2012 Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance
PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ RAISED MORE THAN
$1 MILLION dollars
FOR
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BROWARD COUNTY
The Nation’s fastest
growing Concours –
and the world’s largest for charity – attracted more than
10,000 attendees over a three-day weekend of festivities
to benefit a deserving cause
The sixth annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance presented
by Mercedes-Benz raised more than $1 million dollars for
the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
Hosted for the sixth consecutive year at
the Boca Raton Resort & Club,
the event took place February 24-26, 2012
and featured an amazing weekend of philanthropy,
comedy and of course
a stellar motorcycle and automobile display, all to benefit the
Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
Each year the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance grows,
bringing together new supporters, introducing exciting new event
components and showcasing even more exotic classic
automobiles and motorcycles, and this year was no different.
This year the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance honored the
50th Anniversary of the Shelby Cobra and Shelby American,
50th Anniversary of James Bond
and the upcoming 100th Anniversary
of Aston Martin with a tremendous line up of memorable events.
Friday kicked off the weekend with the “duPont Registry
Live!”
Hangar Party hosted at the Boca Raton Executive Airport.
Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s event, this
year’s celebration expanded to include two hangars, doubling
both the interior and exterior space to accommodate a
dditional parking, guests, entertainment,
restaurants, vendors, and displays.
More than 3,000 guests experienced select tastings
from more than 30 of the best South Florida restaurants
and eateries,
and indulged in an array of fine wines and spirits.
Guests also perused a fine selection of exotic and classic
airplanes, motorcycles, boats, motor coaches, automobiles,
and
business and private jets, along with luxury vendor displays
featuring jewelry, fine art and more.
This year the event was proud to feature the
magnificent world-renowned collection of Michael Fux’s
one-off
exotic cars plus a display of original James Bond vehicles
and memorabilia courtesy of the Dezer Collection.
Saturday, more than 1,000 guests attended t
he James Bond-themed Gala Dinner and Live Auction
at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction
followed by the Gala Dinner and Live Auction, which featured a performance
by Emmy award-winning comedian
Dana Carvey, and concluded with a Casino Royale after-party.
The Gala Dinner began with a live art-in-motion performance
by renowned artist Dan Dunn, followed by a presentation o
f the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award
and Lee Iacocca Award.
This year, for the first time ever,
the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to three
automotive industry icons for each of their respective
personal and professional contributions to the automotive
industry:
Carroll Shelby, Edsel Ford and John Staluppi
in the categories of Automobile Racing, Automobile
Manufacturer,
and Automobile Dealer, respectively.
For the third year in a row the Concours presented
the Lee Iacocca Award to a person who has demonstrated
dedication to the classic car hobby through vehicle preservation,
club participation, and who has unselfishly assisted
and encouraged others in
perpetuating an “American Automotive Tradition.”
This year Bob and Paul Milhous received the coveted award
for their years of dedication to the world renowned
Milhous Museum and Collection.
Following the awards presentation, a stellar live auction
took
place with world renowned auctioneer Max Girardo of RM
Auctions
of London England who gave guests the opportunity to bid on
the luxurious packages and one-of-a-kind exotic items
money cannot buy.
Guests had the opportunity to own some of the very first
all new exotic cars delivered in America including
the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG,
the 2012 Audi R8 V10 GT Spyder
and the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Turbo,
along with a 2012 Lamborghini Aventador
and a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C.
Additionally, six special edition 50th Anniversary Shelby
Cobras
& GTs were auctioned including a 1962 Special Edition Cobra 289 CSX8992
(one of only 50 made);
two 1965 Special Edition Cobra 427s –
a CSX6063 and a CSX6100, custom built to
the winning bidder’s specifications;
an 800 horsepower 2012 Shelby GT-500 Super Snake;
a 2012 Shelby GT-350; and a 2012 Shelby GTS,
all benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
Following the live auction, Dana Carvey took the stage
for a laugh-out-loud, memorable performance.
Sunday concluded the weekend’s festivities with an
Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition spanning all eras on
the newly renovated and expanded showfield at the Boca Raton
Resort & Club. More than 6,000 car and motorcycle fanatics
from around the world experienced an automotive showcase
like no other, featuring cars and motorcycles from a wide
range of time periods. An expert panel of judges led by
Grand Marshall Ed Gilbertson the Chief Judge at Pebble
Beach, national known Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable and
publishing icon Keith Crain was responsible for selecting
the finest vintage, antique, classic and exotic vehicles
based on period, presentation and cleanliness.
The awards ceremony highlighted each winner as they drive to
the judge’s booth to receive their trophy, courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
Winning entrants received their awards during
a special presentation emceed for the sixth year in a row
by Tom duPont, owner of duPont Registry magazine
and world renowned car collector who has officiated
awards ceremonies at some of the nation’s largest concours
events
including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island.
Winners included a 1929 Duesenberg
J LWB Convertible Sedan, Grand Marshall Award;
and a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, Grand Marshall Award;
a 1931 Chrysler CD 8 Deluxe Roadster, Best American
Classic;
a 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II,
Chairman’s Award and Founder’s Award;
a 1942 Lincoln Continental, People’s Choice;
and a 1939 Bugatti 57C,
Best European Classic and Best In Show.
Perhaps one of the most exciting components to this year’s
Boca Raton Concours was the unveiling of the brand new,
expanded Sunday showfield, which was exclusively redesigned
by the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Not only did the showfield double in size, but it is the only
golf course ever to be converted specifically for a Concours,
making it the first of its kind in Concours history.
The expanded showfield provided additional space for vendor tents
and refreshments areas, and was able to accommodate
more classic cars and motorcycles than ever before.
Once the show kicked off, guests were invited to walk
through a series of amazing vendor tents including the 2012
Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance tent which offered hats,
t-shirts and commemorative Concours program magazines,
posters and pins from previous years and this year. New to
the Boca Raton Concours in 2011, the Concours d’ Gourmet
Cafe Pavilion once again offered guests a delectable
assortment of libations and gourmet foods from over 30 of
South Florida’s finest restaurants.
“We began this event five years ago for two reasons,” said
Rick Case. “One was to unite car enthusiasts from around the
world and two was to support a much deserving charity; the
Boys & Girls Clubs. Now, a marvelous six years later, we are
thrilled to say not only is the Boca Raton Concours thriving
but it has become, in a short six years, the fastest growing
and most charitable Concours in the world.”
All to benefit a
deserving cause,
the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County,
the entire Boca Raton Concours team is comprised of a group
of about 200 volunteers who dedicate their personal time
to the planning and execution of the event.
With no paid promoters, producers or staff,
all the proceeds go to serve the 12,000 needy children
that attend the 12 Boys & Girls Clubs in Broward County.
In 2012, the event attracted more than 10,000 attendees
and raised more than $1 million dollars
for the Boys & Girls Club,
making the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance t
he fastest growing Concours in the nation,
and the world’ largest for charity.
For more information, visit
www.bocacde.com.
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