This month marks a defining chapter for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as Sandra Button transitions from Chairman to pass the torch to Vincent Finaldi, reminding us that legacy transcends titles.
True impact lies far beyond titles or accolades; it rests in character, the positive influence one creates, and the mission embraced throughout a lifetime.
For forty years, Sandra Button devoted her career to leading and growing what is arguably the most prestigious automotive event on earth. Over the course of that time, she helped the Concours evolve into a global institution that has since become the very foundation upon which Monterey Car Week was born.
figcaption id=”caption-attachment-37522″ class=”wp-caption-text”>In the Driver’s Seat: How Sandra Button Steered The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for 40 Years – Image credit: Mark Estes/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Leading the organization—a small but mighty team of industrious, dedicated employees—she transformed a one‑day exhibition into a week‑long celebration that ends on the legendary fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Yet her impact extends far beyond icons of automotive fame; her life reads like an adventure book, fueled by a deep passion for beautiful machines as much as for the people who move them.
Sandra Button taught herself to drive a Bugatti Veyron alone through France, raced the Mille Miglia, and traversed six continents behind the wheel. Even amid these thrills, she never forgot the core principle settled on that first fairway day: that cars matter, but the people matter more.
figcaption id=”caption-attachment-37520″ class=”wp-caption-text”>In the Driver’s Seat: How Sandra Button Steered The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for 40 Years – Image credit: Sandra Button/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Decades later, we finally had the courage to conduct an in‑depth Q&A. I have long admired her quiet tenacity, resilience, and determined spirit. After spending my whole life attending the Concours—and covering Monterey Car Week for over a decade—I am honored to spotlight her in today’s tribute.
Sandra Button grew up in Seattle, Washington, where, as a teenager, she fell in love with the freedom cars represent. Her first foothold in the world of competition was with a Mustang; she later studied at Washington State University before relocating to Monterey Peninsula in 1986 to organize dog shows, polo matches, golf events, and prize‑giving dinners at Pebble Beach. Little did she know that a single Sunday car show would reshape her destiny.
By 1991, she had established the role of Executive Director—the first full‑time steward the event possessed—and outlined a ambitious plan to fill it. That plan was approved, and in 2002 she joined Glenn Mounger as Co‑Chairman. By 2005 she assumed the role of sole Chairman, a position she has held ever since. In the interim, she pioneered the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, RetroAuto, the Classic Car Forum, and a charitable giving program surpassing $50 million in donations to Monterey County nonprofits.
Her reputation precedes her; head designers, automotive executives, and car collectors alike know her name, and they respect the profound influence she has built. Among the most consequential figures in the automotive world’s history is Sandra Button, yet when pressed, she points primarily to the people.
figcaption id=”caption-attachment-37525″ class=”wp-caption-text”>In the Driver’s Seat: How Sandra Button Steered The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for 40 Years – Exhibit Year 2012 – Sir Stirling Moss and Sandra Button – Image credit: Kimball Studios/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
CLP: Your arrival at Pebble Beach in the mid‑1980s was to organize dog shows, polo matches, golf events, and award dinners—yet you remained for four decades, transforming a modest showcase into a week‑long motor legend that birthed Monterey Car Week. What moment crystallized this calling?
SB: “From the moment I saw it, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance left an indelible impression. The competitive edge mixed with gentle elegance, the air buzzing with excitement, yet tempered by community spirit. Power and beauty swirled throughout—in the scenery, the vehicles, and the grace and sophistication of those gathered. I KNEW I belonged there.”
Shortly after, MaryAlice Ritzmann, a powerful PR specialist for Mercedes‑Benz, invited me to meet racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio, emphasizing that cars are vital but the people behind them are equally crucial. How did this insight shape me?
