Cobble Beach - Concours d'Elegance

Picture 150+ of North America's most venerated automobiles sprawled across the lush greens of the Doug Carrick designed 18-hole links; polka-dot sundresses and white linen suits will spend the day strolling through decades of automobile ingenuity with stunning coastline as a backdrop. With a roster of renowned car collectors and judges, and an already impressive list of exhibits, the inaugural Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance is set to become the pinnacle car event of the North, on par with the esteemed Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como, Italy to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California. 

Georgian Bay is set to become the backdrop for the newest edition of the concours d’elegance. Heralded as the celebration of the world’s finest cars, this prestigious international event has finally found a worthy home in Canada. Location has always been paramount for the most elite concours around the world – from the esteemed Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como, Italy and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California - the new Cobble Beach golf resort community offers stunning coastline on par with this tradition of excellence.

“If ever there was a Pebble Beach of the north, this is it. Breathtaking scenery, wonderful countryside, and close to home,” says Steve Plunkett, renowned car collector, organizer of Canada’s largest car show and special advisor to Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Dating back to 17^th century French high-society as a parade of horse drawn carriages, the event has transformed into the most venerated display of antique and classic automobiles in the world. The Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance will exhibit over a hundred years of beauty and innovation represented in ten-plus main categories, featuring a concours d’elegance first: the introduction of a ‘Made in Canada’ class as a testament to the North American love-affair with the automobile. Exhibitor categories also include:

• Horseless Carriage (Brass Era) Pre 1916 (under 30/over 30 HP)
• Vintage (Nickel Era) 1916 to 1927
• American Classics Open 1925 to 1948
• American Classics Closed 1925 to 1948
• European Classics 1925 to 1948
• Sports Cars – European to 1973
• Sports Cars – American to 1973
• Preservation Class – pre 1960 cars (largely untouched, unrestored, running, original paint)
• Post War Thoroughbred - limited production prestige to 1973
• American Muscle Car 1960 to 1973
• Supercars
• Race Cars - track only – pre 1980
• Special Interest
• Pre-War Canadian engineered and built automobiles
• Production Modern 1949 to 1973
• Street Rods and Hot Rods to 1956

While the search for the world’s best cars has only just begun, entries for the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, have already started to flood in. The event will welcome home the 1978 Ferrari 312T3 F1 that won Gilles Villeneuve his first Formula One Grand Prix. After thirty years outside the country, the Ferrari will take its place among chief examples of automotive ingenuity, including the spectacular 1956 Maserati 200SI, the revolutionary 1930 Cadillac V-16 Fleetwood Roadster, and the rare 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe.

“The Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be the car event of the season. Exhibitors will flock to be a part of this statement of elegance in the North,” predicts Edward Lucas, recipient of National Automotive Historian Award and Past Director and Chief Judge in the Classic Car Club of America. With over 20 years of experience as announcer at national automobile events, Lucas will lead the first annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance as Master of Ceremonies.

Contributing to the proper preservation of automotive history, Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance judging will consider correct preservation or restoration, as well as standards of presentation. Cars will be judged based on quality workmanship and functionality, originality and authenticity, as well as elegance in styling and design.

John Carlson joins the team as Chief Judge for the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance. With over 45 years of experience in the collector car hobby, Carlson’s resume is stacked with impressive titles and accolades that he brings to the inaugural event. Carlson is the National President, CEO, and Chief Judge of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada, a permanent Chief Class Judge of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and has been inducted into three Motorsport Hall of Fames in Canada. 

"I am thrilled to have been invited to be part of the first Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The setting alone is sure to entice some of the most significant collector cars in North America. It will be a fantastic show to judge…to watch,” says John Carlson, Chief Judge of the inaugural Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance. 

Proceeds raised by Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance will go to Sunnybrook Foundation to fund a state-of-the-art helipad on the rooftop of the Toronto hospital. Of the 1,000 patients that are treated for life-threatening traumas at the hospital each year, about half arrive by helicopter. Right now, the hospital’s helipad is located about 500 meters from the trauma room and transferring patients from the helicopter to the trauma room can add time in treating patients when every second counts.

Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance general admission tickets range in price from $25 per person to $75 for a family including 2 adults and up to 4 children under 16. $250 VIP admission includes gourmet breakfast, lunch, VIP parking, and access to the VIP Clubhouse with wine-bar available throughout the day. For the utmost convenience, the $1100 VIP Ticket + Flight includes VIP admission plus a round-trip with Porter airlines from Toronto Island Airport and shuttles to Cobble Beach, as well as a $300 charitable donation receipt from Sunnybrook Foundation. For exhibitor information, to purchase tickets and more details on the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance Gala dinner visit www.cobblebeachconcours.com.

Cobble Beach Golf Links Resort Community

Nestled in the Bruce Peninsula, a National Geographic top-rated destination, the Cobble Beach Golf resort community is located on 1.6 km of private, untouched shoreline with unparalleled panoramic views of the Georgian Bluffs, and a 260 ft dock stretching into the bay providing access to yachts up to 120 ft. Deemed a Top 20 Golf Resort in Canada by Links Magazine in 2012, and one of the Top 10 Best New Courses in the World by Travel + Leisure Golf Magazine, Cobble Beach’s Doug Carrick designed 18-hole golf course is sure to draw the elite crowd of international tastemakers and automobile enthusiasts to stay for the week. Cobble Beach residents and guests of the inn enjoy gourmet dining at the award-winning Sweetwater Restaurant and first-rate treatments at the five-star Vichy Spa.

Potential purchasers charmed by the 574-acres of coastal landscape are invited to learn more about living at the Cobble Beach Golf Links Resort Community year round. Find out more at the Cobble Beach Experience Centre.