WELCOME TO THE QUAIL: Pebble Beach Car Week's Most Exclusive Event

Source: Business Insider - The Life

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance may be the most important event during the annual Classic Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula, but it's certainly not the toughest to get into. That honor belongs to the Quail Motorsports Gathering, a daylong show at Quail Lodge, a golf club nestled between Monterey and Carmel.
Tickets go for $400 each, if you can get your hands on them. The event is capped at 3,000, and organizers are strict about enforcing that limit.
This year, highlights of the show included an appearance by car aficionado Jay Leno, a motorcade of Jaguar E-Types in celebration of the model's 50th anniversary, and a "fireside chat" with famed Porsche driver Derek Bell.
Attendees tasted caviar, sipped champagne and took in some of the most impressive classic cars in the world.
We were on hand to check out the scene; here's the highlight reel.

This was no ordinary parking lot; we saw this row of Ferraris BEFORE we went through the gates.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Dogs were a popular accessory.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

For a day, Quail Lodge's golf course was transformed into an automobile showcase.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

A motorcade of Jaguar E-Types roared past, flanked by California Highway Patrol. They were fresh off a race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Inside, we saw Bugatti Veyrons of every shade. These gorgeous cars cost $1.3 million each.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

For the first time, the Quail also featured a motorcycle section.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

A crowd gathered around this chrome make.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

But this purple Rolls Royce--a one-of-a-kind car commissioned by Sleep Innovations founder Michael Fux--really caught our eye.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Of course, there were tons of delicious things to eat. A half-dozen food tents featured cuisine from various world regions.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Not only were the wine and champagne flowing, there was also a make-your-own margarita bar by Patron (this guy was also serving margaritas).

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Half the crowd seemed more interested in the food than the cars.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Strictly speaking, the field wasn't limited to automobiles.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

The cars ranged from vintage...

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

To racing.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

At one point, attendees were serenaded by a Mariachi band.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

We got to check out the inner workings of some vintage Ferraris.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

This Cadillac LaSalle was first restored in 1954.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Hey! There's Jay Leno, checking out the interior of a Bugatti Veyron. He even put on booties before sitting in the driver's seat.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

We stopped at the Bonhams auction, which brought in a total of $11 million.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Not every car sold. No one bought this 1925 Speedwell, which was expected to go for as much as $225,000.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

This much-hyped BMW, handpainted by Frank Stella, went for $854,000.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Behind a curtain, rows of cars waited to be auctioned off.

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

Back on the field, there were even more sleek race cars.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

We especially loved this one.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

Everyone was taking photographs.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

Check out this gorgeous embroidered interior.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

Of course, beautiful women were on hand to help show off the Lamborghinis.

Image: Kevin Hulsey Illustration, Inc.

That's not the only classic car show we checked out last week

Image: Julie Zeveloff/Business Insider

PHOTOS: The Best Moments From The 2011 Pebble Beach Classic Auto Show >

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/quail-motorsports-gathering-pebble-beach-2011-8?op=1#ixzz1WXKkJVRs

The top 10 cars that thieves hate the most

CAPTION

By HOANG DINH NAM, AFP/Getty Images

Having seen how car thieves have a special attraction for the Cadillac Escalade,what cars do they hate the most?Interestingly, it's a mix of cars and midsize SUVs, like the Chevrolet Equinox,the Highway Loss Data Institute reports. It may not be because it isn't cool to be cruising around in an Audi A6 or an Equinox. Rather, it may be because these vehicles have really good anti-theft mechanisms.
It's clearly not because these vehicles are undesirable. Looking over the list, they are all fairly popular, even if some are niche vehicles.
Here's the Top 10 car that thieves reject:

1. Audi A6 all-wheel-drive, large luxury car
2. Mercury Mariner (2009-10) small SUV
3. Chevrolet Equinox (2010) midsize SUV
4. Volkswagen CC (2009-10), midsize car
5. Chevrolet Equinox four-wheel-drive (2010) midsize SUV
6. Lexus RX 350 (2010) midsize luxury SUV
7. Saturn Vue midsize SUV
8. Chevrolet Aveo (2009-10) mini station wagon
9. BMW 5 series all-wheel-drive large luxury car
10. Mini Cooper Clubman 2-door car

AVERAGE ALL PASSENGER VEHICLES 1.7 $6,767 $11
Note: Claim frequencies are per 1,000 ins. vehicle yrs.; overall losses are avg. payments per ins. vehicle yr.; vehicles 2008-10s unless
At www.cbsqualitycars.com we have the right car for everyone, with over 400 vehicles to choose from

hurricane irene

By Ray Wert Aug 28, 2011 10:10 AM

24,642 57

This is why you don’t drive through standing water

While walking along South Street on lower Manhattan's east side to inspect damage from Hurricane Irene, I found huge pools of water at a few of the intersections. It wasn't water inundation from New York's East River so much as it was runoff from the overpass, flowing down into already-overburdened storm sewers.
Standing water on streets — and god forbid, flowing water — is tricky because you never know just how deep the pool of water goes. That's why you try to avoid standing water at all costs.
Or else you end up like this Mercedes — which apparently floundered in one such pool a few minutes after I'd walked by.
But, you can learn a lot from this dummy.
Photo Credit: kiddigit

