Contents Features 12 Introduction by Keith Martin 16 Behind the Scenes of Pebble Beach Judging by Carl Bomstead 42 Road Atlas 44 Complete 2021 Concours Schedule Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival Featured Concours 24 The Amelia Island 30 Forest Grove 36 Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance Concours d’Elegance Concours & Motor Week 24 Greenbrier Concours 30 Concorso Italiano 38 Chattanooga Motorcar d’Elegance 32 Pebble Beach Festival 26 Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance 38 Las Vegas Concours Concours d’Elegance 32 Morgan Adams d’Elegance 26 Sandhills Motoring Concours d’Elegance 40 Hilton Head Concours Festival 34 San Marino Motor d’Elegance & Motoring Festival 28 Cincinnati Concours Classic d’Elegance 34 Vail Automotive Classic 28 Keeneland Concours Editor’s note: Please be sure 36 Cobble Beach Concours to check with any event for the d’Elegance d’Elegance most up-to-date information. ADVERTISERS INDEX Alan Taylor Co. ..................................... 21 Keeneland Concours d’Elegance ....... 4-5 Amelia Island Concours ....................... 50 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance............. 7 Audrain Auto Museum ......................... 23 Manns Restoration ............................... 11 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival ........... 29 McCollister’s Auto Transport ................ 37 Cincinnati Concours Foundation .......... 13 Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance .. 19 Classic Showcase ................................... 14 New England Auto Auction .................. 45 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance ....... 8 Passport Transport ............................... 15 Cosdel .................................................... 17 Putnam Leasing ..................................... 3 Driversource Houston LLC ................... 25 Reliable Carriers ................................... 52 Forest Grove Concours ......................... 33 SCCA – SF Region ................................ 31 Greenbrier Concours .............................. 9 San Marino Motor Classic .................... 39 Gullwing Motor Cars Inc. ..................... 41 Sandhills Motoring Festival ................. 35 Hilton Head Island Concours ............... 51 Torque Classic Cars ................................. 2 Hyman Ltd. ............................................. 6 Vail Automotive Classic ........................ 27 On the cover: Bob and Jennifer Lancaster Keels & Wheels Concours ..................... 22 in their 1912 Cadillac 30. Photo by Michael Hrizuk, Hrizuk Photo; courtesy of Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance 10 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE www.sportscarmarket.com INTRODUCTION A Festive Year Amelia Island 2020: the last “normal” concours his will be a concours year like no breathtaking automobile for you to admire. other. Use this guide to plot out the highlights T What we know for sure is that the of your concours year. fields will look different. There may be Then supplement it by finding out where fewer cars. local Cars & Coffee events are held. Those There won’t be hundreds of spectators are a great way to practice “car gawking,” crowding around each one or pushing up the art of just walking around great cars and against the awards ramp. admiring them. There may be fewer social gatherings on What will be the same as in years past concours weekends. is the passion of owners and collectors, all Yet the magnificence of the machines of us for whom collector cars are a reason will still be on full display. Each one will to celebrate, no matter the circumstances. represent thousands of hours of effort by — Keith Martin, Publisher, Sports Car artisans to present a correct, beautiful and Market ■ 12 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE www.sportscarmarket.com INSIDER INFORMATION Behind the Scenes at Pebble Beach A judge’s blue blazer weighs heavy on the shoulders with the responsibility for evaluating the “best of the best” by Carl Bomstead At Pebble Beach, teams of judges circulate among the cars of their assigned class he Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance consuming process, especially if the car is is the most prestigious concours in the to be in contention for the prestigious Best Tcountry, if not the world. On the third of Show award. In selecting the best of the Sunday of August, the famed 18th fair- best, teams of three judges circulate among way at Pebble Beach — where numer- their assigned class. They put the cars ous historic golf events have been decided through their paces as each one is scored on — is turned over to more than 200 of the over 20 specific items. world’s finest automobiles. They have gone through an arduous selection process. Just Best of the judges to be on the bucolic golf links overlooking These judges hold the fate of the car