Greenwich Concours organizers are eager to showcase an “elevated experience”
It’s been more than two years since the good folks of Greenwich, Connecticut, got together to host the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance—and nearly that long since Hagerty took the reins of the prestigious automotive event. So it’s no wonder that Concours Event Director Matt Orendac is like a kid counting the days until Christmas.
“I wake up every day excited to see what we will do next,” Onedac says in anticipation of the October festivities. “The town has been a great partner, and our team’s efforts to change the Concours experience—with the goal to help save driving for future generations—has been a life changing experience.
“The cars, the people, and the stories behind them will be brought to life in Greenwich over a weekend in October. How can you not want to be part of that?”
The Greenwich Concours was last held in May 2019, long before the COVID pandemic swept the globe in early 2020. Hagerty canceled the 2020 event and then pushed the 2021 concours until October 22–24. Tickets are on sale here.
The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance was founded in 1995 by the late Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom and was first held in 1996. Located just 30 miles from New York City, it overlooks the famed Long Island Sound and beautiful Greenwich Harbor.
In addition to displaying high-end cars in the traditional concours format, Hagerty has added hands-on-the-wheel experiences, including the Hagerty Driving Experience, aimed at drivers age 15–25 who want to learn how to operate a manual transmission, and the Hagerty Ride & Drive, which puts licensed drivers behind the wheel of cool, older cars like a 1965 Ford Mustang and 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance celebration begins on Friday, October 22 with the Greenwich Concours Grand Tour at 11:30 a.m. Limited to concours entrants, the driving tour is held on some of the most beautiful roads in the Greenwich and New York area.
Saturday, October 23 is filled with fun for all ages, including family activities in the Concours Kids Zone with slot cars, racing simulators, art, gamification and Pixar’s Lighting McQueen. The day begins with “Croissants, Coffee and Chowder” at 8 a.m., followed by three featured events: the Concours d’Lemons, a tongue-in-cheek car show that celebrates the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive world; RADwood, in which the vehicles and the show-goers’ attire pay tribute to the 1980s and ’90s; and Porschella by CarPark, a celebration of modified Porsches—from outlaw street racing cars to safari builds.
Hagerty will also host four seminars throughout the day, produced by the Chowder Club, all free of charge:
What Comes Next (10:30 a.m.)
What will the automobile look like in a world of autonomous driving technologies and alternative power sources? An all-star panel of motoring luminaries will explore the possibilities and challenges as we enter this brave new world.
Shifting Gears (11:50 a.m.)
A look at the collector car market amidst a pandemic, changing demographics and unprecedented enthusiasm among collectors of all ages. The discussion will include valuation; tips on what to buy, sell, hold; and identify future marketplace trends.
How to Score the Ultimate Barn Find (1:10 p.m.)
Find the car of your dreams. Three of the most successful individuals in the motoring world will reveal secrets to discovering hidden treasures and share special tips on how to become an automotive archaeologist.
Concours, Car Shows and Cruise Nights (2:30 p.m.)
What will automotive gatherings look like in the future, and what changes can we expect? Some of the most respected concours judges and event organizers in the world will read the tea leaves and offer their predictions.
The weekend culminates with the main event on Sunday, October 24: the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, which celebrates some of the best examples of automobiles and motorcycles. Featured classes include Ford vs. GM, Lancia, 100 Years of Duesenberg, 70 Years of Allard, Right Coast Rods, Vintage SUVs, 120 Years of Indian, and 100 Years of Moto Guzzi. Early admission is at 8 a.m. (special ticket required), judging begins at 9 a.m., and general admission starts at 10 a.m.
In addition to concours judging, Hagerty Youth Judging will be held at 10 a.m. The Youth Judging Program guides participants age 8–14 through the show field to pre-selected show cars, helping them learn details, history, and fun facts about each.
A complete list of events can be found on the Greenwich Concours website.
Among the notable additions at Sunday’s concours are a field Jumbotron and VIP tent, and some well-known cars will be on hand.
“We’re utilizing the entire waterfront at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park to display many of our 160 cars,” Orendac says, “including the historically significant Castle Duesenberg from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, and the famous 1963 Corvette Grand Sport and Ford GT40 from the Revs Institute. We feel we’ve elevated the entire concours experience.”
