Hagerty adds Concours of America to its growing car events portfolio

Our weekly roundup of car show news and notes

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There's plenty of room on the golf course at the Inn at St. John's and this tree annually is the center of a featured circle of cars, in this case Chryslers designed under Virgil Exner's reign | Larry Edsall photo

Hagerty’s transition from a classic car insurance company into leader of the collector car lifestyle continues with the announcement March 23 that it has acquired ownership of the Michigan-based Concours d’Elegance of America.

In 2019, Hagerty bought the rights to the Greenwich Concours and the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society from the founding Wennerstrom family. Last year, it added the California Mille vintage sports car rally to its portfolio.

“We’re knitting together the car community in a way no one has ever done before,” Hagerty chief executive McKeel Hagerty said when his family-owned company bought the Greenwich event. 

“Outstanding events like the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance get people excited about cars, and that’s what it’s all about. That’s how we’re going to save driving and car culture for future generations.”

Although it has been able to conduct Chowder Society meetings online, the coronavirus pandemic has kept Hagerty from showcasing its plans for making concours more appealing to a wider audience, though it appears it will have at least two opportunities to do so in 2021, with the 42nd Concours d’Elegance of America scheduled for July 23-25 and the 25th anniversary Greenwich event in Connecticut set for October 22-24.

The Michigan concours dates to 1979 and originally was held at historic Meadow Brook Hall, the estate built north of Detroit in the 1920s by Dodge widow Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband. The event moved in 2011 to its current location, the Inn at St. John’s, a former seminary, west of Detroit in Plymouth, Michigan.

“The Concours d’Elegance of America is a premiere event in the home of American car culture, and we couldn’t be more honored to have the opportunity to help make it even better,” McKeel Hagerty is quoted in the acquisition announcement.

Hagerty is based in Traverse City, at the northern end of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

“Sometimes change can be serendipitous,” said Larry Moss, chairman of the board of the Concours d’Elegance of America. “In this case, we have found the perfect caretaker for our cherished event, which will allow the Concours and its partners to focus on a common goal – producing the richest automotive experience while serving the needs of our community.”

The Hagerty announcement noted that the company “will work in tandem with the existing operational team to raise the profile of the Concours annual event. For continuity, Tara Noftz will continue as director while Moss will remain as board chairman.”

Goodguys set record with Texas turnout

Goodguys at Texas
Goodguys take to the track at Texas Motor Speedway | Goodguys photos

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association opened its 2021 show schedule with the recent and 11th annual LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, where an event-record 2,200 vehicles were on display. 

One of the highlights was the debut of a special display area for the OBS — Old Body Style — Chevrolet and GM trucks from 1988-1998. 

“It’s been a long wait, and this weekend showed us that the car and truck community is ready to return in force,” Goodguys chief operating officer Andrew Ebel was quoted in the association’s post-event news release.

“For many, it has been a full year since they had attended a car show or public event as a family,” he added. “Last year’s event was cancelled midway through the weekend, so it was fitting we could return this year with optimism and a great turnout.”

The weekend included the CPP AutoCross series with Josh Leisinger winning Pro-X in a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette while his brother Jared won the Pros vs. Joes Shootout event in a second-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

The Goodguys return to Fort Worth for the inaugural Meguiar’s All-Star Get-Together, scheduled for June 4-6. Next up for the group is the 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals, scheduled for April 16-18 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Amelia, Worldwide set driving tours

Porsches experience Florida | Amelia Island photo

There are some special treats scheduled as part of the Porsche Driving Experience scheduled for 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on May 21 as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance opens its weekend of activities.

The tour begins and ends at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport and includes stops at Porsche Jacksonville, The Brumos Collection, and a closed runway at the Jacksonville International Airport. The Jacksonville Aviaton Authority is a new partner for the tour and will provide a runway “for the spirited-driving portions of the event.”

The tour is limited to 125 vehicles and those spots, at $275 per car, already are sold out.

Other Porsche-related events during the concours weekend are the Guardians of Porsche wine-makers dinner May 20 and a panel presentation on “The All-Conquering Porsche 935” on May 22. 

Indiana covered bridge | Worldwide Auctioneers photo

Meanwhile, in the run up to its Enthusiast Auction, scheduled for April 23-24 at its headquarters in Auburn, Indiana, Worldwide Auctioneers will stage an Enthusiast Tour from April 20-23.

The event begins and ends in Auburn and travels to a variety of northern Indiana locations, visiting car collections, LaVine Restorations and other locations. 

Registration for two people is $1,500 and includes lodging, meals and more. For details, visit the tour website.

