Motor your own motor to see rare, historic cars Sunday
Elite cars and the open road will take center stage in the Barrington area this weekend. The inaugural Barrington Concours d'Elegance is designed to raise money for local charities, including the Barrington Hills Conservation Trust, Cowboy Dreams of Illinois and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois.
The Concours celebrates automotive history and features some of the world's finest and most rare, historic, classic, sports and performance racing cars.
"We are very excited about it," said Mary Bradford-White, one of the event's organizers. The weekend begins for the public Saturday morning with a road rally.
But the focus of the weekend is Sunday, when 100 classic cars will be on display during the Barrington Concours d'Elegance Legends and Legacies car show at the Makray Memorial Golf Club
"We have spectacular cars coming from all over," Bradford-White said. "They are absolutely beautiful."
One such car is a 1972 Gurney Eagle which has been restored to the it was in when 1973 Indy 500 winner Mark Donohue drove it to qualify for the 1973 race. The car will draw a crowd at 11 a.m. Sunday when it is started up, which takes a team of six people to accomplish.
Other notable entries in the juried car show include a 1910 Ford Model T, restored to factory condition; a 1937 Delahaye, which was among those displayed at the French Pavilion in the 1939 World's Fair in New York; and a 1939 Bugatti, whose storied history includes being hidden during World War II to be found by the Nazis, and later used by the U.S. military.
General admission tickets are $25 or $30 at the door. VIP tickets, which include a catered lunch and use of clubhouse facilities, are $75 or $80 at the door. Children under 12 get in free. The road rally from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday gives drivers and navigators the chance to embark on an adventure through the picturesque countryside. Tickets are $125 per car.
"They will be able to see the landscape and the large open spaces we have out here," Bradford-White said.
The rally, Bradford-White said, is open to vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
"You don't have to have a special car to be in the rally," she said. "You can come in a minivan if you want."
Other events during the weekend include a kickoff dinner Friday night at the Onion Pub and Brewery in Lake Barrington and an evening gala scheduled for Saturday night at the Makray Memorial Golf Club. For details or to purchase tickets, visit barringtonconcours.org.
If you go
What: Barrington Concours d'Elegance, Legends and Legacies
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 day of event; children 12 and under free
Where: Makray Memorial Golf Club
Parking: All parking is off-site; continuous shuttles will run to the site from Barrington High School, the Barrington train station and the Continental Building at Deer Park, 21440 W. Lake-Cook Road, Deer Park
Special needs parking: Call (312) 286-4063
Other events: Include Saturday morning road rally and Saturday evening gala. Visit www.barringtonconcours.org for full schedule
Call: (847) 381-4291