Geneva car show gives back to cancer center
Before the eighth annual Geneva Concours d’Elegance car show starts, fundraising events will be held for the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center.
The Concours d’Elegance, a free event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, showcases unique and vintage cars along Third Street in downtown Geneva. Owners compete to win a Carl Benz trophy by showing their antique cars in the judged event. Carl Benz is known to be one of the fathers of the automobile, according to Concours director Pat Barrett.
The LivingWell Center will host the opening night welcome party for participants in the car show in its new facility Friday, Aug. 24, 442 Williamsburg, Geneva. Attendees can enjoy cocktails and appetizers while music plays in the background. The center’s executive staff said they will have introductions and tours throughout the night. Burt Levy, who drives vintage cars in races around the country and author of “The Last Open Road” series, will be the guest speaker.
Barrett said the partnership with LivingWell is a way to give back to the community.
“It’s just a wonderful cause, and it’s local,” she said.
LivingWell Executive Director Nancy Vance said the center was thrilled when the Concours asked to partner with the center a few years ago.
“We serve about 180 people each week and their donations go really far,” Vance said.
Since LivingWell is a local charity, people can see the impact of the partnership everyday, she said. The center provides free psychosocial support, education and wellness services to cancer patients and their families. The donations given by the Concours helps the center continue these services.
“When they’re successful, we’re successful,” Vance said.
Other weekend events include a private tour of Jeff Minogue’s collection of Rolls-Royce cars at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and later, a candlelight dinner will be served at 6 p.m. at the Dunham Woods Riding Club in Wayne.
The car show will have 44 certified judges. All 175 cars will be judged on a point system that scores the vehicles by historical value, inside and outside quality, authenticity and many more criteria, Barrett said.
Several owners and drivers travel from others states to be a part of this show. The committee sends out invitations to past participants, but people can ask to be invited as well, Barrett said.
The show attracts car enthusiasts some who’ve gone on to be patrons of the event. Shelia and Bob Joint have been involved with the show for the past five years. The couple started helping with this event because of their love for cars.
“We get to show people the history of cars, the development of the vehicle,” Shelia Joint said.
Bob Joint emcees the winners parade.
“Bob talks about their cars as they drive by to get their trophies,” she said.
Bob Joint will also enter his 1932 Packard Phaeton. He has owned the car since he was 14 years old.
“It’s a great car, great design,” Shelia Joint said, even though it shows some wear and tear.
“This is a wonderful event, one of the best in the Midwest,” she said. They wouldn’t do it if they weren’t having any fun, she said.
A lot of time and effort is involved with the event to make it elegant, Barrett said, “When they close Third Street and all the side streets on it, it makes it very nice,” Barrett said.
The event will be open to the public at 10 a.m. and awards are at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26. For details, visit genevaconcours.net
If you go
What: The eighth annual Geneva Concours dElegance show, featuring rare, award-winning and antique automobiles
When: The show is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, with additional fundraising events Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25
Where: Third Street, between State and South streets, Geneva
Cost: Free
Details: <a href="http://www.genevaconcours.net">genevaconcours.net</a>