the Pacific Ocean and Stillwater Cove is an owner’s considerable effort. For insights on honor in itself. how they are selected, we turned to Chief In most all cases, restoring a car for Judge Chris Bock. I asked him how often Pebble Beach is an expensive and time- he is asked how to become a Pebble Beach 16 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE www.sportscarmarket.com INSIDER INFORMATION judge: “Whenever a conversation turns to automobiles!” He went on to say that he explains the re- quirements and if the person feels they are qualified, they are invited to submit a ré- sumé. When an opening occurs, candidates are discussed with the chief class judge. A judging team works in close harmony, and there are often intense discussions as the winning cars are determined. Bock mentioned several key attributes for a judge, including marque knowledge, appropriate judging experience and the ability to work within a team environment. Over-restoration is frowned upon at Pebble, so Specific skill sets are also required for the signs of use and patina can be a plus special classes that appear each year. As the concours looks to the future, items that Bock will mention is that judging younger judges are potentially looked at at Pebble Beach is not adversarial. In fact, more favorably. Bock noted that several re- it is the judge’s responsibility to assist the cent judges were graduates of McPherson entrants in any way possible. College in Kansas, which offers a widely As an example, if a car is having a prob- acclaimed automotive restoration program. lem, the judging team will move on and judge the next car, allowing 20 minutes or The car, not the owner so for the issue to hopefully be resolved. Newly selected judges, along with many Bock also reminds the judges that they of the experienced judges, attend a judges’ are judging the car, not the owner, regard- meeting on Friday prior to the concours. less of how prominent he or she might be. This involves the first of many trips up It is emphasized that the cars are meant the stairs to the Judges’ Room. Among the to be driven and minor signs of use are to In addition to marque knowledge and experience, ability to work in a team environment is valued among concours judges 18 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE www.sportscarmarket.com INSIDER INFORMATION be ignored. Cars that have completed the Thursday Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance are awarded a green ribbon, which decides any judging ties. Yes, this has historically been a factor. Judges need to spend equal time with each of the cars in the class and, of course, thank each participant for bringing their car. Without them, there is no show! The room where it happens On Sunday morning, a new judge enter- ing the Judges’ Room will be a bit in awe. International designers, journalists, ma- jor collectors, automotive industry execu- tives and other luminaries of the automo- tive world are seated throughout the room. The breadth of automotive knowledge that A green ribbon means a car took part in the is represented is most impressive. Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance; it can be used to After further instruction the teams are break a tie in judging sent out with a strict schedule, so there is little time to spare. The cars are started, her car was lacking. The rankings are dis- lights and other components are checked, cussed until all agree on the order, as the and flaws noted. Authenticity is a key fac- final decision must be made by consensus. tor and judges penalize over-restoration. The chief class judges and the honorary The team compares notes, and any ques- judges vote for the coveted Best of Show, tions are referred to the owner. The benefit chosen from the class winners. The se- of the doubt always goes to the car, but the lection, from the three receiving the most owner is well advised to have documenta- votes, is announced to great fanfare and a tion on hand. confetti shower. A judge’s long day then comes to a close, Coming to an agreement an experience to cherish as they eagerly The teams again return to the Judges’ await an invitation to participate in next Room, where the real work begins. The year’s event. ■ merits of each car are discussed. Judges rank the cars in their class, with flaws not- CARL BOMSTEAD has been a Pebble Beach judge for 24 consecutive years, primarily in the American ed. This is so there will be documentation in Classic class. He has been an SCM contributor since case an entrant inquires as to where his or 1997. Pebble Beach ConcoursPebble Beach d’Elegance / Kimball Studios The moment it all comes down to: the confetti shower announcing the coveted Best of Show 20 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE www.sportscarmarket.com FEATURED CONCOURS The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Date: May 20–23, 2021 Location: Amelia Island, FL Admission: General admission