Photography by Kristina Cilia
Paul Carrubba washed this Aston Martin DB5 as a kid. A decade later he bought it. Two decades after that he had it restored. Since then, he has enjoyed his beloved car by regularly driving it. That story, along with how well it presented, earned the DB5 Best of Show at the 2024 Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff Presented by Sunoco.
“It’s been in the weddings of my daughters,” says Paul. “It’s been in a couple of other people’s weddings. It gets driven, exercised often. It’s 19 years post restoration, and I keep it clean and waxed. I send it for maintenance to Kevin Kay Restorations–I won’t let anyone else touch it. It’s been exactly what it should be: a wonderful piece of automotive history that gets to keep shining and making people smile.”
While Paul took the top spot of Best of Show and Best Aston Martin, there were several more winners at this year's Monterey Kickoff.
Paul Carrubba, 2024 Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff Presented by Sunoco Best of Show winner. Photo by J.A. Ackley.
2024 Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff Winners
Downtown Pacific Grove, California
August 13, 2024
Best of Show, Best of Aston Martin: Paul Carrubba, Aptos, Calif., 1964 Aston Martin DB5
Best Alfa Romeo: Steve Fields, Carmel, Calif., 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider
Best Austin-Healey: Ron Strong, Santa Clara, Calif., 1956 Austin-Healey 100M
Best BMW: Paul DiMauro, Seaside, Calif., 1984 BMW Alpina B7
Best Chrysler: Bill and D.J. Mitchell, Redwood City, Calif., 1960 Imperial Crown
Best Corvette 1982 and Earlier: Viviano and Aaron Alvarez, Salinas, Calif., 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
Best Corvette Post-1982: Benton Beckley, Palm Springs, Calif., 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Best Ferrari: James Bonney, Carmichael, Calif., 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4
Best Fiat/Lancia: David Molesworth, Phoenix, Ariz., 1993 Lancia Delta Integrale Evolution
Best GM Non-Corvette: Ken Watson, Danville, Calif., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Best Jaguar: Ken Fritz, Sacramento, Calif., 1959 Jaguar XK150S OTS
Best Mazda: Jim Hendley, San Francisco, Calif., 1991 Mazda MX-5
Best Mercedes: Martin Mitchell, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL
Best MG: Peter Patriquin, Fresno, Calif., 1973 MG MGB
Best Mustang: Kate McFadden, Salinas, Calif., 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe
Best Nissan/Datsun: Philip Lewis, Marina, Calif., 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT
Best Other British: Jake Pullan, Novato, Calif., 1970 Ford Mk2 GT Cortina
Best Other European: Mike Dudek, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1973 Volvo 1800S
Best Other Ford: Terry and Carol Barney, Fresno, Calif., 1968 Ford Bronco
Best Other Italian: John and Julie Tomlin, Carmel Valley, Calif., 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Best Porsche 1973 and Earlier: Don Trexler, Blowing Rock, N.C., 1968 Porsche 912
Best Porsche 1974 and Later: Tom Tyer, Carmichael, Calif., 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Look
Best Shelby/Cobra: David Acrell, Orangevale, Calif., 1964 USRRC Cobra
Best Toyota: Nicholas Rottler, Marina, Calif., 1993 Toyota Supra Premier Edition
Best Triumph: Richard Watson, Carmel, Calif., 1967 Triumph TR4
Best Volkswagen: Chip Oetting, Eugene, Ore., 1956 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Best Local Car: Tyson and Leticia Rininger, Marina, Calif., 1964 Triumph Spitfire 4
Editor’s Choice: Randy Carlson, Aguanga, Calif., 1957 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
“It’s been in the weddings of my daughters,” says Paul. “It’s been in a couple of other people’s weddings. It gets driven, exercised often. It’s 19 years post restoration, and I keep it clean and waxed. I send it for maintenance to Kevin Kay Restorations–I won’t let anyone else touch it. It’s been exactly what it should be: a wonderful piece of automotive history that gets to keep shining and making people smile.”
While Paul took the top spot of Best of Show and Best Aston Martin, there were several more winners at this year's Monterey Kickoff.
2024 Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff Winners
Downtown Pacific Grove, California
August 13, 2024
Best of Show, Best of Aston Martin: Paul Carrubba, Aptos, Calif., 1964 Aston Martin DB5
Best Alfa Romeo: Steve Fields, Carmel, Calif., 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider
Best Austin-Healey: Ron Strong, Santa Clara, Calif., 1956 Austin-Healey 100M
Best BMW: Paul DiMauro, Seaside, Calif., 1984 BMW Alpina B7
Best Chrysler: Bill and D.J. Mitchell, Redwood City, Calif., 1960 Imperial Crown
Best Corvette 1982 and Earlier: Viviano and Aaron Alvarez, Salinas, Calif., 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
Best Corvette Post-1982: Benton Beckley, Palm Springs, Calif., 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Best Ferrari: James Bonney, Carmichael, Calif., 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4
Best Fiat/Lancia: David Molesworth, Phoenix, Ariz., 1993 Lancia Delta Integrale Evolution
Best GM Non-Corvette: Ken Watson, Danville, Calif., 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Best Jaguar: Ken Fritz, Sacramento, Calif., 1959 Jaguar XK150S OTS
Best Mazda: Jim Hendley, San Francisco, Calif., 1991 Mazda MX-5
Best Mercedes: Martin Mitchell, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL
Best MG: Peter Patriquin, Fresno, Calif., 1973 MG MGB
Best Mustang: Kate McFadden, Salinas, Calif., 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe
Best Nissan/Datsun: Philip Lewis, Marina, Calif., 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT
Best Other British: Jake Pullan, Novato, Calif., 1970 Ford Mk2 GT Cortina
Best Other European: Mike Dudek, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1973 Volvo 1800S
Best Other Ford: Terry and Carol Barney, Fresno, Calif., 1968 Ford Bronco
Best Other Italian: John and Julie Tomlin, Carmel Valley, Calif., 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Best Porsche 1973 and Earlier: Don Trexler, Blowing Rock, N.C., 1968 Porsche 912
Best Porsche 1974 and Later: Tom Tyer, Carmichael, Calif., 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Look
Best Shelby/Cobra: David Acrell, Orangevale, Calif., 1964 USRRC Cobra
Best Toyota: Nicholas Rottler, Marina, Calif., 1993 Toyota Supra Premier Edition
Best Triumph: Richard Watson, Carmel, Calif., 1967 Triumph TR4
Best Volkswagen: Chip Oetting, Eugene, Ore., 1956 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Best Local Car: Tyson and Leticia Rininger, Marina, Calif., 1964 Triumph Spitfire 4
Editor’s Choice: Randy Carlson, Aguanga, Calif., 1957 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
For more information about the Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff, visit montereykickoff.com.
The Classic Motorsports Monterey Kickoff is presented by Sunoco, with car blocks presented by Moss Motors, Centerline International and National Parts Depot, in association with Mecum Auctions, Reliable Carriers, Frontline Cars, Griot’s Garage and Racing to End Alzheimer’s, with trophies from The Monarch Pub. Special thanks to Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay and the city of Pacific Grove for making this event possible.