Classic cars roll into Geneva for Concours d'Elegance

As the Geneva Concours d'Elegance automobile event celebrates its 12th anniversary in downtown Geneva this weekend, there will be a special feature of classic cars also celebrating an anniversary this year.

The Concours d'Elegance, which takes place up and down the tree-lined south Third Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, will feature hundreds of antique, classic and modern automobiles in both competition and club lots throughout the downtown area.

Included in the display this year will be three featured groups celebrating birthdays.

This year is the 100th birthday of the Packard Twin Six Automobile, the 100th anniversary of the BMW company, and the 50th anniversary of Shelby Mustangs. Visitors will get a chance to see examples of all three, as well as the hundreds of other pristine and classic automobiles on Sunday.

"There will be many of these historical automobiles along with many other classics that will be on display and judged hoping to take home the coveted Carl F. Benz award," said Patt Barrett, one of three directors of the Geneva Concours d'Elegance 2016.

A committee chooses the prestigious cars that will be shown in the event each year, and works to ensure they are top quality, unique and interesting, which draws the crowds in each year to the popular event.

Classic car enthusiasts come from all over the country to display their prized automobiles, and in hopes of winning one of the Geneva Concours d'Elegance trophies.

Barrett said she expects 170 automobiles to be displayed up and down the Concours on third street.

John Barrett, also a director of the Concours event, works with a small group of advisers to select those automobiles that will make up a good show based on how well restored a car is, how unique it is and whether is fits into that year's theme, said Concours volunteer John Maxson.

This year, there are 170 cars selected for that part of the show.

Organizers also expect another 100 automobiles to be on display as part of the event in the parking lot behind the old Kane County courthouse, Patt Barrett said.

The owners of those cars either didn't apply to be a part of the Concours competition, or did not make it into that part of the show, Maxson said.

"These cars could be past winners, people who don't care to have their cars prepped/detailed for judging, or people who just want a more casual outing," Maxson said.

Maxson has entered a car - his 1941 Packard Convertible Coupe - in the show for the past 10 years. He said the show is a great event for community members, whether they are classic car enthusiasts, or novice spectators.

"I've enjoyed participating in the Geneva Concours d'Elegance because it is the largest, most diverse display of high quality classic, antique, sports, and special interest cars in the Chicago area. Whether a person is interested in old Rolls-Royce, Packards, Cadillacs, BMWs, MGs, Fords, or Chevies or all of these, it seems that there is always something for everyone," he said.

"Because knowledgeable judges evaluate cars on originality and craftsmanship in restoration, and the awards are prestigious, many of the cars are fully restored rare examples of the classic era," he added. "We expect several hundred cars this year in both the competition and club lots throughout town where groups gather with their cars for camaraderie and conversation."

Barrett said it takes hundreds of volunteers to put the event on every year, which is what helps make it so successful year after year.

"It's the momentum of the event that starts in January when we keep in mind our mission, and that is to produce the best classic, exotic and race automobile event that showcases the heritage, artistic and engineering significance of the automobile in the surroundings of historic Geneva," Barrett said.

The event is free and open to the public. Proceeds from the Concours will go to the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva.

For information, visit www.genevaconcours.net.

If you go

What: Geneva Concours d'Elegance, featuring more than 150 antique, classic and modern automobiles

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28

Where: Along South Third Street, downtown Geneva

Admission: Free; donations benefit LivingWell Cancer Resource Center

Details: <a href="http://www.genevaconcours.net">www.genevaconcours.net</a>