One of the things I anticipate about the arrival of Magneto, the relatively new quarterly magazine from England, is the editors’ top-50 rankings.
The inaugural issue offered a list of the 50 most-influential people in the collector car world.
Next it was the 50 top innovations in Formula 1 racing, followed by the 50 greatest concept cars, and then the 50 greatest movie cars.
Issue No. 5 has just arrived and, albeit written from a British perspective, the newest top-50 listing, “The Top 50 Greatest Events in the World,” is certain to ignite some discussion.
Because of the British bias (including 3 of the events the editors rank among the world’s top-5), I’m not going to share the entire list (except to say that the Goodwood Revival was No. 1). However, I am going to share how events in North America were rated, and I’d be curious to know if you agree:
49. Arizona Auction Week
40. Hershey Fall Meet
39. LaJolla Concours d’Elegance
37. Greenwich Concours d’Elegance
35. Luftgektuhlt
32. Cavallino Classic
31. Daytona Classic (races)
28. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
27. Colorado Grand (vintage rally)
23. La Carrera Panamericana
21. Audrain’s Newport Concours and Motor Week
12. Monterey Motorsports Reunion
10. Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
9. Bonneville Speed Week
2. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Or, another way of looking at the list:
1. Pebble Beach, 2. Bonneville, 3. Amelia Island, 4. Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 5. Audrian Newport concours, 6. La Carrera, 7. Colorado Grand, 8. The Quail, 9. Daytona vintage, 10. Cavallino Classic, 11. Luftgektuhlt, 12. Greenwich, 13. LaJolla, 14. Hershey, 15. Arizona Auction Week.
Do you agree? What other events would you rate among the top-10, let alone the top-15?
What about the Spring and Fall Chalotte AutoFair at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is sponsored by the Hornets Nest Region, AACA and partnered with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Collector Cars, Car Parts and memorabilia for sale, AACA National Meet on Saturday (Spring) and over a thousand cars on display during the Speedway’s car giant show on Saturday & Sunday. How could you overlook this one?
The Hillsborough Concours should be considered in the top 15 at least.
Ed Garcia
Foster City, CA
The automotive hobby is made up of so many segments, it’s pretty difficult to lay out a “best of” when considering events. Are these choices (from the Brits) based on attendance? Longevity? Specific eras or provenance? I grew up a hard core hot rodder. I appreciate the history, but when it comes to best events I have to add in some that draw big numbers of participants and spectators…Back to the 50’s, St. Paul, Annual Hot Rod Power Tour, the Goodguys annual schedule, Grand National Roadster Show, Pomona, Detroit Autorama…I could drop a batch more, but you get the idea. Attendees of a concours are probably a bit different from those that show for the Hershey Swap Meet, but each attracts different segments that make up a great group of people. Include me in those greasy fingered, dirty jean hot rodders, but I can appreciate those white gloved events as well.
What about the Concorso Italiano during the Monterey Car Week? The largest gathering of Italian sports cars in the world with over 1000 cars on a golf course with views of the Pacific Ocean?