Pasadera sets classes for its concours

Again getting a jump start on Monterey Car Week, the third annual Concours at Pasadera in Carmel Valley is scheduled for August 6. Organizers say the event will feature more than 100 cars and motorcycles in three categories and six award classes, as well as a display of rare Hot Wheels collections.

“Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Porsche’s back-to-back 24-hour endurance wins at Le Mans and Daytona, the event will feature six juried classes: Modern Classics, Modified, Domestic, International, Vintage, Commercial,” according to the news release. “The featured marque is Porsche.”

For more information, visit the event website.

Carlisle Spring returns to April weekend

After the schedule changes forced by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Carlisle Events returns its Spring Carlisle event to its April time frame in 2021 with the spotlight on unique, rare, must-haves and collectibles” scheduled for April 21-25 this year.

“With 8,100 With 8,100 spaces available, the grounds come to life with everything from the simple to the exotic,” Carlisle Events said in its news release. â€śIf X marks the spot still means something to enthusiasts who love to hunt and pick, then Spring Carlisle has an X at every turn.  Hidden gems, treasures, collectibles, hard to find items; it all adorns the grounds at Carlisle.”

Another aspect of the event this year is the ARMO Hot Products Showcase. With the 2020 SEMA Show held virtually instead of in person, product experts from the Automotive Restoration Market Organization will be at Carlisle to “talk person to person” about what’s new and hot.

Also on hand will be representatives of the Antique Automobile Club of America with a display of vehicles. Another feature is the Women’s Oasis, also known as the “home away from chrome” featuring handmade crafts, jewelry, kitchen equipment, beauty products and more.

The weekend also includes at Carlisle Auctions sale in the Expo Center on April 22-23.

SEMA set to use new Las Vegas West Hall

Not only has SEMA confirmed November 2-5 as the dates for its annual showcase of the automotive aftermarket industry, it will display wares in the new 1.4-million-square-foot West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

“The industry is eager to reconnect,” Chris Kersting, SEMA president and chief executive is quoted in the announcement. “The return to an in-person SEMA Show gives resellers a chance to engage with an amazing gathering of suppliers, new products, stunning vehicle builds and networking opportunities.”

Moving into the new West Hall will be the Restyling & Car Care Accessories, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, and Truck, SUV & Off-Road sections of the show. 

McPherson student show returns

After being canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the McPherson College C.A.R.S. Club has announced the return of its student-organized car show for May 1, 2021. However, this year the show will be limited to cars displayed by current students, faculty and staff, and alumni. 

The student car show dates to 1999 and usually includes a driving tour and a dinner, but those will not take place this year. 

Centennial Aston Martin set for British concours

Aston Martin A3
Aston Martin A3 | Concours photo

The oldest surviving Aston Martin, the 1921 A3 driven extensively by Lionel Martin, including a speed record of more than 86 mph for 100 miles at Brooklands, will be featured at the Concours of Elegance scheduled for September 3-5 at Hampton Court, England.

The car was the third produced by Aston Martin. It was called the A3 because if was built on chassis No. 3 and has a Type A engine. The 100-year-old car has been owned since 2003 by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust and has been restored to its original specification.

2021 car show and concours calendar

The following are dates currently set (but subject to change) for a variety of concours d’elegance, car shows and driving tours scheduled during 2021:

March

24-27 – Ponies in the Smokies, Sevierville, Tennessee; 27 – Celebration of Cars, Melbourne, Florida; 27-April 4 – Easter Jeep Safari, Moab, Utah

April

2-4 – Mustang Club of America, Braselton, Georgia; 8-11, Charlotte AutoFair, North Carolina; 9-11, Goodguys at Scottsdale, Arizona; 10 – Meadowbrook Park, Prairie Village, Kansas; 19-22, AACA Southeastern Division Chain of Lakes Tour, Florida; 21-25 – Spring Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 23-25 – Goodguys North Carolina Nationals, Raleigh; Derbuy GT tour, Belgium; 24 — Caroline Cruise, Kannapolis to Concord, North Carolina; 25 – Simply Aston Martin, Beaulieu, UK; 30-May 1, Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Show, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

May

1 – Big Displacement Showcase, Seal Cove, Maine; McPherson College CARS Club, Kansas; 9 – Mother’s Day, KC Auto Museum, Olathe; Simply Vauxhall, Beaulieu, UK; 14-15 – Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, Pennsylvania; 15 – Vintage Travel Trailer Rally, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 15-16, Goodwood Members’ Meeting, UK: 16 – Simply Audi, Beaulieu, UK; 20-23 – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida; AACA Founders Tour, Davis, West Virginia; 21-23 – Goodguys Salt Lake Nationals, Utah; 23 – Simply Electric, Beaulieu, UK; 28-30 – Goodguys Nashville Nationals, Tennessee

Have an event to add? Email details to [email protected].

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