August 2025: An Unforgettable Month

August 2025 has been nothing short of insane. Car Week in Monterey was packed with moments I’ll never forget—from visiting the Koenigsegg House, to enjoying the latest releases at The Quail, to admiring motorsports icons on the Concours lawn. Monterey Car Week might be a break from the day-to-day grind at the shop, but it’s definitely not a break when it comes to sleep. The events run all day, every day, and even after the shows wrap up, car spotting around the peninsula feels like its own event.

If you know me well enough, you know I never really rest. But at least Monterey offered a step back from the usual chargebacks and customer service headaches. And fortunately, Car Week gave me the chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones—all while representing FFP, just without the hands-on work of running the shop day to day.

One of the highlights was spending an afternoon at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with great friends from the Bondurant Racing School. We also grabbed food and drinks with friends at local spots like Hog’s Breath in Carmel-by-the-Sea, making the week even more memorable. Monterey Car Week 2025 was a mix of unique cars, great memories, and the kind of energy that reminds me why I do what I do.

Hitting the Auctions & Car Grails

I spent part of the weekend at a few of the auctions, watching some true car unicorns get bidded on. Along the way, I snapped a bunch of mediocre photos on my phone—because I can’t always be the media guy while juggling everything else. The buyers and clients at Monterey Car Week are on a whole different level of wealth, but that only serves as motivation for me to push harder and grow the company—until we might work with and be around these caliber of vehicles more often. After all, this level of car is what started it all for me.

My passion for cars is unmatched. It all started when I was five, reading about the McLaren F1 in a magazine full of supercars. I was mesmerized by its center-seat driving position, dihedral doors, and incredible top speed. Seeing the McLaren F1 in person at Car Week was surreal—this was one of the cars that sparked my love for cars from the very beginning. That passion eventually led me to serve the car community in a bigger way, helping enthusiasts bring their dream builds to life. It also inspired me to found Function Factory Performance, creating a shop dedicated to pushing the boundaries of performance and craftsmanship. Don’t forget—we’ve been “doing the damn thing” since 2017.

What Makes Car Week Special?

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Car Week, but it’s far more than just a couple of events. The action spans Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Highlands, Salinas, Laguna Seca, Big Sur, and Seaside, making it a week-long celebration. Widely regarded as the premier automotive event in the world, it attracts enthusiasts, collectors, and industry professionals from across the globe. This event has now become a staple for me and my business partners, Will and Bill Waesche. Unfortunately, neither of them was able to make it to Monterey this year, and their presence was certainly missed. Even without them, the energy of Car Week was undeniable—chaotic, exhilarating, and full of unforgettable moments. What makes it truly special isn’t just the cars—it’s the shared connection with business partners, friends, and fellow enthusiasts. Of course, a sprinkle of cars you won’t see anywhere else certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Among the many incredible events, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, offered a chance to see some of the latest releases, rare cars, and stunning custom builds in a more intimate, scenic setting. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, on the other hand, is the crown jewel of Car Week, featuring meticulously restored classics, modern supercars, and motorsports icons on the lawn. Both events provided the perfect balance—up-close car spotting, mingling with enthusiasts, and reliving the history of these incredible machines. The allure of Car Week only grows when you add other events like Werks Reunion, Avants Monterey Pit Stop, the Rolex Motorsports Reunion, and more, making it an unforgettable week from start to finish.

That said, my only critique this year is that car spotters can make viewing some of the cars a bit of a challenge. Every year, Car Week seems to grow in popularity, which means the narrow streets of Carmel and Monterey are more crowded than ever. But the duality of Car Week is what makes it what it is—even some of the chaos adds to the experience.

The only thing we can all agree on is that we don’t need to see two McLarens vandalized, a Lamborghini Murciélago crashing and being totaled, or a one-of-one 675LT catching fire. And that’s not even mentioning the Audi R8 that ended up off the road and into some trees. Luckily, we’re helping the owner of the 675LT navigate warranty work and get the car back to its rightful condition. It’s a reminder that the reality of owning and protecting these cars is just as important as enjoying them to the fullest.

Our Cars on Display

For Car Week, we brought two standout vehicles to represent Function Factory Performance. We trailered up the Technica Auto Parts Huracán Sterrato, fully equipped with the Vorsteiner Carbon Aero Package, and drove up our ongoing NOVITEC McLaren 750S project. Both cars drew attention everywhere they went, sparking conversations and giving people a chance to see our work up close. Opportunities like this let us demonstrate the care and dedication we pour into each build. This also served as a kickoff with Novitec as an official partner of FFP. Showcasing our ongoing McLaren 750S project highlighted not only the work we do, but also the exciting collaboration and future opportunities this partnership brings.

The Journey There and Back & Safe Transport

Getting our cars to Monterey Car Week is always part of the adventure, and having the right equipment makes all the difference. Huge thanks to JIMGLO’s Elite enclosed trailer — with its all-aluminum build, low ramps, winch, secure tie-downs, and easy-access doors, transport was smooth and worry-free. We used the trailer to safely get the cars from our shop in Thousand Oaks up to Monterey, and it was just as reliable on the trip back home. Knowing the cars were secure allowed us to focus on the week ahead, enjoying the events and taking in the stunning views of the Central Coast. Safe transport is just as crucial as the builds themselves, and JIMGLO made the entire journey seamless in both directions.

From Car Week to Your Garage

After an incredible Car Week filled with hypercars and unforgettable moments, we’re reminded why we do what we do. At Function Factory Performance, our focus has always been on delivering hands-on, expert service to the McLaren and Mustang communities. From precision installations to personalized guidance, we’re here to make every customer experience extraordinary. Car Week let us experience the absolute best the automotive world has to offer—and we’re bringing that same passion, energy, and attention to every car we touch.

Charles Siritho
Owner, Function Factory Performance
📍 49 Taylor Ct, Unit #B, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
📧 Installs@FFPerformance.co | 📞 805-267-9762
📸 @ffperformanceaz