Amelia Island Concours Draws 275 Cars, Over 18,000 Hobbyists

Jacksonville, Fla. (March 23, 2010) - Known as one of the nation's most ground-breaking vintage automotive events both in design and innovation, the annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, held March 12-14, celebrated its 15th anniversary by attracting 275 cars and more than 18,000 hobbyists from around the world throughout the four-day event.

The show's coveted two Bests in Show went to very deserving vehicles. The "Concours d'Elegance" trophy went to the stunning silver 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K owned by Sam and Emily Mann, who picked up their fourth Amelia Best in Show.

The "Concours de Sport" award for the best sport car/sports racer went to a 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 "Birdcage," owned by Jonathan Feiber and raced to a win by Sir Stirling Moss OBE in the last Cuban Grand Prix in 1960. Moss was originally scheduled to join the car at the Concours, but couldn't attend due to an unfortunate accident that occurred just a week before the event.

NASCAR racing veteran, Richard "The King" Petty was the Concours' honoree this year and attended with his trademark Charlie One Horse cowboy hat and sunglasses, along with nine of his former stock cars.

Racing legend Carroll Shelby attended the Concours in place of Moss and also substituted for him at "The Three Greats" seminar, which also featured Petty and drag racing icon Don "Big Daddy" Garlits. The seminar was moderated by veteran racer Sam Posey.

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Foundation invited Eduardo Mesejo Maestre, Director of Deposito del Automovil (the Cuban Automotive Museum), to serve as a judge for the "Cars of the Cuban Races" class. He is the first Cuban official to judge at a major U.S. concours.

Also celebrated was one of this year's star cars, the sensuously curved 1949 Norman Timbs Special, a roadster reminiscent of the sleek Auto Union cars from Germany that racked up numerous land speed records in the 1930s.

"It seems like it was just yesterday that we were planning the very first Amelia Island Concours," said Bill Warner, Founder and Co-Chairman of Amelia. "Since then, we've managed to make each year's event better than the last and this year was no different. I'd like to extend my appreciation to the people who help put this event together each and every year and also to the hobbyists who come out year after year to show their support. I'm very much looking forward to another exciting 15 years."

About The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is one of the nation's most innovative vintage auto events featuring over 250 rare classics from seldom-seen private collections nationwide. The 2011 show is scheduled for March 11-13, at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The show's foundation has donated nearly $1.6 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. since 1996.For more information, visit http://www.ameliaconcours.org/