South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Concours d’Elegance gears up for weekend of cars, comedy and charity.
Just one weekend after South Florida experiences all the pomp and circumstance of the Super Bowl, a celebration of automotive excellence will take the spotlight as the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance motors into town. The gala charitable event, featuring an internationally known array of cars and motorcycles, will be on display at several venues in the city starting Friday, Feb. 7 and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 9.
The show will run the gamut from highend collector motor vehicles to gourmet food to automotive-related art and auctions during the 14th annual attraction benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. The force behind all three days of activities are Rick and Rita Case, owners of Rick Case Automotive Group, who founded the event to provide a solid look into automotive history.
“(Our intent is) to share the growth and also provide a nostalgic view (of that history),” Rick Case said. “The event has grown at a rapid pace, and the best part is seeing the 12,000 members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County ages 6 to 18 benefit from the funds raised.”
Brian Quail, president/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, said the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance plays a huge role in the nonprofit’s success.
“The (annual) event attracts thousands of attendees and to date has raised more than $10 million for our organization,” he said.
The Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance will also this year commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Corporation, which launched in 1920 with its first car. The prototype had four-wheel brakes — a first at that time — and the car was powered by a 260-CID eight-cylinder overhead valve engine.
Party starts at airport gathering
The weekend begins on Friday (Feb. 7) with the Hangar Party for VIP-ticketed guests from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Atlantic Aviation building within the Boca Raton Airport, 3700 Airport Road. Attendees will witness a selection of collector cars and motorcycles amidst a setting of private jets, vendors, gourmet food, and wine and spirit tastings from South Florida restaurants. The anticipated lineup of eateries includes Abe and Louie’s Steakhouse, Boca Raton Resort & Club, BGCBC Culinary, B&B Cappuccino, EnerBee Energy, Runyon’s, Sette Bello Ristorante and Sunset Catch, among others.
Gala gets underway
Then, on Saturday (Feb. 8), there will be a grand gala dinner, silent auction and a major awards show from 5:30 to 10 p.m. inside the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. The evening will be topped off with a performance by comedian Billy Gardell, who was recommended by his friend and last year’s headline entertainer Jay Leno. A comedian, actor, game show host and voice artist, Gardell played Chicago police officer Mike Biggs on the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly.”
This year, Mecum Auctions debuts the Collector Cars & Automotive Fine Arts Society Show in the Mizner Center ballroom, which will feature collector cars on display and available for direct purchase with individual vehicles valued as much as $20 million. Guests will also be able to see and buy works crafted by AFAS artists including Ken Eberts (society president), Tony Sicorski, Richard Pietruska, Dan McCrary, Dennis Brown, David Chapple, Larry Braun and Steve Macy. The Mecum Gallery Exposition and AFAS Show is open to everyone from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There will also be private viewings for gala ticketed guests from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for Concours d’Elegance ticket holders only.
Award winners exemplify auto industry
Saturday night’s festivities will also include the announcement of the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The group will be introduced by Automotive News publisher Jason Stein. The winners are:
National Lifetime Racing Achievement Award: Helio Castroneves, a threetime winner of the Indianapolis 500 and one of the racing circuit’s biggest stars. The 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season marked Castroneves’ 20th year of competing under the Team Penske banner. Castroneves competed in his first Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and since then has earned 32 victories, 54 pole positions and 95 podium finishes. He recently joined Penske’s Acura team and plans to race in the Indianapolis 500 in May.
Automotive Lifetime Dealer Achievement Award: William Lehman, Jr. is a Miami native who took over management of his family-owned Buick dealership in North Miami in 1967. He remains active in the community and has served as the president of the South Florida Auto Dealers Association. Lehman has owned automobile dealerships including Hyundai, Genesis, Subaru, KIA, Buick, GMC, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Mazda, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saab, Suzuki, Isuzu and Opel, among other brands. Under Lehman’s leadership, separate automobile finance and leasing companies were established including William Lehman Leasing, Affiliated Financial Corporation and Local Finance.
Automotive Lifetime Manufacturer
Achievement Award: President & CEO of Volkswagen of America Scott Keogh, who oversees all Volkswagen brand activities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, including factories in Tennessee and Mexico. According to event organizers, he led Audi to new monthly sales records when he served as president of Audi of America.
JM chairman to be inducted into Dream Makers Society
This year’s Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance Saturday attractions also include the induction of Colin Brown, chairman of the board of JM Family Enterprises Inc. in Deerfield Beach, into the Dream Makers Society. JM Family Enterprises is currently ranked No. 21 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies and No. 17 by FORTUNE as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Dream Makers inductees are individuals who have established at least a decade of commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and who have played a vital role in the development of a program or event that has had a significant impact on the success of the organization.
Dream Makers Society members include Felix Sabates, Rita and Rick Case, Florence and Lawrence J. De George, Marti and Wayne Huizenga, James E. McDonnell IV, Linda and Douglas Von Allmen, Mary Anne and Richard Kull, Christine Lynn, Terry Taylor, Deborah and Gary Wendt, and 2019 inductees Christy and Larry Hierholzer.
Spotlight on collector cars and motorcycles
On Sunday (Feb. 9), the main event takes place as an expert panel of judges makes their top selections from among the finest vintage, antique, classic and exotic automobiles and motorcycles ever built. Starting at 10 a.m., general admission spectators can begin looking over a display of over 200 cars and motorcycles from an array of time periods. The Duesenberg brand will be among the gallery of automotive excellence. Master of Ceremonies Bill Rothermel will be joined this year by Brad Phillips from Hagerty Insurance who will handle the announcements during the ceremony. Mercedes-Benz and AutoNation will serve as presenting sponsors.
For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit BocaCDE.com.