As 2024 comes to a close, JAMAH designer Nancy Gale can’t help but reflect on one of the year’s highlights: Monterey Car Week 2024. This week was a gratifying celebration of the continued success of the JAMAH Motorcar Collection.

On a beautiful August evening, as Nancy watched the sunset from the Carmel Valley Ranch Harvest Landing terrace, she felt a comforting sense of déjà vu. Back at the Ranch for Monterey Car Week 2024, Nancy found herself reflecting on everything that had transpired since she was last with her RR1 crew. At Car Week 2023, Nancy and Michael shared the news of their engagement with the Robb Report community. And this year, they were ecstatic to reveal that they celebrated their wedding in Costa Rica on February 11, 2024, with RR1 member and dear friend Karen Stull officiating. As Nancy remarks time and time again, the true gift of the RR1 community is the deep, beautiful friendships. 

With her husband by her side–or as Nancy likes to call him–her ex-fiancé, she settled into her seat, ready for the excitement of another RR1 welcome reception. With wine provided by Cervantes, the evening proved to be a delectable appetizer for the treat that was to come. Nancy and Michael enjoyed a spirited conversation with Jeronimo Cervantes and Adriel Trejo, Director of Sales and Hospitality, who shared the beautiful story of how the brand’s patriarch Xavier uprooted his life in Mexico and moved to Napa, snagging the last available piece of land to found their family vineyard. Nancy and Michael were thrilled to receive an invitation to visit the storied vineyard.

With some fresh faces at the table, the welcome reception proved the perfect opportunity to get to know new attendees. The four musketeers, Kelly & Adam Sekulow and Katherine & Conrad Mielcuszny flew in from Georgia and wowed the group with their beautiful friendship. Bringing a laugh a minute, the enchanting Julie and Lawrence Wosskow radiated warmth, laughter and love, accompanied by their signature wickedly sharp and playful sense of humor. This year, fellow Michigander Roy Arnold upped his game with the addition of his remarkable daughter Leah. Nancy left the welcome dinner blissfully aware that the perfect balance between new and familiar would make for the best Car Week yet.

Thursday morning kicked off with the perfect pairing of innovation and style–a remarkable viewing and breakfast with Eccentrica founder and president Emanuel Colombini. Seated across from the radiant Sukeshi O’Neal, Nancy was immediately captivated. The soon-to-be-owner of The Cristina, Sukeshi became Nancy’s full-time cheerleader. Relentless laughter ensued for these new forever friends–the conversation reaching new peaks when respective husbands Chuck and Michael entered the fray!

The day continued at the spectacular Holman Ranch, with famed driver Dario Francetti and the Gordon Murray Automotive team, where a rap symphony of T.50 engines sent a roar across the hills in perfect synchronicity.

After Holman Ranch, Nancy and Michael snuck away for their annual dinner with Bill and Nichole Lyon at the Tap Room at Pebble Beach. This special tradition helps to maintain a deep and unique friendship. Nancy and Michael then returned to the RR1 group for dinner with Pininfarina at a beautiful villa overlooking the water. Holy Batman! It was a special treat to celebrate Pininfarina’s B95 Gotham with proud Pininfarina owners and RR1 members Amy and Steve Bassett. The B95 Gotham is a hypercar designed by Automobili Pininfarina in collaboration with Wayne Enterprises, drawing inspiration from Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne. This one-of-a-kind creation debuted at Monterey Car Week and marks the first collaboration between Automobili Pininfarina and Warner Bros. Nancy and Michael were charmed by their tablemate Paolo Dellachà, Pininfarina’s Chief Product and Engineering Officer.

Car Week excitement accelerated to full speed at The Quail. For the third year in a row, the latest JAMAH x Gunther Werks collaboration debuted on one of the most exclusive stages in the car world. Gunther Werks’s 2024 offering, the Porsche 911 Twin Turbo “Green Machine” remastered by Gunther Werks features JAMAH well covers. The moss-trimmed black crocodile embossed lids secure to the behind-the-seat wells with magnetized closures, holding the wells’ contents in place on race day. Additionally, JAMAH x Gunther Werks offered three bag options designed to match the Turbo. The NAHM, named for Gunther Werks CEO Peter Nam and his wife Carol Hahn, is a sleek weekender in moss leather that features the Gunther Werks logo and Porsche’s signature hexagon quilting. Crafted in the same supple skin as the NAHM, The JOND, named for Peter & Carol’s four kids, is a convenient gear bag that perfectly fits the Porsche’s wells. And The Deb, named for RR1 members Debbi Diggs and Debbie Dacus, mirrors the design of the well covers in black crocodile embossed with moss trim. Since the genesis of their collaboration, JAMAH x Gunther Werks has been committed to creating beautiful bags that augment the functionality of high-end sports cars. The 2024 offerings achieve just that.

