Ken Miles MG specials to appear at Pebble

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance organizers said on July 31 that two MG-based specials built and raced by Ken Miles will appear at the event’s 75th edition on August 16. The cars — MG R1 and MG R2, known as “The Flying Shingle” — are being presented as part of the concours’ Pebble Beach Road Racing classes, according to the official event announcement. More than 70 years after they competed on the original road-race course through Del Monte Forest, the same pair will return to Pebble Beach with Miles’ name at the center of the display. ### Which Ken Miles cars are coming back to Pebble Beach? MG R1 and MG R2 are the two cars named by Pebble Beach Concours in its announcement. The event said R2 is the better-known of the pair, a one-off MG-based special nicknamed “The Flying Shingle,” and described both cars as part of a historic pairing tied to Miles’ early career. (pebblebeachconcours.net) Ken Miles, who later became widely known for his work as a driver, engineer and builder, created and raced the specials before his better-known Ford years. Pebble Beach Concours said the cars helped establish him as one of American motorsport’s leading talents, while Magneto reported that the two machines were raced by Miles at Pebble Beach more than seven decades ago. (pebblebeachconcours.net) ### Why are these two MG specials significant? The 1955 Pebble Beach Road Races are central to the display. Pebble Beach materials say Miles drove R2 in the 1955 Pebble Beach Cup and that the pairing of R1 and R2 is meant to honor the men and machines that raced there before moving onto broader motorsport stages. (pebblebeachconcours.net) Magneto reported that the return places the cars back on the Pebble Beach stage more than 70 years after their original competition appearances. That timing aligns with the 75th running of the concours, which organizers have said will pay tribute to the event’s roots in racing. (pebblebeachconcours.net) ### How does this fit into the 2026 concours theme? The 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, 2026, at The Lodge at Pebble Beach in California. The event’s official site says this year’s concours will include classes tied to Pebble Beach Road Racing history, including production racers and handcrafted specials that once ran on the original course. (magnetomagazine.com) Pebble Beach Concours said the Ken Miles pairing will appear alongside about 20 other Pebble Beach road-racing greats. The event said the classes were curated to reflect the concours’ founding connection to the Pebble Beach Road Races, which began in 1950. ### Where does this sit within Monterey Car Week? (pebblebeachconcours.net) Monterey Car Week runs in the days leading up to the concours, with the Pebble Beach event serving as the closing centerpiece on August 16. The official Pebble Beach Concours homepage lists that date for the 75th edition, and outside event guides cited in recent coverage place Monterey Car Week across August 7-16. (pebblebeachconcours.net) The Ken Miles display joins other heritage and modern showcases announced for the week. Recent coverage has also highlighted a 60th-anniversary Lamborghini Miura display and Bugatti’s planned public showing of the one-off Destrier during Monterey Car Week, though the Miles cars are part of the concours’ historical road-racing focus. (pebblebeachconcours.net) ### What happens next for people following the display? August 16 is the next fixed date in the schedule. Pebble Beach Concours said the Ken Miles specials will appear at The Lodge at Pebble Beach as part of the Pebble Beach Road Racing classes, and the event’s official site lists tickets, entrant information and the event calendar for that day. (pebblebeachconcours.net) (msn.com)