Concours d'Elegance style shows: anyone participated or attended one?

[King Hooter]

Has anyone here had the privilege to show off their pride and joy at a Concourse D'Elegance event? Or even been a spectator at such of an event?

I was offered and received an invitation to register for the 10,000 Lakes Concourse D'Elegance at Canterbury Park in Shakopee Minnesota. After some thinking I decided to go ahead and apply. Well to my surprise an email arrived and it's looking like I'll be attending. Now wondering what I may of just gotten myself into. Anyone got some tips or insight for me?

 

[SportFury70]

Congratulations on getting invited! I unfortunately have never been to one but would like to go to one sometime. When I think of one of these things I think of expensive… you know to get in whether to register a car or look at them, and high end cars like Bugattis Bentleys Ferraris and Cadillacs. I also think of high multi million dollar restoration cars, and people dressed in tuxedos and suits. Have fun!

 

[62dodge]

Howdy Back in the late Eighties my former boss gave me two tickets to one in Sacramento. I made a command decision to bring a knowledgeable friend versus my girlfriend. Good choice as we immensely enjoyed looking at very rare automobiles. I will never own any automobiles worthy of participating in one.

 

[MoPar~Man]

The 10,000 lakes concours seems to have been running for 7 years (from 2013 to 2019) when in 2019 they announced that was the final year due to financial problems. So it's fairly recent (seems to be last year) that they've come back.

 

[King Hooter]

Congratulations on getting invited! I unfortunately have never been to one but would like to go to one sometime. When I think of one of these things I think of expensive… you know to get in whether to register a car or look at them, and high end cars like Bugattis Bentleys Ferraris and Cadillacs. I also think of high multi million dollar restoration cars, and people dressed in tuxedos and suits. Have fun!

And that's what I'm thinking it was and is like. Guess I've watched to much Wayne Carini from Chasing Classic Cars.
The Imperial is no where close to that and technically 1 year to new. That exception would be made for the 100th anniversary of Chrysler, per the gentleman who I talked with (one of the committee members that choose participants).
The application was different. No mods unless period correct, and if considered for survivor/preservation a certain % of factory paint, interior, drive train was needed. I fall under survivor status

I didn't see anything about entry fees, unless you're a spectator or going to the Saturday Night VIP events. First time I've seen a dress code for a show. Requested to dress appropriately for the era of vehicle you have and venue.
I should know more by late August when my packet containing credentials, passes, and additional information arrives.

Hum.... I hope I'll get to keep the sign they make explaining your car. That and the booklet of all attending cars.

 

[73Coupe]

@King Hooter Hopefully you're almost finished cleaning your car's undercarriage with a toothbrush at this point, and it's ready for the show.

I've never been to one but the Concours near me at Pebble Beach I heard is like $600 for a spectator ticket....fook. My barber goes to it and reports a lot of good people watching, more of a spectacle than the cars it seems. Lots of seersucker suits, Panama hats, and weasel pelts.....

 

[furious70]

No but we did mustang club of America trailered concourse class for many years. Perfect cars and perfect cleanliness.

 

[King Hooter]

@King Hooter Hopefully you're almost finished cleaning your car's undercarriage with a toothbrush at this point, and it's ready for the show.

I've never been to one but the Concours near me at Pebble Beach I heard is like $600 for a spectator ticket....fook. My barber goes to it and reports a lot of good people watching, more of a spectacle than the cars it seems. Lots of seersucker suits, Panama hats, and weasel pelts.....

7 days away and haven't even started detailing the Imperial yet.
Just finally got my information packet. Wow, I have to be checked in by no later than 6:30 A.M. (20 min. before sunrise). Line up and enter in order by class @ 7:00. And yes they suggest dressing according to your vehicles era and status. Guess that means Frank Sinatra, Mr Drysdale, or Joe Pesci if I wish.
French rules judging. Sounds more a wow factor that a general condition used for the special Chrysler class.
I didn't sign up for the participants only cocktail reception on Saturday evening.

 

[73Coupe]

If you don't go the black tie route, Frank was also documented in leisure attire, including a members only jacket, lol....

A couple other ideas....haha:

 

[King Hooter]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do wish I had some of that Herb Tarlek collection, lol.
But I've got a couple of Hawaiian shirts or bowling shirts I'm planning on taking. And of course my fedora with the feather in it, too.

 

[Kuz]

You might bring an extra bottle of Grey Poupon......

 

[King Hooter]

 

[King Hooter]

After a few days I can reflect on my experience.
Being that the Imperial wasn't a classic (45 years old was to new) I wasn't judged, took some of the pressure off. Still had tons of people looking her over and taking pictures. And it was a completely different class of people both attending and participating. I personally felt so out of place there. Hell, you guys made me feel more comfortable at my first C-bodies show last year. And I don't even have a C-body...... yet.

 

[Big_John]

And it was a completely different class of people both attending and participating. I personally felt so out of place there.

When you checked your oil, did you hold your pinky out when you held the dipstick?

 

[MoPar~Man]

After a few days I can reflect on my experience.
Being that the Imperial wasn't a classic (45 years old was to new) I wasn't judged, took some of the pressure off. Still had tons of people looking her over and taking pictures. And it was a completely different class of people both attending and participating. I personally felt so out of place there. Hell, you guys made me feel more comfortable at my first C-bodies show last year. And I don't even have a C-body...... yet.

From what little I can see in the photos for the location / venue, it doesn't exactly shout concours to me. 10000 lakes? Was there a body of water near by? Or any trees? Porta-potties? Cheesy food trucks? Looks like an industrial farm setting. Was this a golf course? Country club?

 

[King Hooter]

From what little I can see in the photos for the location / venue, it doesn't exactly shout concours to me. 10000 lakes? Was there a body of water near by? Or any trees? Porta-potties? Cheesy food trucks? Looks like an industrial farm setting. Was this a golf course? Country club?

They changed locations, originally in or around a park in Minneapolis MN but now in a southwestern suburb. Canterbury Park is a horse racing track owned by the Mystic Lake tribe and the show was in the infield. Absolutely no shade, nearly 90 degrees lucky there was some wind.
It was very obvious that the emphasis was on the brass era and 50's-60's foreign cars. The Chrysler display was the outer 1 1/2 horse shoe. I got to listen to the food truck generators and maintenance guys mowing. Decided not to walk all the way to the grandstand for the vendor fair.