It is all About Lifestyle

Elegance they like to say “Lifestyle By Design.”
Now in its 6th year the Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance offers a weekend of magnificent cars, boats and motorcycles in the unique setting at the Village of Bay Harbor. The weekend features several events with the focus on June 19 when the Exhibition and Judging is open to the public from 10 am til 4 pm.
“The Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance is an invitational show of vintage and classic cars, boats, motorcycles and even float planes from all over the country,” said David Draper, chairman of Concours. “On Saturday visitors will see the finest and most collectable examples in all categories. The event is judged on the beauty and elegance of each entry by a panel of internationally known experts.”

Another highlight of the day will be The Victories Casino’s Concours Food & Wine Experience:
“We added this opportunity to taste locally made wines because great food and wine are integral to the lifestyles of our entrants and audience,” said Draper. “We also want to give those who come to Concours another reason to spend time enjoying the whole day. More importantly we wish to promote the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsula Wineries, whose wines continue to earn international recognition.”
Participants to the Food & Wine Experience will receive a commemorative event wine glass to keep and four tasting tickets good towards wine or food from regional purveyors of fine cuisine. Additional tasting tickets may be purchased with some proceeds going to the establishment of a special Bay Harbor/Leelanau Peninsula Vintners fund to benefit regional non-profits in fundraising events.
“We plan to set aside some of these funds to work with area groups who host food and wine fundraising events during the year,” said Dan Matthies of Chateau Fontaine Vineyards on the Leelanau Peninsula. “With these funds we will be able to assist organizations in their purchase of wine and food for their fundraiser. It will enable us to promote our wine region and Bay Harbor Concours d’ Elegance throughout the year, while benefiting organizations in the greater Petoskey/Charlevoix area.”
Additional proceeds from the Food & Wine Experience and the many other events over the weekend will go to the Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation.
“The Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance is pleased to support the Nursing Scholarship Fund at Northern Michigan Hospital,” said Draper. “The Scholarship fund assists with new and continued education for the staff at the hospital, helping to make lives better.”
So exactly what is a Concours d’ Elegance?
Literally translated it means “parade of elegance.” It was developed during the Roaring Twenties by the French as an elegant marketing effort to reach new markets for their custom automobile coachbuilders and fashion couturiers of Paris who were both making luxury products of important design. The concept was to put on a grand exhibition that would combine both automobiles and fashion.
The concept took off, as fashion models dressed in the latest Paris creations would drive new automobiles to the reviewing stand. The model would then step out and show the car and fashion to the crowd, often both the car and fashion were one-of-a-kind. Both car and fashion were then judged and awards were given. Awards were based only on beauty, design and style. Prior to World War II Concours grew in popularity with events being held around the world and expanding beyond the automobile and fashion world, becoming a total extravaganza of style.
In 1950 the first Concours was held in the United States as a way to promote the Pebble Beach Road Race in California. The concept took off in the states and began to fade in Europe until the late 80’s when it was again revived. While Concours events have changed and added additional aspects one concept has not changed: Elegance and Lifestyle.
“It really is about those two things, even our silent auction items at the Benefit Art Auction & Reception on Friday evening are lifestyle driven,” said Draper. “Those of us who collect and restore these items are driven by lifestyle experiences.”
That Friday evening reception will attract close to 600 guests to the Bay Harbor Yacht Club for dinner, fine local wine from Chateau Fontaine and Ciccone Vineyards and a fundraising auction.
Another highlight of the weekend is The Bay Harbor Concours Invitational Art Exhibit featuring many fine works of art by artists who enjoy a lifestyle by design. The 2004 Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance poster and additional pieces will be auctioned at the Friday evening reception. The artists will also have their work on display Saturday. Exhibiting artists include: Michael Goettner, this year’s featured poster artist, Alexander Buchan, Gerald Freeman, Tom Hale, Robert Hubbard, Jay Koka and Bruce Wheeler.

Additional weekend events are as follows:

Friday, June 18, 2004
Historic Mackinac Trail Car Tour: Depart from the Village of Bay Harbor through Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Cross Village along the historic Mackinac Trail, includes lunch. Tour departs from The Village of Bay Harbor at 10:00 a.m. $75.00 per person, advance registration required.

Little Traverse Bay Boat Tour: A guided tour featuring the history of the bay and the towns that grew as a result of their unique location. Departs at 10:00 a.m. from the Bay Harbor Lake Marina dock, includes lunch. $75.00 per Person, Advance registration required.

Invitational Art Exhibit: Renowned 2- and 3-dimensional automotive and marine artists display their fine art at the Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance Sales Office located in the Gilmore Museum. 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Open to public.

Benefit Art Auction & Reception: Bay Harbor Yacht Club, live and silent auctions, cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner, live music. Outstanding Artist Award, auction, auctioneer Bill Parfet. Reception begins at 6:00 p.m. $125.00 per person, advance registration required.

Saturday, June 19, 2004
Concours d’Elegance Exhibition: An Elegant Gathering of Motor Cars & Motor Boats. Open to the public 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Awards presentations schedule for 1:00 p.m. $12.00 advance ticket purchase/$15.00 at the gate. Advance ticket sales at participating merchants at The Village of Bay Harbor, Inn At Bay Harbor, or at the Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance Sales Office the Village at Bay Harbor.

Invitational Art Exhibit: Renowned 2- and 3-dimensional automotive and marine artists display their fine art from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Open to the public.

Concours Food & Wine Experience: Sample wines and food from the region and afar. Special seminars presented each hour covering fine food and wine choices. Tent will be located on the exhibit grounds. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $10.00 per person/ tickets available day-of-show.

Bay Harbor Property/Home Tour: Show closes with a car tour of Bay Harbor Property and select homes, open to exhibitors and show cars only. Depart after show concludes at 4:00 p.m. with ample time to return for the After Glow Party at 5:00 p.m., no charge.

After Glow Party Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance: Open to entrants, sponsors, judges and committee members. Exhibit Pavilion. 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Bay Harbor Yacht Club Dinner & Twilight Cruise: Charity boat cruise begins with cocktails and dinner at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club. Weather permitting, twilight cruise of Little Traverse Bay and Harbor Springs, a grand close to a fabulous day. 7:00 p.m. $125.00 per person, advance registration required.

Attendees may pick and choose the events they participate in according to Draper. “Certainly the highlight for most is the actual exhibition on Saturday,” said Draper. “The natural beauty of Northern Michigan and its history as a quiet summer refuge stirred the creative juices of many an industrialist and helped create many of these magnificent cars and boats honored at the Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance. Those same natural qualities recharge one’s creative juices today, helping to create beauty and style in the automobiles, boats and our surroundings of today and tomorrow.”
For additional information and ticket purchases contact Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance, Inc. at their website:
www.bayharborconcours.com or by phone, 231-599-3133.
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