Welcome to the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance website!

A Celebration Fit For A King!

I am proud to say that the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will reach a very significant milestone in 2010: we’ll be 15 years old! Thanks to our sponsors, staff, volunteers, entrants and supporters, we remain the most innovative concours in the world and I’m personally proud to say that we’ve been able to put together a show every year that is new and fresh.

With such an important chapter in our history coming up, the honoree had to be just as important, so I am extremely excited to have the one-and-only Richard Petty as our honoree for 2010. Having “The King” with us is a real thrill and we expect to welcome legions of loyal fans throughout the weekend, as well as on show day. A seven-time NASCAR series champion and winner of 200 races during his career, Petty is considered one of the greatest stock car drivers ever and is a member of practically every motorsports hall of fame around. His seven wins at the Daytona 500 remain unequaled and that alone makes him a legend in the sport. My co-chairman, Tom Cotter, was the driving force behind our securing Petty for the show and I can’t thank him enough for his efforts.

As you know, Mercedes-Benz has been a sponsor of Amelia since day one and, in 2010, we will again honor them as the featured marque. Manufacturers of some of the world’s finest automobiles, they have a long and rich history both in motorsport and passenger cars, and I’m very grateful for their ongoing support. I urge everyone to visit their display on the show field and learn more about their extensive product line.

If there is one event during Amelia Week that generates the most “buzz,” it has to be the seminars. Every year I try to assemble the best personalities “who were there.” For 2010, we have several exciting topics. On Saturday, the 50th anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss’ victory in the 1959 Cuban Grand Prix (yes, Cuba hosted several grand prix races) will be part of a seminar titled, “Three Greats – Petty, Moss & Garlits.”

The Cuban Grand Prix drew many of the top drivers of the day, and Moss won the ’59 race, held on the streets of Havana, driving the famous Maserati “birdcage.” In addition to Sir Stirling recounting his road racing experiences, Richard Petty will be on hand along with drag racer “Big Daddy” Don Garlits to talk about their experiences in oval and drag racing.

On the Friday seminar schedule, we will have one on automotive design in the morning with some of the auto industry’s leading designers and, in the afternoon, we will be looking back at two particularly important victories by the incredible Porsche 917 endurance racer – the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans races. There has never been a more dominant pure race car than the 917 and the men who drove this 240 m.p.h. rocket were heroes in their own right for just getting behind the wheel. Our panel tentatively includes Brian Redman, Vic Elford, George Follmer, Derek Bell, Hurley Haywood, and Jackie Oliver. These gentlemen drove and won with various versions of this potent racer and are sure to have some entertaining tales to tell – especially regarding the car’s handling characteristics at high speeds during the early stages of its development! It will be another “don’t miss” seminar.

The RM Auction celebrates its tenth year at Amelia and this one should be an excellent barometer for the coming season. Although the U.S. has been mired in a recession, there are growing signs that the economy is shaking it off and brighter times are coming. The RM crew is sure to have another fantastic selection of collector cars and all of their events are second to none for quality. You’ll also be able to enjoy the Rolls-Royce Wine Maker’s Dinner, the Porsche Driving Experience, and the Mercedes-Benz Gala dinner along with numerous displays. Try to attend as many of these great events as possible.

I’d also like to give a special thanks to our other founding sponsor – The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Along with The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, this five-star oceanfront destination has been the center of activities for the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance since our first show in 1996, and we have grown together. In fact, by the time the 2010 show rolls around, you will see a much expanded Ritz-Carlton with a completely new wing featuring more meeting rooms and another ballroom, which will give us much more room to grow.

Due to Amelia Island always “selling out,” many of my past welcome letters have ended with a call to book your accommodations early; this has never been more important than for 2010. Richard Petty has one of the most loyal fan bases in racing and it’s a sure bet that many of them will come to Amelia Island, so make your reservations today. It will be a weekend to remember, so mark your calendars for March 12-14, 2010, for the 15th annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance!

My sincere thanks again to our loyal sponsors, staff, volunteers, entrants, patrons, and the great citizens of Nassau County and North Florida for their continued support of Amelia; we couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,

Bill Warner, Founder & Chairman	Tom G. Cotter, Co-Chairman
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance	Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance