The annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance presented by Mercedes-Benz and AutoNation has raised nearly $10 million to date for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Hosted for the 11th consecutive year at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, the event took place February 10-12 and attracted more than 7,000 attendees for a weekend of philanthropy, comedy, and a stellar automobile and motorcycle display to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
Founded by Rita and Rick Case of Rick Case Automotive Group and under the direction of Founding Chairman James E. McDonnell IV, and Honorary Chair Mike Jackson, the Boca Raton Concours grows each year, bringing together new supporters, introducing new event components and showcasing the best in exotic and classic automobiles and motorcycles. This year’s Concours celebrated Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg as the Marques of the Year and featured an auction by The Finest Automobile Auctions.
Friday kicked off the weekend of events with the duPont Registry Live Hangar Party presented by Ulysse Nardin at the Boca Raton Airport. Guests experienced gourmet tastings from South Florida’s finest restaurants. Guests also perused a selection of exotic cars, motorcycles, extravagant boats, private jets, and premier vendors. During the event, Rita Case displayed her HondaJet; she is the first woman in the world to be certified to fly a HondaJet.
Saturday evening featured the Gala Dinner & Show presented by the Dade-Broward Hyundai and Genesis Dealers and emceed by Jeff Lennox and Vivian Gonzalez from WSVN-7 News, beginning with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a dinner and show featuring comedian Jeff Foxworthy as the headlining performer. The dinner began with the presentation of the coveted Automotive Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Marc Cannon, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Communications & Public Policy for AutoNation, and Dave Zuchowski, previous CEO to Hyundai.
Sunday concluded the weekend’s festivities with the Concours d’ Elegance Automobile & Motorcycle Exhibition presented by the Rick Case Automotive Group, spanning all eras on the Boca Raton Resort & Club showfield. Guests from around the world experienced an automotive showcase featuring vehicles and motorcycles from an array of time periods. Expert panel of judges includes Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable, Honorary Marque Judges Laura Brinkman, Executive Director/CEO of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Automobile Museum, and Mark Tomei, Vice-President of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club.
The awards ceremony highlighted each winner as they drove to the judge’s booth to receive their trophy. Winning entrants received their awards during a special presentation emceed by DuPont and Rothermel. Best in Show Automobile was awarded to Barbara and Al Mason’s 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster and Best in Show Motorcycle was awarded to Leo Schigiel’s, 1956 Ariel Square 4 with Garrard sidecar.
The 11th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance was made possible with the support of its sponsors: Mercedes-Benz, AutoNation, Rick Case Automotive Group, the Dade-Broward Hyundai and Genesis Dealers, Honda Aircraft Company and HondaJet, Coral Springs Auto Mall, Lamborghini Palm Beach, Hagerty Insurance Company, Ulysse Nardin, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Comcast Spotlight, DuPont Registry, Ferrari- Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Bentley Palm Beach, Rolls-Royce Motorcars Fort Lauderdale, Aston Martin Fort Lauderdale, Ed Morse Automotive Group, Robb Report, Zucker Lewis Media Group, THINK Magazine, Sun Sentinel, City & Shore Magazine, FOX/WSVN, ABC/WPLG, NBC/WTVJ, CBS/WFOR, Univision, Telemundo, Car Show Television, Entercom South Florida, Windmill Advertising Group, Pinnacle Advertising and Marketing Group, Vision Media Inc., Comerica Bank, Passport Transport, Impala Asset Management, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, and others.
Plans are already underway for the 12th annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, scheduled for February 9-11, 2018. Visit www.bocaCDE.com for updates.
PHOTO CUTLINES:
Photo1: Dave Zuchowski, former Hyundai CEO, and Trina Zuchowski
Photo3: Boys & Girls Club of Broward County Kids with Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County
Photo9: Best in Show Automobile was awarded to Barbara and Al Mason’s 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster by Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County; Founding Chairman, James E. McDonnell, IV; and Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance Founders Rita and Rick Case.
Photo10: Bill Rothermel, Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County; Founding Chairman, James E. McDonnell, IV; and Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance Founders Rita & Rick Case; and Tom duPont.
Photo14: Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County presenting the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award to Marc Cannon, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Policy for AutoNation, and Mike Jackson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
BESTOFSHOW: Best of Show Motorcycle, 1956 Ariel Square 4 with Garrard Sidecar, Lisa and Leo Schigiel