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Community Corner

Concours d'Elegance Rolling into La Jolla

The La Jolla Concours d'Elgance commences this weekend bringing classic cars and car enthusiasts from all over together. Weekend events include book signings, a motor tour, movie night and a showcase of classic autos.

Bringing classic cars and car enthusiasts together, the Eighth Annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance will be rolling into La Jolla March 30 and have events throughout the weekend.

La Jolla will not be the only gem of the festivities. A variety of fine automobiles and classic cars will be present, making this a once in a lifetime chance, said committee member Min Harris.

Patch was able to talk with Harris about the event, the festivities and why this is important to La Jolla. 

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La Jolla Patch: What is the schedule of events?

Min Harris: Friday night, there will be a book signing at books in La Jolla. Two books will be signed. Scott Jacobs, official Harley Davidson artist and artist for our program, will be signing his book The Art of Scott Jacobs. Linda Weldon will be signing her book, Road Racing: Drivers of the ‘60s and ‘70s. That’s a very cool book. 

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Saturday morning the motor tour will be starting at Balboa Park.

Saturday night we have a free movie in the park: Cannon Ball Run. It is open to the public. That is at at La Jolla Cove. We also have a VIP reception on Saturday night.

Sunday the car show will be at Ellen Browning Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove and opens at 9 a.m. and is finished at 3 p.m.

La Jolla Patch: How much are tickets and what events are free?

Harris: Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the gate. The events that are free are the movie in the park on Saturday night, the booking signing on Friday night and the car coral that’s available to the public on Sunday. VIP Tickets can be purchased at the gate on Sunday. On Sunday, there will be a VIP experience, which is a separate area than the rest of the field. The VIPs will be able to go into that area and have their meals catered to them. Tickets are $100. 

La Jolla Patch: What is the Motor Tour?

Harris: The cars will be starting from Balboa Park. They are going to have a tour of the automotive museums and go to Naval Base Coronado. All the cars in the tour are special cars in their own right. They will then go to the naval air base and bringing the cars to the military. The military will also have some vehicles that the participants to look at.

The motor tour continues from the naval air base. It goes to the Grand Del Mar hotel for lunch and has a private tour of Only Yesterday, which is a private automobile collection. It then goes to the for a champagne toast. It’s about all day on the road and consists of about 40 cars. Some of the cars will be the same ones judged on Sunday. They are all unique and special cars; not something you’d see driving by. 

La Jolla Patch: Why is this event important to the city?

Harris: The proceeds support the . They are very dedicated to preserving it’s history. The proceeds also support the Monarch School for homeless children. Besides that the community is very involved in this years event. A lot of the local businesses have rallied together to make this spectacular. As we grow, they’ve become much more involved. 

We do expect this show to be pretty spectacular, which is indicative of the popularity of the even as it grows. Keith Martin, owner and publisher for Sports Car Market will be the emcee for the second year in a row. 

La Jolla Patch: What is the history behind the show?

Harris: This is its eighth year and started with a bunch of car guys. It has grown to a full concours event. It used to be called the La Jolla Motor Car Classic and has become in its last year the Concours d’Elegance – the kind of even that is held around the world for concours level cars. Concours level cars qualify and are based on its merit. They are cars that are under wraps and not generally driven.

La Jolla Patch: We hear you have a celebrity judge. Tell us more.

Harris: Ed Gilbertson is our honorary chief judge and he is the Pebble Beach (Concours d'Elegance) chief judge for 20 years. The judges will go around and look at all the cars entered into the contest and award points based on merit, restoration, originally. The judging will take place on Sunday. The concours starts at 9 in the morning and at 2 is the award ceremony. 

La Jolla Patch: Why should community members come and be apart of this event?

Harris: These cars are the kinds of cars that you will only see once in a lifetime. The San Diego Air and Space Museum will be brining a flying car. It’s a beautiful day to look at beautiful cars. 

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