That impulse propelled me toward deeper involvement; soon I envisioned a way to champion the event. My proposal to become Executive Director was accepted. Lorin Tryon and Jules Heumann mentored me early on, while Glenn Mounger and others guided the journey. Lounging beside him, I emerged as Co‑Chairman, and upon his step aside, I continued his legacy.
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CLP: The Concours I inherited was cherished locally—now it stands as a weeklong global automotive summit. Which pivotal choices turned it from regional to international?
SB: “When I first joined, the event was already shifting regionally to international. Before I arrived, Pebbel Beach hosted all six Bullitt Royal’s simultaneously—the first time they traveled together—requiring diplomatic immunity on U.S. soil. That gathering garnered worldwide interest. Since then, we have amplified those threads.”
Groupings of intriguing collections of automobiles have become the event’s signature, drawing designers and racing legends alike. These assemblages invite discussion and showcase innovations not previously displayed. Flexibility lets us rapidly reflect community shifts and emerging enthusiast trends. We remain enthusiast‑driven, built from the ground up.
figcaption id=”caption-attachment-37521″ class=”wp-caption-text”>In the Driver’s Seat: How Sandra Button Steered The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for 40 Years – Exhibit Year 2012 – Sir Stirling Moss and Sandra Button – Image credit: Kimball Studios/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
CLP: To build the Tour d’Élégance, RetroAuto, the Motoring Classic, and classic car forums—a week rooted around one Sunday event—what prompted that vision?
SB: “My goal was to be the finest host for car enthusiasts arriving from every corner of the globe. I deliberately centered community-building—to celebrate drivers and engines beyond the roar of horsepower—but sometimes progress meets resistance. I advocated for the Pebble Beach Tour (driving cars, not just showing them), offering incentives to entice owners. Others pushed for age diversity; newer entries introduced hobbys like electric power and preserved auto culture, proving that tradition evolves when welcomed.”
figcaption id=”caption-attachment-37529″ class=”wp-caption-text”>In the Driver’s Seat: How Sandra Button Steered The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for 40 Years – Tour d’Élégance 2016 Sandra and Martin Button – Image credit: Bob Brown/Pebble Beach Concours d‘Elegance
CLP: Driving a Bugatti Veyron solo across France, competing in the Mille Miglio, and rallying across six continents while running the event—how does that perspective shape the selection process?
SB: “Car lovers seek the freedom a vehicle offers—traveling the world and connecting with a global community. Cars stitch together borders, creating shared stories. Changing practices occur, yet the core mission endures: inviting diverse participants to experience excellence.”
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CLP: The Concourse has raised over $50 million for charity; how was that driven under your guidance?
SB: “Charity was integral from day one, though the majority of donations surged in the last decade. Collectors eager to give, automotive schools needing funding, and young talent seeking mentorship formed the core of our giving engine. I have championed expanding local nonprofit support—student scholarships, health and education initiatives, and automotive education pathways. The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, launched in the early ’90s, channels these gifts to more than 120 community charities in Monterey County.”
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CLP: You emphasized inclusive progress—welcoming electric cars, hot rods, preservation classes—so how do you balance tradition with evolution?
SB: “Tradition and change are two sides of the same coin. Introducing new formats yields novelty; repeating success embeds it as custom. My stance is continuous refinement: innovate, test, preserve best moments. Yes, friction arises—older judges favor newer craftsmanship, younger judges prefer vintage grandeur. Both perspectives enrich the community.”
CLP: The 75th anniversary is your final tenure as Chairman before stepping into Global Brand Ambassador and Strategic Advisor. Looking back, what moment felt like the pinnacle of your legacy?
SB: “The ultimate triumph is knowing we’ve nurtured respect for cars and broadened enthusiasm among attendees. I hope visitors leave feeling their affinity for automobiles has expanded, that they’ve forged new connections, and perhaps encountered a vehicle that sparked their own curiosity.”
CLP: For women entering the automobile world, what advice would you offer?
SB: “Remember passion knows gender. A car honors its owner whether male or female. Never surrender your
