Community Corner
Annual Conours D'Elegance This Weekend
Show will highlight Italian autos and welcomes public for the first time.
There are some exciting new happenings at this year’s Barrington Concours d'Elegance this weekend, according to Patty Dowd Schmitz, Executive Director of the event. For the first time in the event’s history the public will be welcomed to view the 120 classic cars at the previously invitation only gala.
“The event is about twice as big this year,” said Dowd Schmitz. “On Sunday the event is open to the public with people being able to buy tickets for $20 a person. Different than the way it’s been for the last few years.”
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This year’s focus is Italian Cars, said Dowd-Schmitz.
“We have an Italian theme for our cars so we’re going to have a lot of Ferrari’s and Lamborghinis and really spectacular cars like that and a lot of American classic cars that everyone loves to see.”
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Each year, Concours d'Elegance strives to create a fresh experience for car-lovers, inviting collectors to apply for the opportunity to showcase their prize automobiles.
“We have a car committee and start working in January,” Dowd Schmitz explained. “Most of our cars come from people that have multiple cars and collections and many of the cars are multi-million dollar restored vehicles. It’s definitely a step up from a local cruise night.”
Participants are restricted from showing their cars more than once every three shows, so even those who were at last year’s event will have a new array of show cars to admire.
“We’ll have 80 beautiful cars on the show field that will be judged and then we’ll have 40 or so cars in our Car Club Court area,” Dowd Schmitz said.
For those who prefer to participate from behind the wheel, Saturday’s “Space to Ride” Road Rally will get your motor running.
“It starts at and it’s basically a 40 mile scavenger hunt/fun run/road rally, Dowd Schmitz said. “You get a very cryptic set of directions. You don’t get a map that says, ‘Go 4/10 of a mile and make a turn at the purple mailbox.’ You have to navigate your way 40 miles through the countryside and then you get to the finish line will be at ."
The event will benefit the Barrington Area Conservation Trust according to Dowd Schmitz who works for the organization
“This is our big charity fundraiser,” she said.
The Trust works with landowners to protect the open space in the Greater Barrington Area.
If You Go:
What: The Space to Ride Road Rally
When: Sign-in begins at 9 a.m. on July 14
Where: , 660 W. Northwest Highway
Tickets are $75 per car and can be purchased at http://barringtonconcours.ticketleap.com/rally-tickets/
What: Barrington Concours d'Elegance
When: July 15 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Where: - Park at Barrington Metra station, 201 S. Spring Street.
Tickets: $20 online and $25 at the door. Free for Children 12 and under and members of the armed services.
$75 for a VIP ticket, which includes the event and all day access to the Hospitality Room where lunch and two drink tickets will be served.
$200 for a gala ticket which includes entrance to the Concours Show Field, lunch, and two drink tickets to the hospitality room and a reserved seat at the Gala Charity Dinner which takes place from 6pm until 7pm.
Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.barringtonconcours.org/tickets.php