At the Quail, Nancy enjoyed meetings with old and new friends including Markus Siegwarth and Fairuz Jane Schlect, local hero and Director of Client Experience & Customization Design at Gunther Werks. Cristina introduced Nancy to the radiant and whimsical Melissa Bernard, Director of Client Experience at Gateway Bronco, who treated Nancy to a scintillating conversation about Bronco’s work at the intersection of ornately vintage and clean, modern luxury. Nancy wandered over to the Rolls-Royce booth, where she happily reconnected with the dynamic Julian Jenkins, Director of Sales & Brand. The gorgeous Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla was a pleasure to behold. As always, she was thrilled to see Trisha Hollingsworth, Director of Account Operations, AMCI Global. After Rolls-Royce, Nancy went to visit the Bentley booth to check in on one of her absolute favorite humans, Product Marketing Manager Rich Lindell, whom she met last year at the Bentley RR1 lunch. She also had the pleasure of meeting the charming Christophe Georges, Global Sales & Marketing Director. She linked up with President & CEO of Bentley Americas Mike Rocco, whose warmth and sense of humor brought Nancy right back to their Car Week 2023 conversation organized by RR1 members Bob and Susan Frazier. As always, it was a treat to spend time with the charismatic Luke Bahrenburg, President of Robb Report & Head of Luxury at PMC. Nancy loved hearing about Robb Report’s newest feature, The Vault, otherwise known as “his and Paul Croughton’s baby!”

After the excitement of the Quail, RR1 members were treated to more festivities during dinner at House of Robb. Nancy and Michael sat with fellow attendee Rick Corman, who treated them to a lovely evening of conversation. They enjoyed connecting with this inquisitive and curious car enthusiast.

Saturday began with a lively breakfast with Bentley’s Robin Page, Design Director, and Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing. The day’s highlight came when they announced the Bentley Test Drive, which of course Nancy heard as the Bentley Test Drive COMPETITION! Nancy triumphantly returned first, leaving the other drivers in her dust. She climbed out of the car, ready to celebrate her victory with Robin, only to see a petrified look flood his face. “Oh my God,” he said. “Did you not pull the handbrake?” Nancy looked over her shoulder to see the Continental GT Speed rolling down the hill. Her heart sank into her stomach, until she saw Robin’s devious grin: someone had jumped in the car! The “Handbrake Incident” has only been eclipsed in RR1 history by Nancy’s victory in the Bentley Test Drive Competition!

That afternoon, RR1 attendees returned to the House of Robb for a private Skorpios Tequila Tasting with Mina Trujillo, an enthusiastic ambassador for her brand. Viju Mathew moderated a stand-out panel called “What’s Next for the Collector-Car Market?” Alex Hirshi of Supercar Blondie shared tales of her adventures in the car world and CEO McKeel Hagerty shared insider knowledge from Hagerty Insurance. The infinitely endearing Robert Ross led the next panel, a captivating conversation between race car drivers Patrick Long and Bruno Senna. The event continued with a compelling interview featuring Robb Report’s Acting Editor-in-Chief, Josh Condon, and Aaron Paul. While many recognize Aaron for his portrayal of Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, Nancy now knows him as an automobile aficionado and winsome entrepreneur who successfully made the leap from crystal meth to mezcal, launching Dos Hombres Mezcal alongside his co-star Bryan Cranston, aka Walter White. The afternoon wrapped with the warm and alluring Diego Sabino and Aaron graciously treating the group to a tasting from their exciting venture, The Only Caviar.

Saturday ended with two grand finales: a fast but full trip to the Gunther Werks villa where Nancy and Michael enjoyed a beautiful dinner, and then finished the evening at House of Robb with a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to Chuck O’Neal (the secret was out!).

Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance was a fitting end to an exceptional week. Nancy started the morning sitting next to Julie Wosskow at the Bentley breakfast and shared a deep conversation, solidifying their new bond. The RR1 gang then headed to the Concours grounds, and Nancy and Michael slithered off to find Bill and Nichole Lyon and his 2024 Concours entry, a 1939 Packard. Nancy climbed into the Packard and was enjoying a lovely conversation with Nichole and her daughter Wells when an announcement boomed over the grounds: it was time to drive over the awards ramp. Nancy turned to Bill and reluctantly asked: “I guess we have to get out?” “No, stay in!” he cried. A grin flooded Nancy’s face as Bill started the engine and confidently drove the Packard over the awards ramp. It was the crowning moment of Nancy and Michael’s journey in the car world. Bill generously let Nancy keep one of the Packard’s Concours ribbons, and as she paraded around the grounds for the rest of the afternoon, she collected congratulations and was proudly dubbed “Best in Show.”

Nancy wore her ribbon to the Macallan whiskey tasting where she, Michael and the Wosskows had an unforgettable experience with the incredible Raquel Raies, Regional Education Manager at The Macallan Americas. They then headed back to the Ranch for the closing dinner, where Nancy enjoyed Amy Bassett’s company, laughing at her jokes and exchanging stories. The highlight of the evening came when she was presented with a playful gift from Cristina, an award for “winning” the Bentley race and her ribbon. Nancy proudly remembered: if you make everything in life a competition, there’s always something to win!

The next morning, Nancy and Michael enjoyed the best breakfast with Sukeshi and Chuck before hitting the road—a perfect way to close out the week and revel in her wins.

This year, like every year, Nancy gazed at the California coastline as they drove away from the Carmel Valley Ranch and found herself reflecting on the gift that is Monterey Car Week with Robb Report. The cars are always sleek; the wine is always exquisite. But time and time again, she finds herself reveling most in the people. Cristina Cheever proved for the umpteenth time to be the most beautiful friend and cheerleader. Nancy is infinitely grateful for her and the rest of the Robb Report team: Arpi Corbett, Caroline Barry, Darin Greenblatt, and everyone else who made Car Week 2024 one for the books. Ari Deprey and Leah Hanchard, you were missed!