Kirkland Concours d'Elegance
Snuggled up to the shores of Lake Washington with the majestic Olympic Mountain range as a backdrop, Carillon Point welcomes the return of the 8th annual Kirkland Concours d’ Elegance on September 12th with a display of twelve historic classes of automobiles, sidecar motorcycles, and vintage boats.
Among car enthusiasts this family oriented event has quickly become recognized as one of the premier concours events in the country with participant vehicles selected from across the United States and Canada. All profits from this spectacular event benefit uncompensated children’s care at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Evergreen Healthcare Medical Center, with more than one million dollars already donated to these needy recipients.
This esteemed ‘contest of elegance’’ is judged by national and international experts. One award is judged and presented by thirteen Junior Judges, a group of 6th through 9th graders from various Lake Washington School District schools. These Junior Judges also gain an understanding and appreciation for automotive history, the restoration process, and the mechanics of a non-profit event. Nearly three hundred volunteers, most of whom return each year, make this event possible.
Set on the beautiful shores of Lake Washington, the Kirkland Concours is enjoyed by individuals of all ages. Consult the Concours website at www.kirklandconcours.com or the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce for additional details.
2009 Best of Show - 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 Autobahn Kourier Coupe, owned by Arturo Keller
Invited participants are grouped into classes and judged based on their rarity, quality, presence, and most of all their elegance. The unparalleled beauty of this luxurious setting offers our guests, and visitors, a chance to relax and enjoy some of the world's most rare and unique examples of rolling and floating art in the world.
Visit the gallery to view previous years awards and outstanding winners.
Join the Kirkland Concours Mailing List
In an effort to keep participants and fans up to date on the happenings of the Kirkland Concours d'Elegance, we have created an online newsletter. Please join our mailing list if you would like to receive periodic updates and informative articles regarding Concours.
Latest News
January 15, 2010
Spotlight on Carroll Shelby
The 2010 Kirkland Concours d’Elegance will honor Carroll Shelby’s more than fifty years of impressive achievements in automotive design and racing. Two special classes, “Screamers by Ford” and 2005 Ford GTs will showcase many of the icons he created.
Carroll Shelby entered the automotive world in the 1952 following his service in WWII. He began as an amateur racecar driver and quickly ascended the ranks of racers, driving for Cad-Allard, Aston-Martin, Austin-Healey and Maserati. He set sixteen international speed records in a streamlined, supercharged Austin-Healy 100S. Shelby went on to many victories including the ultimate: the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1959. Health problems forced his retirement in 1960 and led him to designing and building cars.
Shelby-American was formed and began building the famed Cobra that combined an English AC chassis and Ford engines. The Cobra made its debut in 1962 an evolved into a 427 cubic inch V-8 version in 1965-67. That same year the Shelby Mustang GT350 met the public and the GT-40 was launched in the racing world. All of these vehicles saw the racing circuit with many victories to their credit. Ford enjoyed particularly great pride as the GT-40s earn multiple wins at LeMans in 1966-68.
Carroll Shelby has gone on to develop successive generations of the Mustang to the present day. The famed GT-40 was reborn in a street legal version as the Ford GT and produced in 2005 and 2006.Carroll Shelby has developed offerings for Dodge, Chrysler and other manufacturers. He has been repeatedly recognized internationally including induction into International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991, the Mustang Club of America’s Hall of Fame in 1996, and as Automotive Executive of the Year in 2008.
December 4th, 2009
2010 Classes Announced!
The classes for the 2010 Kirkland Concours d'Elegance have been announced. With 12 classes this year, the show promises to be full of memorable, unique displays and showstopping vehicles!
1. Screamers Powered by Ford
2. 2005 Ford GT's
3. Pre-war Packards
4. Alfa-Romeo Sports Cars
5. Collector's Class
6. Special Display
7. Brass Antiques
8. Brass Antique Fords
9. CCCA Classics - Open
10. CCCA Classics - Closed
11. Vintage Wooden Boats
12. Vintage Sidecar Motorcycles
September 14th, 2009
Best of Show Award
The 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 Autobahn Kourier Coupe, owned by Arturo Keller, was awarded Best in Show for the 2009 Kirkland Concours d'Elegance.
