The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance returns to Amelia Island, Florida on March 11-14, 2010 to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Shepherded by Chairmen Bill Warner and Tom Cotter, the Amelia Island Concours has grown into one of the preeminent automotive events in the world, a must-see event year in and year out.
Held at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and the adjacent Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, the Concours is much more than the big show on Sunday, with several days full of poster and book signings, fascinating seminars, driving tours, parties, automobile and silent auctions, art shows, test drives and more. Here is a preview of this year’s Amelia Island Concours, including the official schedule of events.
See 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Schedule of Events.
2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance – Featured Guests and Marques
The 15th annual event takes place at the Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach from 9:30am to 5:00pm. Tickets are $45 in advance ($50 at gate), students 12 – 18 pay $20 and children under 12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.
NASCAR great Richard Petty will be the featured guest, serving as the key note speaker at the Concours’ annual Gala Dinner on Saturday and driving onto the show field on Sunday at 9:45am to officially open the Concours.
In addition to featured marque Mercedes-Benz, this year’s Concours will highlight the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s inaugural victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans by showcasing a number of influential 917s. This year’s Amelia will also honor Sir Stirling Moss, OBE and the 50th Anniversary of Moss’ victory in the last Cuban Grand Prix.
Seminars
On Saturday, March 13, 2010, “The King” Richard Petty will be joined with Sir Stirling Moss OBE and “Big Daddy” Don Garlits as these three icons discuss their careers, exploits and important milestones. In a seminar hosted by David Hobbs and Sam Posey, there will surely be stories and tales about the golden age of stock car racing, sports car racing and drag racing. The “Three Greats: Petty, Moss and Garlits” Seminar will take place at the Ritz-Carlton’s Grand Ballroom from 10:30am – 12 Noon. Reservations are required and tickets start at $30 per person.
The Automotive Design Seminar will include a panel of Ed Welburn (VP of Design for GM), Ralph Gilles (VP of Design for Chrysler) and Moray Callum (Director of Design for Ford). It takes place Friday, March 12th at 10:30am – 12 Noon at the Ritz-Carlton’s Grand Ballroom. Cost is $20 per person and reservations are required.
The Porsche 917 Seminar will include a panel of 917 drivers moderated by Tim Considine and Sam Posey. It takes place Friday, March 12th at 4pm at the Ritz-Carlton’s Talbot Ballroom. Cost is $20 per person and reservations are required.
Car Classes
The show’s founder and chairman, Bill Warner, is responsible for designing a class list that thrills from year to year. Show marques and themes are developed several years in advance and this year’s class list is no exception.
RP – Cars of Richard Petty
ACC- American Classic Closed (1925 – 1948)
ACO – American Classic Open (Pre 1931)
ACO1 – American Classic Open (1931 – 1933)
ACO2 – American Classic Open (1934 – 1942)
AP – American Production (Post War)
CCR – Cars of the Cuban Races
CNE – Cars You Never Knew Existed
D – Duesenberg
E – Etceterini
ECCF – European Custom Coachwork French
EPRE1 – European Classic Pre-War (1924 – 1935)
EPRE2 – European Classic Pre-War (1936 – 1939)
EPW – European Classic Post War
F – Ferrari
FF – Forgotten Fiberglass
GW – Mercedes-Benz Gullwings
HC – Horseless Carriage (1895 – 1915)
HCB – Horseless Carriage (40+hp)
M – Motorcycles – Triumph
MB – Classic Mercedes-Benz
MT – Motor Trend Cover Cars
P917 – Porsche 917
RC – Race Cars (Pre-War)
RC1 – Race Cars (1946 – 1962)
RC2 – Race Cars (1963 – 1972)
RR – Rolls-Royce Post War
RRSG – Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
SC – Sports Cars (Pre-War)
SC1 – Sports and GT Cars (Post War – 1953)
SC2 – Sports and GT Cars (1954 – 1957)
SC3 – Sports and GT Cars (1958 – 1968)
SL – Special Lincoln Display
Awards Presentation
The awards presentation begins at 11:30am at the awards tent located on the show field. Participants will compete for Best in Class or Amelia Awards (2nd or 3rd), in addition to Corporate Awards, which as the name implies are given by various corporate entities to their favorite cars. The Best in Class winners then compete for the overall Best of Show for two designations: Concours d’Elegance and Concours de Sport.
See 2009 Amelia Island Concours de Sport Best in Class Winners.
See 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Best in Class Winners.
See 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Best of Show Winners.
Mercedes-Benz
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Amelia Island Concours, Mercedes-Benz is offering test drives open to the public for Mercedes-Benz AMG and Maybach vehicles:
— 2010 E63 sedan and SL63 AMG convertible equipped with 6.3-liter V8 engine that puts out 518 hp
— Maybach 57 a modern super-luxury car powered by a V-12 bi-turbo engine
The test drives will take place at the Ritz-Carlton from Thursday, March 11 from 1pm – 5pm and Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 from 9am – 5pm.
Mercedes-Benz is also displaying the all-new 2011 SLS AMG and 2011 E-Class Cabriolet, in addition to their Vintage Vehicle Display that will feature a 1952 300 SL Racing Coupe and 1954 300 SL Gullwing.
Automotive Fine Arts Society Exhibit
The Automotive Fine Arts Society will host its 15th annual art show during the Concours on March 11-14. 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.
Automobiles of Amelia Island Auction – RM Auctions
RM Auctions will hold its Automobiles of Amelia Island auction on Saturday, March 13th on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Headline cars include 50 consignments from the collection of the late John O’Quinn, ex-Shelby Team 289 Cobra Roadster CSX 2557, an alloy-bodied Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, an ex-Ecurie Ecosse Tojeiro Jaguar Sports Racing Car and a 1964 Pontiac Banshee Coupe.
Amelia Island Auction – Gooding & Company
Gooding & Company will hold its inaugural Amelia Island Auction event on Friday, March 12th on the grounds of the nearby Amelia Island Plantation. Gooding & Company assembled more than 70 cars for its auction, headlined by the 1931 Voisin C20 Mylord Demi-Berline, 1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix, 1961 Porsche RS61, 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Aerodinamica, 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Roadster and 1932 Bugatti Type 50 Drop Head Coupe.
For more information, visit www.ameliaconcours.org.
[Source: Amelia Island Concours; photo credit: Al Wolford]
Sounds fabulous! I can hardly wait.