Working Holiday
William Hall
Editor of OpenRoad, the magazine of America’s Automotive Trust, and contributor to Hemmings, Prancing Horse, ClassicCars.com, The Antique Motorcycle, and many other collector car outlets.
"As a collector car industry professional, attending concours events is part of my job. But Motorcar Cavalcade feels like more of a vacation, by design."
On its surface, a concours d’elegance looks like a glamorous party, filled with beautiful people mingling around fantastic automobiles in a stately setting. But behind the scenes, it can be a nerve-racking exercise for exhibitors and industry folks, all vying for top honors which could add value to their cherished cars, and make-or-break a restoration shop’s reputation.
With ultra rare cars comes big-dollar stakes, and the tension to win trickles down from the owners to the restorers, from the detailers to the transport drivers, from the product reps to the judging teams. Pretty soon, no one is really having much fun.
Fortunately, a few industry insiders decided to start a concours that simply removed the pressure points of all that stress, and created an event based on the core elements of elegance, style and our shared passion for the automobile, in all its forms.
Welcome to the Motorcar Cavalcade.
In a clear case of serendipity, I first met MC Co-Executive Director Jason Wenig many years ago at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. He was representing a rare and interesting vehicle for his shop’s client, and I was the new product rep for a wheel manufacturer. I remember thinking, “I really like this guy’s passion and knowledge about vintage cars,” shortly before he proceeded to take me to task on a shipment of wheels that had been delayed for months. We quickly moved past that contentious moment, but it’s a good example of the tense conversations that go on during a “normal” concours weekend, and the kind of energy Motorcar Cavalcade sought to eliminate.
Silver Linings
Ultimately, Jason asked me to assist with communications for Motorcar Cavalcade, and I was thrilled to help celebrate an event in which he and I, and many other epicurean automotive enthusiasts, could simply drop our guard and enjoy each other’s friendship, discussing and enjoying cars at a high level.
Now that everyone was relaxed and in the right headspace, Motorcar Cavalcade added a dash of Miami bling, with celebrity judges and an emphasis on high fashion. The laid-back formula appealed to the celebs, creating a great mixing pot of fascinating people from many different disciplines. I fondly recall last year’s event, when a brief downpour sent everyone ducking for cover into the host hotel’s ballroom. What would have been an unmitigated disaster at any other concours turned into the best networking room in South Florida, fueled by flowing champagne and a communal sense of fun.
That little dark rain cloud served to illuminate what the organizers of Motorcar Cavalcade fundamentally knew: the cars are the catalyst for what brings us together, but it’s the people and our interactions that make the event special. By rejecting strict judging and embracing the true spirit of the French definition for “concours d’elegance,” (competition of elegance) they removed the tension and weight from the event, creating an inviting atmosphere for those unfamiliar with our world of collectible cars. This in turn grows our hobby by giving a positive first experience to many intimidated by traditional concours events.
"...a field of exclusive automobiles to satisfy any connoisseur"
Even as an industry veteran, I find Motorcar Cavalcade to be a refreshing weekend amongst old friends, respected industry peers and fascinating new acquaintances, wrapped in an elegant and stylish setting. By design, Motorcar Cavalcade accomplishes the seemingly impossible; offering a field of exclusive automobiles to satisfy any connoisseur, yet remaining inclusive and approachable to budding car enthusiasts regardless of their generation or expertise level. With work like this, I may never take a holiday.
TBD