Hurricane Irene: Four Tips for Driving

Getty Images

Hurricane Irene

Weather experts expect Hurricane Irene to make landfall in the Carolinas on Saturday, and while the storm is expected to lose strength as it makes its way up the East Coast, it could still cause a lot of problems from flooding and downed trees to power outages.
If you are stuck in your car when the storm hits, the potential for injury increases substantially. Blowing debris and falling trees and flooded roadways are among the biggest threats. So the best driving advice is: Don’t. But if you are caught driving in a hurricane or have to evacuate in your car, here are three tips to make the trip safer:
Evacuate Sooner, not Later: If authorities tell you to evacuate, you should. Indeed, you should have an escape plan ahead of time and start thinking about leaving as soon as safety officials begin talking about evacuation. If you wait too long you’ll be stuck in traffic, possibly riding out the storm in your car instead of at a safe destination.
Avoid flooded streets: Look out for standing water and avoid driving through it. Often the water is deeper than you think and it can cause your engine to stall, possibly trapping you in rising water. More than half of hurricane deaths typically result from inland flooding and many of those are people who drown in cars.
Find shelter: Strong hurricane wind blow cars off the road or at least make them difficult to control. If you are driving in a storm and having trouble staying on the road you should look for shelter under a bridge overpass or in a parking garage.
Watch out for fallen wires: Hurricanes often blow down power lines, and you shouldn’t assume your car will protect you from electrical hazards. Drivers often get stuck trying to maneuver through or around downed wires. While you may not be injured in such a situation, the presence of live wires makes it harder for emergency crews to help you.

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Releases All-New Compact Sedan Comparison Test

RVINE, Calif. — The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today release the results of their all-new 2011 / 2012 Compact Sedan Comparison Test.
The four new compact sedans in this test – Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Hyundai Elantra – each represent a fresh-foot forward for their manufacturers and represent some of the most popular vehicles in this important segment.  During the comprehensive testing of these vehicles, the kbb.com editors gave each model an overall rating as well as specific ratings based on interior, exterior, performance, comfort/convenience and value.  In their story, kbb.com’s editors provide deep insight into each of the four vehicles and how they compare to one another to help consumers choose the right car for their needs.
When the editors ultimately tallied the score sheets, the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra tied for first place, each scoring 7.5 out of 10 possible points in the overall ratings.  Though their overall scores were the same, the two winners captured the top spot with dramatically different strong and weak points.  The Elantra outshined the others in the style and design ratings, while the Civic cleaned up in the performance and value categories.  Rounding out the comparison, the Ford Focus finished third, and the Chevrolet Cruze finished fourth, but the strength of each model demonstrated the strong advances being made in the compact car segment.
“At some point in time, most everyone drives a compact sedan, whether it is a commuter car, second car, empty nester car or even a rental car,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.  ”Because this vehicle class is an inevitable part of most American drivers’ lives, we wanted to put the top new models up against each other head-to-head to see how they would fare.  While the caliber of vehicles is better than ever in the compact sedan category across the board, each model proved to have different strengths and weaknesses that potential buyers should know about before they make their final decision.  The cars are in the same segment, but they certainly aren’t the same, and we found that each meets the needs of a particular set of consumers.”

Kbb.com 2011 / 2012 Compact Sedan Comparison Test: Sneak Peek, with Links to Read Full Content, Scoring and More
Fourth Place:  2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ
Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating:  6.7 out of 10
Synopsis: Best at providing big-car virtues in a smaller package.
The 2011 Chevy Cruze is a new face in this field, with many advocates pointing to it as the weather vane for the coming era in American cars.  Recent sales and strong consumer interest in the Cruze, despite on-again/off-again economic forecasts, point to a healthy wind blowing in…
To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Cruze in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.
Third Place:  2012 Ford Focus SEL
Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating: 6.9 out of 10
Synopsis: The Ford Focus SEL is the athlete of the bunch.
New for 2012, the Ford Focus is a “world car” with European sensibilities trying to find a home in America.  Riding on a new platform, running with new engines and staring at itself in the mirror with new sheet metal, the 2012 Focus is a more substantial small sedan than the car it replaces…
To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Focus in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.
The Winners, Part One:  2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating:  7.5 out of 10
Synopsis: The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is the fashionista of this test.
The most anticipated major redesign among small-car fans and auto-show enthusiasts belongs to the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.  After what seemed like permanent also-ran status, Hyundai scored back-to-back styling and value wins with its new Genesis and Sonata four-doors, but what about the small sedan that needed to be a numbers car for the Korean carmaker?  If this were a beauty contest or a price war, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra would win it hands down.  Instead, this story has a second act…
To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Elantra in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.
The Winners, Part Two:  2012 Honda Civic EX-L Navi
Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating:  7.5 out of 10
Synopsis: A superb example of balance, value and pedigree.
Also new this year, the 2012 Honda Civic bears a lot of responsibility as the next generation of a wildly popular car.  With every player in the compact-sedan segment getting stronger overall, Honda had to decide: Does it take a risk, or does it stand firm with a proven formula?  The 2012 Honda Civic stands firm…
To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Civic in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.

To see all of the information about the all-new compact sedan comparison test from kbb.com, including full editorial commentary and scoring details for each vehicle, visit the 2011 / 2012 Compact Sedan Comparison Test story in kbb.com’s Latest News section at http://kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2011-2012-compact-sedan-comparison-test/.
For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb.
About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com provides consumer pricing and information on minivans, pickup-trucks, cars, hybrids and SUVs. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.