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BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

By Andre James

 

Car enthusiasts are a convivial and generous lot. When they come together at picturesque locations across the country for a Concours d'Elegance, a high-brow motoring show and tell, these gearheads, collectors, aficionados, and admirers make a significant impact on the charitable interests of the host city. Even without an event in 2020, the storied Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance still managed to distribute more than $1million to its local charity partners.


"Since its beginning, the Pebble Beach Concours has had two goals," said Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Button, "to celebrate great cars and to raise money for people in need. We are proud to have raised almost $30 million for our local charity partners since the inception of the event in 1950."


While the pandemic has conditioned us to enter dates into our calendars using a pencil rather than permanent ink, we've rounded up a list of domestic car shows that, as of press time, are scheduled to take place in 2021.


April

25: Benedict Castle Concours, Riverside CA

30-May 2: The Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance, White Sulphur Springs, WV


Held on a picturesque show field with The Greenbrier's iconic front entrance as a backdrop, this year, a special Movie Cars class will feature big-screen favorites like ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters and Boss Hogg's Cadillac from Dukes of Hazzard. Special awards pay homage to the resort's historical legacy and roster of famous guests, including the Princess Grace Award (Most Elegant Open Car), the Dorothy Draper Award (Most Stylish Interior, Selected by Carleton Varney), and the Sam Snead Award (Best Country Club Car).


May

20-23: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, FL


Now in its third decade, the Amelia Island event is considered among the top motoring events in the world, drawing more than 300 rare vehicles to the show field at the Golf Club at Amelia Island. Special events on the days leading up to the Concours on May 23rd include a "Guardians of Porsche Wine Maker's Dinner" on May 20, a McLaren Dinner on May 21, and seminars on Chevy Thunder and the Porsche 935.


28-30: Sandhills Motoring Festival, Pinehurst, NC


Initiated in 2018 by members of the Porsche Club and Mercedes Benz Clubs pf America, this Memorial Day weekend event draws more than 150 entrants and motoring enthusiasts with events including a Southern BBQ, a road rally, hangar party, a show in the Village of Pinehurst, and an awards dinner.


June

11-13: Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance, Cincinnati, OH


The longest continually running Concours outside of the West Coast and the 4th longest in the United States, the 43rd annual event will be held in picturesque and historic Ault Park, where a classic pavilion overlooking the show field of 200 premier collector vehicles.The show has the distinction of introducing several innovations, including the first regular classes of motorcycles (2000) and Asian collector cars (2006). Special events include a countryside tour, hangar party, craft beer garden, brunch at the pavilion, and the William Sherman Automotive Art Show.

July


This third-annual event will be held on the grounds of the Studebaker National Museum. If you have a budding car enthusiast, be sure to sign them up for the Hagerty Junior Judging program.



Benefiting the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital, the show field is laid out among mature shade trees on the lawn in front of Keeneland's Keene Barn.


23-25: Concours d'Elegance of America, Plymouth, MI


A distinguished car selection committee upholds a four-decade history of showcasing the most magnificent motoring icons on the lawns surrounding the historic Inn at St. John's. Evolving like other great motoring shows into a multi-day lifestyle event has allowed it to contribute more than $5 million to charitable organizations.


August


When the 2021 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion kicks off for four days on August 12 at Monterey County's WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, several driver and fan favorites will be on the grid. Adding to the anticipation will be the first time a dedicated historic Indy Car group, which originally competed between 1963 and 1978, will be racing at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The Indy Cars will be complemented by two wildly disparate groups: the thundering historic Trans-Am cars from the "pony car" era of 1966 to1972 and the high-revving historic Formula One cars that competed on the international stage between 1966 and 1985.



One of the most exclusive motoring events on the calendar for eighteen years, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering has provided an unparalleled and exclusive experience for motorsports enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to enjoy rare collections of fine automobiles and motorcycles in a garden-party setting on the rolling greens of Quail Lodge & Golf Club. Admission includes access to five gourmet culinary pavilions, as well as caviar, oysters, fine wines, specialty cocktails, champagne, and more.


15: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Pebble Beach, CA


Seventy years back, on November 5, 1950, the first Pebble Beach Road Race took place — and the Pebble Beach Concours was born with it. To mark this historic event, event organizers invited Derek Hill to retrace the old road race course driving the very same Jaguar XK120 that his father Phil had driven to victory 70 years prior. Three more drivers and four more cars would record overall wins in the Pebble Beach Road Races before the tree-lined course proved to be too dangerous, and a new circuit was built to host them at Laguna Seca beginning in 1957. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, will gather all five of the winning cars on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, alongside many past Best of Show winners from the Concours to mark its 70th celebration.Additional features and special classes will pay tribute to early electric cars, 90 Years of Pininfarina, Porsche 917, Early Electric Vehicles, Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Iso Rivolta, Miller, and cars of the Carrera Panamericana.



Sold out year-after-year, this event brings together one-of-a-kind vintage vehicles, one-off assembly automobiles, custom private jets, extraordinary vintage aircraft, and a moveable feast presented by some of the area's top restaurants. Proceeds from the event benefit The Morgan Adams Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children diagnosed with pediatric brain tumors and other rare cancers.



Special classes at the 2021 Geneva Concours, a leafy community located 32 miles west of Chicago in the Fox River Valley, include early autos built in the Chicago area, the 100th birthday of the Duesenberg, and the 60th birthday of the Austin Mini Cooper.


28: Carmel Artomobilia, Carmel, IN


A unique convergence of art and autos, this annual event takes place on the streets of the Carmel Arts & Design District. Other weekend events include SHIFT, a unique driving experience for an eclectic group of auto collectors, and the REVOLANTÉ gala at THE Bridgewater Club.


September

3-5: Virginia Festival of the Wheel, Charlottesville, VA


Held at the Boar's Head Resort in Charlottesville, proceeds from the event support the UVA Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund.



Bringing together classic cars and the world of horses and fox hunting, it is held at the Radnor Hunt in the countryside of Chester County. A marketplace at the event features motoring and lifestyle vendors.


18: New York City Concours, New York, NY


The event's location, the Rooftop at Pier 17 in Manhattan's Seaport District, gives it the distinction of being the world's first day-to-night rooftop Concours. A lifestyle event that melds motoring with art, music, fashion, and entertainment, proceeds will benefit the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club.

18-19: Huntington Beach Concours d'Elegance, Huntington Beach, CA


This 35th annual family-friendly event will be held over two days at Central Park in Huntington Beach. Since its founding, this volunteer-run event has raised more than $900,000 in support of the Huntington Beach Public Library.


17-19: Vail Automotive Classic, Vail, CO


This 12th annual event will welcome show cars to the streets of Lionshead Village.


30-October 3: Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week, Newport, RI

In 2019, more than 70,000 visitors participated in a weeklong series of event hosted at some of Newport's most notable locations; the historic mansions of Bellevue Avenue, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Audrain Automobile Museum, the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, the National Museum of American Illustration, the Newport Pell Bridge, and local city and state parks. The bespoke Best in Show trophy pays homage to Willie K. Vanderbilt, his 1900 Daimler Phoenix, and the origins of Newport's profound automotive history.

October

23-24: Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich, CT

Owned and produced by Hagerty, this 25th annual event has added new "hands on the wheel" experiences for 2021 in addition to time-honored traditions such as the Grand Tour and Waterfront Party. Featured classes for 2021 will include Ford vs. GM, Lancia, 100 Years of Duesenberg, 70 Years of Allard, Right Coast Rods, Vintage SUVs, 120 Years of Indian, and 100 Years of Moto Guzzi.

 

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