By Jon Chown
MONTEREY — The 2026 Monterey Motorsports Festival capped Car Week on the peninsula with cars, music and live entertainment at the Monterey County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 15.
The event featured a procession of hypercars and supercars arriving from Concorso Italiano, as well as other rare imports, modified vehicles, and a few classic cars.
Greg Kimball and his 1967 Camaro SS convertible.
Debbie and Greg Kimball from Brentwood brought their 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible, which Greg said his parents bought in October of 1967.
It’s the couple’s third year coming to Car Week, but the first time they’ve participated in a show. Greg said he felt a little out of place with all the million-dollar cars around, but was enjoying himself.
“We’ve got one of the few muscle cars here,” he said. “As you can see it’s Lambos, Porches and Ferraris. Every time I turn around its some jaw-dropping car. Million-dollar cars. We’re on a middle class budget. My car is a 13-year project.”
“I’m speechless,” said Debbie. “It’s overwhelming.”
Lamborghinis, Ferraris and other brands of super cars were lined up all over the fairgrounds, from end to end. There were even cars inside the Pattee Arena. Car owners revved their engines at times while musicians performed on the stage. A few owners were seen dancing to the music while standing on top of their million-dollar cars.
The DJ duo Sidequest headlined the festival, following performances by country artist David J and electronic artists Dreya V and Me N Ü. Special guests included former Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni and NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji.
“Growing up, all the other kids at school wanted to be firefighters and policemen. I wanted to be a Lamborghini driver,” Balboni told the audience during an interview on stage.
Elsewhere during Car Week, a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe sold for a record $42.9 million at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions, becoming the most expensive American car sold at auction. And at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster once owned by actor Clark Gable was named Best of Show.
TOP PHOTO: A series of red Ferraris are lined up on the lawn.