17th August 2015
– On Friday 13th edition of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering took
place in the picturesque setting of California’s Carmel Valley,
celebrating the allure and magnetism of the motoring world.
Racing legends Jochen Mass, Derek Bell and Jackie Stuart joined
motoring heavyweights including Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls
Royce and Maurizo Parlato, COO of Bugatti of Americas to celebrate the
awards announcement and view the world’s rarest and most prized
vintage and supercars on display.
On display included vintage 1949 XK120 Jaguar, originally owned by
none other than Hollywood icon, Clark Gable; a 1968 Porsche 911L Rally
Car which won Bruce Jennings and Tony Adamowicz’s 1969 24 Hours of
Daytona; and a 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, previously owned by Frank
Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra.
The event made a fitting backdrop for the global announcement of The
Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award, a new global award
launching next year which honours the most exceptional classics in the
world from six of the best automobile events including Pebble Beach,
The Quail and Courcours of Elegance Edinburgh. The official
announcement was given by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of
The HongKong and Shanghai Hotels Limited alongside co-founders
Christian Philippsen and William E. “Chip” Connor.
Bringing The Peninsula Hotel’s world-class hospitality to the
beautiful town of Carmel, guests enjoyed live music, fine cuisine
inspired by Peninsula locations around the world, and signature
cocktails and champagne served by Peninsula’s iconic Page Boys.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is renowned as the home of the
Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, where some of the world’s most
sought-after motorcars command record prices. In 2014, Bonhams
shattered a world record with the record-making sale of a 1962 Ferrari
250 GTO at $38 million, making it the most valuable car to ever be
sold at auction. This year, Bonhams’ enjoyed repeat success with over
88% of lots sold reaching a collective US$45 million. Key items
included The ‘Interim’ 250 GT SWB Competizione ($8.53m) the 212 Inter
Cabriolet ($2.2m) and the 288 GTO ($2.37m).