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Amelia Island Concours

Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Mike Lempert and I went down to Amelia Island last weekend for the first time, and what an experience that was! Two days of sensory overload. You left-coasters who can go to Pebble Beach know what I'm talking about, but this is obviously THE event on the east coast. Gordon, it made the show we went to at Hilton Head a couple of years ago look like Bubba's Used Cars. I took over 500 pictures, and I probably got just over half the cars. There must have been a dozen 300SL Gullwings there, including one of the original race cars plus one of the new Gullwings. They even had the one and only REAL Jaguar XK-13 (rebuilt obviously).

There were more Porsche 917s than any other kind of Porsche - at least 10 of 'em. Probably a dozen or so Duesenbergs, a couple of Roll Royce Silver Ghosts from the brass era, and an entire class of small Italian track/sport cars like Stanguelinis and Bandinis. I saw the bridcage Maserati that Carrol Shelby drove before he became a money grubbing old guy.

There were a bunch of customs, one-offs, and concept cars, including one of the GM Firebird turbines from the 50's, and Harley Earl's Buick LeSabre roadster - still a gorgeous car. Several of the top end manufacturers had cars for test drives (RR, Jag, Aston Martin, Spyker, Tesla, etc.). There was a Bugatti Veyron Spyder there, but I didn't see anyone offering rides in it. :-(

Frankly I haven't yet figured out how to cull a few pictures out of the mass to post on PhotoBucket, but I'll get to it in the next few days.

Wow. Just... wow.

Formerly 2006 Beck Speedster (Carlisle build car), 1964 Beck Super Coupe

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Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Mike Lempert and I went down to Amelia Island last weekend for the first time, and what an experience that was! Two days of sensory overload. You left-coasters who can go to Pebble Beach know what I'm talking about, but this is obviously THE event on the east coast. Gordon, it made the show we went to at Hilton Head a couple of years ago look like Bubba's Used Cars. I took over 500 pictures, and I probably got just over half the cars. There must have been a dozen 300SL Gullwings there, including one of the original race cars plus one of the new Gullwings. They even had the one and only REAL Jaguar XK-13 (rebuilt obviously).

There were more Porsche 917s than any other kind of Porsche - at least 10 of 'em. Probably a dozen or so Duesenbergs, a couple of Roll Royce Silver Ghosts from the brass era, and an entire class of small Italian track/sport cars like Stanguelinis and Bandinis. I saw the bridcage Maserati that Carrol Shelby drove before he became a money grubbing old guy.

There were a bunch of customs, one-offs, and concept cars, including one of the GM Firebird turbines from the 50's, and Harley Earl's Buick LeSabre roadster - still a gorgeous car. Several of the top end manufacturers had cars for test drives (RR, Jag, Aston Martin, Spyker, Tesla, etc.). There was a Bugatti Veyron Spyder there, but I didn't see anyone offering rides in it. :-(

Frankly I haven't yet figured out how to cull a few pictures out of the mass to post on PhotoBucket, but I'll get to it in the next few days.

Wow. Just... wow.
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member
While Mike's photos are truly beautiful, they don't do justice to the setting; the pristine golf course at the Ritz Carlton Resort on Amelia Island. Truly as stunning a setting as Pebble Beach (and they actually have a beach at Amelia, as opposed to those rocks they call a "beach" at Pebble Beach) and there isn't a blade of grass out of place. As Lane wrote, we've both been to Hilton Head's Concourse and it's a poor distant cousin to the show at Amelia Island. There's nothing to touch it on the East Coast.

I agree.......we should plan on making this a group event next year. I wanted to go this year, but health-wise it wasn't prudent.

I'm only about 2-1/2 hours from there, Lane's about 4 hours, as is Nolan (if he gets his foot into it) so we could all meet at one of the hospitality tents and spread out from there. Might be even more cool to rent a beach house for the (extended) weekend and really do a group outing. Kathy and I could teach you all to dance the "Breath-taking Carolina Shag"!!

Carolina Beach Music, anyone??


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Paul MossbergPaul Mossberg2005 IM Roadster Supporting Member
Lane! I was there too! First time for me.

I've followed all types of motor sports since I was a kid. And having Richard Petty as Grand Marshall this year finally pushed me to attend.

What a blast! And what an amazing array of cars. Only saw two speedsters on the field...but they were beautiful ones!

The Porsche 917 seminar was great. Porsche sponsored a roundtable discussion of drivers who piloted the incredible 917 series cars. This was the first of many
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Ok, I got it down to 98. Check out http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g43/landerso/Amelia%20Island%20Concours%202010/?albumview=slideshow

Remember, this is just a sampling. Also, some of the photos were compromised by the crowds. Occasionally I had to photograph the dark side because there were too many people on the well lit side, or people wouldn't get out of the frame, etc.
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
Mike and I bought tickets when we got there ($45 each!!) on Saturday. Those tickets are only needed for Sunday. We lucked into some free (normally $100 for a pair!!!) wristbands for the auction, but it's not really worth it. Unless you're buying, all you can do is stand in a crowded room and listen to a guy with a fake accent sell gorgeous cars to people with way too much money. You can get closer to the cars in the staging area out back.

Mike's Healey friends set up the rooms at the hotel. I can get more info about how they did that. It would be nice to be closer, but anything close to the show will be mucho expen$ive.
Paul MossbergPaul Mossberg2005 IM Roadster Supporting Member
Not sure what you meant by Mike's friends setting up the rooms.
But if they were show volunteers, anyone can apply.

Info is on the Amelia Island Concours web site at:
https://www.ameliaconcours.org/volunteers/volunteers.asp

Granted, this was the info for the 2010 show. But pretty much, only the dates would change for 2011. Volunteers have to be available for at least one preliminary meeting.

I also had about a half hour drive back and forth to the show. Stories about traffic getting in and out had me concerned. But I had no problems at all.
RickJRickJ
I just went through Mike Lempert's photos - wow!!!! - beautiful photography and subject matter.....
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Yikes! - there's more.......Lane's fine photos too - thanks so much for posting them.....I think you all got your $40 worth of eye-candy.....I think the Pebble Beach Concours is now a $150 'on site' ticket - RickJ
Paul MossbergPaul Mossberg2005 IM Roadster Supporting Member
As has already been noted, you can wander the grounds on Saturday for free. You can see all the auction cars, the art displays, the silent auction, the vendor area.

And you never know who you will run into. I spent about 20 minuets wandering the auction car area with David E Davis (Car & Driver and Automobile magazines)

There are "seminars" going on, for which you do need to purchase tickets.

For example, last year a bunch of drivers and the lead engineer talked about developing and racing the famous (some might say infamous) Porsche 917. Another seminar called "The Three Greats" featured Don Garlits, Caroll Shelby and Richard Petty.

I hung around after the 917 round table and had conversations with just about all of the panel members. Neat stuff.

And there is a black tie banquet Saturday evening that also comes with a price tag. I told the story after the 2010 show. But by pure chance, at the banquet I was seated with one of Richard Petty's daughters. After dinner, she took me back stage to meet Dad. Spent about 20 minutes with him and the family.

So there is lots going on on Saturday. Some free. Some with a price tag.
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