The Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff will not return to Pacific Grove in 2025.

A decade ago, we hosted our first Kickoff with the goal of democratizing Monterey Car Week, inviting our readers to show their cars to the public in a venue with free admission and a laid-back, low-stress atmosphere. It’s been a fixture of the Car Week schedule ever since. 

But as the event has grown, so too has Car Week, seemingly exponentially. And so too have the challenges and expenses of building, hosting and insuring an event with hundreds of cars and thousands of spectators. Despite these challenges, there are now more events and opportunities than ever for almost anyone to participate in the classic car world’s biggest festival.

That’s why we’ve decided not to host a Monterey Kickoff in 2025. Instead, we’ll be refocusing our efforts on covering Car Week and better activating our partnerships with other events. We hope to see you there. 

Thank you to all of our partners and volunteers for their help making each Kickoff better than the last, and thank you to our entrants for consistently showcasing the most diverse and interesting collection of cars on the peninsula. All who registered for the 2025 Monterey Kickoff will be automatically refunded to their original payment method. 

The Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff, held annually in Florida, will continue as planned.