Sunday 10 September 2017 • Chico, California • 39th Annual Event
The Chico Concours d’Elegance is Butte County California’s premier annual car show. Held every year since 1979, the Chico Concours features a full day of music, friendship, entertainment, and beautiful automobiles in the park-like atmosphere of Butte Creek Country Club. We sincerely hope that you will choose to attend as either a participant or spectator.
What is a Concours d’Elegance?
The Concours d’Elegance (from French meaning a “competition of elegance”) dates back to 17th-century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays.
Over time, carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competition among automobile owners to be judged on the appearance of their cars. These events are often held at automobile shows, after racing competitions, or as fundraisers for charities.
The oldest concours in existence, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, is held at Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Italy on Lake Como. The first of these was held in September 1929. The first concours in North America was held in 1950 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey, California, together with the first Pebble Beach Road Race.
The longest continually running event is the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in California, which has been held since 1956. The Chico Concours d’Elegance was founded in 1979 and has never missed a year.
Traditionally, vehicle judging at a concours is more demanding than that of a neighborhood or general automobile show. Trained judges examine the vehicle thoroughly, and rate each and every component. Only those vehicles that are judged nearly perfect in every way are considered eligible for trophy class. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Automobile as Art
Poster by Alan Rellaford
