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When Hilton Head Monthly asked me to write a few words about my first car, I thought about my Step Van and the fact that I worked on repairing it more than driving it.
So, as mayor of the town where the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance and Motoring Festival has resided the past eight years, I decided instead to write about its significance to residents and visitors.
About nine years ago, former Mayor Harvey Ewing approached the town with the concept of bringing a one-day Concours festival to the town. Specifically, Harvey wanted town permission to use our then-recently purchased Honey Horn property.
Not many of us had heard of Concours before, but Harvey and a few others explained the success of the festival at venues around the country. Harvey explained that the event would lend prestige to the town and the town would lend prestige to Concours. He was right.
The fit with the Honey Horn property has been a perfect one. And from what I hear, this event is one of the most popular on the Concours tour.
lt;span>The Concours and Hilton Head Island/Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn is a good fit because of the high-class nature that each offers residents and visitors. The festival features classy automobiles of all makes, models and years in a wide expanse of grass, oak trees, and old southern buildings, like the Coastal Discovery House.
The original concept was for a one-day event at Honey Horn. Where are we now? Concours has become a multi-day event at Honey Horn and the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island. The Concours attracts a wide range of people, from those interested in seeing vintage automobiles for the first time to those wishing to take a stroll down memory lane.
Each time my wife, Mary Ann, and I walk through the aisles and aisles of autos, our conversation leads to reminiscing about the old days when friends and family drove this car or that car.
The Concours gives back to the community by distributing funds to nonprofit organizations. I have often said that events like Concours, the Verizon Heritage golf tournament and many other first-class events are ultimately dedicated to supporting our island, our home.
The Coastal Discovery Museum also plays a major role in this event and is also the recipient of the attention the event brings. The town and local businesses also prosper from the Concours d’Elegnace.
We hope the festival stays on the island, so please support it by attending its many offerings. I’ll see you out there.
