McCall’s Jet Center party returns to Monterey Car Week

After a pandemic-enforced 1-year hiatus, the “Jet Center Party,” aka McCall’s Motorsports Revival, celebrated its 30th anniversary of passion for vintage cars, state-of-the-art aircraft, the latest supercars, and gourmet food and the finest California wines Wednesday evening.

Once again, Gordon and Molly McCall’s Motorworks Revival was the A-list soiree and the place to be on the Monterey Peninsula, where for many it serves as the kickoff of Monterey Car Week. The event draws around 3,000 friends and auto-moto-aero aficionados and raises money for the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation that provides assistance for the families of fallen officers.

McCall is known as a gearhead who feels responsible to “revive” the connections between the other gearheads who make the annual journey to Monterey. He also stages two big events each year at The Quail Lodge, one featuring motorcycles and one featuring collector cars.

Top-tier aviation and automotive-sector companies were represented on the slick tarmac of the Monterey Jet Center, where classic cars, motorcycles, private and military aircraft were parked together. 

We spotted the original camera cars used in the Ford v Ferrari movie with guests hovering over the vehicles, and admiring the camera adaptors that were anchored to the hoods of the Ford GT and the Ferrari. 

The Titus Mustang greeted guests at the Red Carpet entrance with a 6-piece Mariachi band playing songs of Mexico.

Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus (Super Jets), Airbus Helicopters, Cirrus Aircraft, and Jet It were some of the aircraft companies represented, and WeatherTech had a major presence as well.

For some excitement and ear-splitting thunder, a nostalgic front-engine Top Fuel Dragster fired up and brought tears to the eyes from the Nitro fumes that propel the 2,500 horsepower Hemi engine.

Personally, I’m thrilled to note that those attending also were greeted by a 10-foot backlit mural, the lead photograph from my story in 2019 for the ClassicCars.com Journal about the McCall Revival. That photograph now moves to the lobby of the Monterey Jet Center.