A 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, winner of the 2011 Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance Motor Trend Classic Editor’s Choice Award.
JOHN WILEY
Beautiful weather, beautiful cars and beautiful people.... must be the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance!
The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance celebrates its fifth anniversary this month with a new host venue and another headline-grabbing spectacle: vintage cars owned by members of the elite Checkered Flag 200 club, which supports the mission and initiatives of Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Billed as Desert Speed Week, the Rancho Mirage Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance rolls into the Coachella Valley with vintage car races on President’s Day weekend, followed by a procession of more than 250 of the finest examples of automotive excellence spilling onto the grounds of Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage on Feb. 25-26.
The exhibition, ranked among the top 10 classic car shows in the world, emphasizes foreign and domestic classic cars from 1969 and earlier.
The Desert Classic is a magnet for media. The inaugural event — which unfolded at the historic O’Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs — featured the West Coast premiere of the first Ferrari ever built.
Last year, it gained appreciable press for its showing of historic Indianapolis 500 cars. Motor Trendcontributor Matt Stone wrote, “This show had it all: heavy classics, sports cars, and exotics, a fine selection of oval racers celebrating 100 years of the Indy 500, woodies, trucks, and myriad odd ducks. The quality was high; several of the cars would play hard for best of show honors anywhere in the world, with enough really fine drivers on hand to make the show approachable for everyone.” A San Marino couple, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, won best in show at last year’s Desert Classic with their 1929 Auburn 8-120 Boattail Speedster.
“Our focus this year is on the Petersen Automotive Museum’s Checkered Flag [200] club,” says Desert Classic organizer Paul Merrigan, who won the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the Postwar GT Italian Coachwork Class with his Maserati A6. “These stalwart car enthusiasts support the goals and vision of the museum, which allows almost unlimited access to cars of a historic nature.”
The Checkered Flag 200 consists of the museum’s top-tier members, who will bring some of the world’s most beautiful vintage cars to the Desert Classic. “We believe that it is our duty not only to preserve these works of automotive art, but also to share them with the public in order to keep the passion alive for our car heritage,” says Bruce Meyer, the group’s president. “We’re privileged to represent the Petersen Museum at such a prestigious event.”
Generally, the Desert Classic invites owners to bring their automobiles; others apply for acceptance. All provide a brief history of their vehicles for spectators to peruse during the event. And all will face judges in their respective classes, which range from Pre- and Post-War American and European to American Heritage Racing and International Competition. Special awards will go to the best classic race car and the most significant open and closed cars, most unusual vehicle, and the People’s Choice Award, Motor Trend Classic Award, and Best in Show.
The nonprofit Desert Classic benefits local charities, including ACT for MS, Loving All Animals, FIND food bank, and Desert Classic Scholarship Fund (in association with College of the Desert).
Event Schedule
Friday, Feb. 24
Track Day
9 a.m.-4 p.m. — Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center
Saturday, Feb. 25
The Desert Classic Tour
8-9:30 a.m. — View more than 100 spectacular vintage automobiles in a festive atmosphere. Free and open to the public.
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Watch the cars depart for a driving tour through the Coachella Valley — from Rancho Mirage to the Salton Sea and back. View the route map and schedule at www.desertconcours.com.
12:30-2:30 p.m. — The tour concludes at Cuistot restaurant in Palm Desert, where the cars will again be on display.
The Desert Classic Vintage Car Auction
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa hosts the Vintage Car Auction presented by Auction Group International. The auction, which is open to the public, offers an impressive selection of classic cars focusing on influential automotive design through the decades.
Sunday, Feb. 26
The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance
More than 200 classic cars will be on display at Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa. Don’t miss the Checkered Flag 200 club from the Petersen Automotive Museum. Enjoy music, specialty vendors, and exceptional food and beverages.
10 a.m. — Gates open
12:30-1:30 p.m. — Presentation of significant cars and interviews
1:30 p.m. — Awards presentation begins
4 p.m. — Best in Show presentation, event concludes
Tickets: Advance $30/person; gate $35/person; children 10 and younger and active/reserve military personnel enter free.
Information: www.desertconcours.com
Schedule subject to change
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