For more than 30 years, one exclusive event has been a Wednesday-night fixture of Monterey Car Week. Originally known as the McCall’s Motorworks Revival, it became Motorlux after being acquired by Hagerty in 2019. The party evolved over time from a small gathering of friends into the “place to be” midweek.

After acquiring the party, Hagerty has worked to grow and evolve it into something better. Initially, there were some growing pains, but not only was this year’s Motorlux super-fun to attend, it also was a perfect mix of car culture and high-end social event.

The party was broken down into a map of various geographical areas where cars are built. At the entrance was a pub celebrating all things British, especially sports and racing cars. The food was perfect for the theme, including fish and chips, and bangers and mash, both of which were delicious.

Other areas included dedicated Italian and German sections, along with a special rally car display. Inside the hangar, a Japanese-themed area featured sushi chefs surrounded by cherry blossom trees; upstairs, guests could enjoy a meal prepared tableside by a Japanese chef.

One of the past complaints about this party (dating back to the McCalls era) was there was not enough food. That certainly wasn’t the case this year. Not only were there plenty of food stations catered by the best restaurants in the Monterey area, but there also were more than eight bars. If the line was too long at one, you could simply walk over to another.

The best aspect of the Motorlux party was the way its social atmosphere blended with the impressive collection of cars and aircraft on display. In the past, I would spend about an hour at Motorlux and then leave. This year, I spent many hours with some of my best friends eating, drinking, looking at some truly amazing cars and aircraft, and just having an amazing time.

Yes, much like The Quail, the ticket price is a bit steep — but remember, this is an exclusive party during Monterey Car Week. It is not only the perfect solution for your Wednesday dinner but also is one of the most enjoyable social events during Monterey Car Week. If you are present next year, I would highly recommend scoring a ticket to Motorlux so you can find out just how good this party has become.