Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Concourse d’Elegance Amelia Island, Fl 2010

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The world’s finest vintage motor cars will again visit Amelia Island, on March 12 – 14, 2010, for the highly anticipated annual event, The 15th Annual Amelia Island Concourse d’Elegance.

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is a vintage auto event featuring over 250 rare classics from seldom-seen private collections nationwide. The show takes place at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

The event is often referred to as the ‘Pebble Beach of the East Coast’, attracting collectors and car enthusiasts from all over the world to the Northeast coast of Florida.

The event will honor the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s inaugural victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans and showcase a number of influential 917s. This model is by many considered to be one of the most significant racecars of our time. This year’s Concours will also honor Sir Stirling Moss, OBE and the 50th Anniversary of Moss’ victory in the last Cuban Grand Prix.

Art Show during 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

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The Automotive Fine Arts Society will host its 15th annual art show during the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 11-14, 2010, in Amelia Island, Fla. Mazda North America will once again sponsor the popular exhibit, which will showcase automotive subjects in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolors, acrylics, wood, gouache, pen and ink, clay and metal. The AFAS was established in 1983 and consists of the most celebrated automotive artists in the world.

Painting by Charlie Maher commemorating Stirling Moss and his victory at the Cuban Grand Prix 50 years ago.

“Each spring our members look forward to displaying at the Amelia Island Concours, which has become one of the true gems of automotive events worldwide,” said Ken Eberts, president of the AFAS. “Our artists, who are finishing their new pieces for the show, always seem to exhibit paintings that connect with the cars and people of Amelia Island. The event’s ability to celebrate both man and machine inspires us to do the same.”

Held at the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Hotel and The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, the Amelia Island Concours is among the most popular automotive events in the country. Celebrities, industry leaders, art collectors and automotive enthusiasts regularly attend the annual event and the AFAS exhibit.

Honoree of the Concours will be famed NASCAR champion, “The King” Richard Petty, while Mercedes-Benz will serve as the featured marque. The event will also commemorate the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s inaugural victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans, while showcasing several influential 917s. Sir Stirling Moss will also be on hand as the Concours celebrates the 50th Anniversary of his victory in the last Cuban Grand Prix. Several artists will display paintings and sculptures honoring these special guests.

“The AFAS always exhibits the best examples of art showcasing our honoree and historic racing moments,” noted Bill Warner, Amelia Island Concours Chairman. “The Amelia is about the celebration of our heroes and great moments in racing. The artists of the AFAS feel the same passion as the staff and volunteers of the Concours.”

The Winners – Hilton Head Island Concourse d’Elegance 2009

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The premier winners, the coveted ‘Best of Show’ and ‘People’s Choice’ awards along with the two recently established honors ‘Most Outstanding Car – Pre-1948’ and ‘Most Outstanding Car – Post-1948’ were chosen today for the prestigious Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, held at the historic Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.

concourse2Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance top honor, “Best of Show,” was awarded to a 1933 Rolls-Royce Coupe owned by Frank & Milli Ricciardelli of Monmouth
Beach, NJ.  First Owned by Sir Hugh Cunliffe-Owen, Baronet of Brey, County of Berkshire, Chairman of British American Tobacco Company and Director of Midland Bank, this car is a one off example with a PII Continental High Speed Chassis.  It was built specially for demonstration purposes. Other
significant awards on Sunday included “People’s Choice” awarded to a 1932 Packard Opera Coupe owned by Grace Clark of Yonges Island, SC.  The car was restored by her father 17 years ago.  Most Outstanding Car – Pre-1948 went to John W. Rich Sr.’s 1914 Renault EF and Most Outstanding Car – Post 1945 went to a 1957 Ford Thunderbird owned by Vernon Smith.  Philip Capossela, Event Chairman for the Hilton Head Island show, said, “we certainly had a tremendous show this year with more entries.  This year’s top honors were well deserved and we’re proud to have them in the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival’s history book.”  Added to that sentiment, Dr. Paul Doerring, one of the founding members of the Hilton Head Island event, stated, that “because we are able to display such outstanding cars, we had to showcase more of our remarkable entries with additional top awards over the past two years.  We’re proud that selecting a single “Best of Show” has becoming nearly impossible.”

councourse3Saturday’s top honors for the Car Club Jamboree were the “Best of Show Award” given to a 1967 Ferrari owned by Reinhold Preik, “People’s Choice
Award” given to a 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster owned by Ray Morgan, and the Chairman’s Award awarded to a 1950 Chrysler Town & Country Woodie Wagon owned by Aiken Ryan.

More than 600 automobiles made their way to the Hilton Head Island, SC/Savannah, GA Lowcountry this weekend to participate in the 8th
anniversary event. Dennis Gage of the SPEED Channel’s My Classic Car was on-site filming the Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic track event on
Savannah’s Hutchinson Island for his 2010 season.  Plus, Gage, was on-hand to select his favorite motorcycles from the Motoring Midway including “Best
Midway Motorcycle” awarded to a 1966 Honda CA 77 owned by William Aldrich of Lake City, FL and runner ups H.C. Morris for his 1967 Triumph T120TT and Robert O’Kelley for his 1970 Norton Commando S.  Michael Spezia, Executive Director and CEO of The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, served as the 2009 Honorary Chairman.

Carolyn Vanagel, Executive Director for the Motoring Festival today remarked, “The event was better than it’s ever been – higher quality, more
variety, larger exhibits – , the crowds were engaged, and I think we have had a record year.  There was a lot of excitement on the show field.”
Vanagel stated that the combination of the four glorious events, the Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic, the newly established Motoring Midway, the Car Club Jamboree and, of course, the pinnacle, the Concours d’Elegance, as well as the increased number and variety of sponsors, all helped to boost this year’s success.

Positioned as one of the last Concours in the national annual show circuit, the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival has quickly
climbed the ranks among national Concours events.   In just eight short years, Hilton Head Island is already considered by many as being among those elite USA events with the likes of Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook and Amelia Island.
Hilton Head Island Concourse d’Elegance 2009 – our previous post

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Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival

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This event is something for car enthusiasts of all kinds. It’s a great opportunity to watch beautiful cars in both Hilton Head, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

The festival kicks off already on Thursday Oct 29th in Savannah with the preparations for the race and there’s also a Happy Hour reception for drivers and fans at Johnson Square 5pm-8pm.

The Savannah/Hilton Head Speed Classic takes place at the newly renovated track at Hutchinson Island on Friday and Saturday.  The Speed Classic offers vintage racing and hot lap rides at racing speeds in the latest and greatest sports car models. So plan to spend a full day.

Then on Sunday it’s time for the Concourse d’Elegance at Coastal Discovery Museum in Hilton Head Island.
150 vintage cars and motorcycles (all Pre 1980) are competing for various prizes and awards. Also at the museum The Motoring Midway: From Memory Lane to the Fast Lane.  This is a two-day  exhibit with  interactive displays featuring both the new and the old,  including bikes of all kinds, new vehicle displays and much more.

Hilton Head concourse d’elegance takes place Oct 29 – 31. For more information visit www.hhiconcourse.com

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