After learning, late on Thursday, that the Gumball 3000 was in town and would be kicking off on Nob Hill from the host Fairmont Hotel, I knew what I’d be up to around noon on Saturday. So I caught the 1 California to the top of the Nob and investigated the scene. It was packed. Several hundred Bay Area enthusiasts had descended (ascended?) on the scene to a) inspect the machinery and b) enjoy the spectacle.

The selection of cars was solid, although there were a few too many mundane models (Scions, Golfs, and Escalades). A sprinkling of old-school Detroit iron mixed with lots of European performance cars, heavily tilted towards the extreme high end of the price scale set the tone. From what I understand, the entrance fee to participate is over $100k, so the rich field of rally cars is to be expected.

Add to the automotive exotica a dash of minor celebrity, and the sense of occasion and glamor, combined with the frequent redlining of Ferrari, Lambo, and Porsche V8s and V12s to entertain the crowd, and it was a great way to spend and hour or so on a Saturday morning. Here’s some of the pics I shot. If you want to see more, check out Jalopnik’s photo galleries. Or this one.