Village Green plus a bakery sampling from Espresso Cielo, a new addition to downtown Palm Springs.
Real Estate in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta
Car enthusiasts interested in seeing some new and innovative cars from Fiat and Tesla, as well as Cadillac, will be able to do so this weekend at The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance in La Quinta, CA, on Sunday, February 27, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Among the cars showcased will be the electric Roadster by TESLA MOTORS, the only zero-emission sports car in the world that is both fun and efficient. With the capacity to go from 0 to 60 miles in 3.7 seconds and 245 miles per charge with zero tailpipe emissions, the Roadster is the most environmentally friendly sports car you can buy.
Also showcased will be the new Fiat 500 that has evolved into a beloved global icon, winning the hearts of passionate drivers, motor journalists and judges alike. The winner of 60 international awards, including 2008 European Car of the Year and 2009 World Car Design of the Year, the Fiat 500 is a hip fashionable that can be customized with three different models, as well as exterior colors, optional interiors and other accessories.
Cadillac will showcase its 2011 CTS-V Coupe, the new standard for luxury ownership. With 556hp 6.2L supercharged V8 engine, the Coupe goes from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. Among some of the features of the car are power tilt sunroof, 19" polished aluminum wheels, 6-speed automatic transmission, and Brembo® 6-piston front and 4-piston rear brakes.
The Concours d'Elegance & Vintage Car Auction will feature more than 150 classic and vintage cars from across the United States, Canada and Europe, including a selection of pristine, classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center.
An Auction of 75 finely restored automobiles, conducted by EG Auctions will run simultaneously with the Concours on the Mountain Golf Course at the La Quinta Resort & Club against the dramatic setting of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Sponsors for the weekend of events are the historic La Quinta Resort & Club; the City of La Quinta, California; Mercedes Benz Classic Center, Cadillac, Tesla, Motor Trend Classic, and Palm Springs Life. Net proceeds from the event will go to Loving All Animals, Tools for Tomorrow, Wounded Warrior Project and the Page Jones Foundation.
Tickets to the Concours & Auction are $25 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. Children under 12 and active duty military are free.
For more information about The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.desertconcours.com or call 760-766-1777.
Real Estate in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta
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Palm Springs Real Estate & Events Guide for Mid Century Modern Homes, Significant Architecture and Things to do in Palm Springs.
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