Ok...last year I blundered into this event by hearing an advert for it on the radio 2 days prior to the show. This year, I didn't hear a thing & only found out that it was this past weekend when I received my Chicago region PCA magazine (yesterday)! Did ANYBODY here either know about the event or attend???? Would have figured that one of the 4 or so car related websites or 6 mailing lists I'm on might have mentioned it. I'm about FREAKIN' sick of this area & may just have to move out west if I ever want to actually attend or participate any kind of event that is bigger than a half dozen people showing up at a Fudruckers
I attended the Geneva Concours and displayed my 1976 365 Boxer. I knew about the event because it was listed on the Ferrari Club of America's Central States Region website (although no details were given). The event has its own website so I went online and registered. I agree that the pre-event publicity is pretty scarce on it. I really enjoyed the Concours; downtown Geneva is a beautiful venue and there were some really great cars, although not too many Ferraris.
I hear ya, man! I definitely hear you..... Yes, that really is a nice little show. I attended a few years ago with Bob and his '79 308 GTS, and me with my '81 308 GTSi The lot was pretty full....A really nice selection of all kinds of very cool cars there. Much more than the usual "Old Car & Muscle Car" fare at the Cruise Nights, and local neighborhood Car Shows. He and I were the only Ferrari's. But, I wasn't aware of the date for it this year either, or I would have posted something myself. And would have liked to attend, too. I definitely agree with you, David. The Car club scene in this area is lame. Nobody seems to want to get together and drive, or do anything with their cars anymore. We have so little time to drive, between Weather, Family and Work priorities. So, personally, I like to take advantage of what time that we do have and go out and Enjoy my Sportscar with others that feel the same way. I don't know about anyone else. But THAT is why I got it. I do know that the Alfa guys have a great club. The Corvette guys are VERY active. So, maybe we should get something going with all of the Sportscar owners here in the area that DO want to actually get together. Do some drives. Events, Etc.... Yes, and "more than half a dozen people in a Fudruckers Parking Lot!".... I could not agree with you more! Anyone else interseted? Summers almost over....
I agree that their PR is HORRIBLE!!!! I called and e-mailed 5 or 6 times over a six month time frame to try to be a sponsor of the event and never heard back them. So we sponsored Pebble Beach instead. Then I tried to find out details and get a media/presskit to try to get a story about it in the magazine, and still never heard back from them. There were some nice cars though. However, talking to a few collectors, they were brushed off from bringing their cars (some of which have been to PB and/or Meadowbrook). It lead them to believe it is more of a "cliquey Kane Co. car show" instead of a serious concours. Too bad because it has a lot of potential to be right up there with PB, Meadowbrook, and NY concours.
Steve, I'm glad at least one Chicago F-chatter could make it & had a good time. Sorry I missed seeing your Boxer I wonder if it would help at all if everyone were to stop by the website: www.genevaconcours.com and send a note via the "Contact Us" tab - I did & have received a very well written response that includes an invitation to meet with the Geneva Concours board to discuss some of the ideas I proffered. I very much think I will see if I can arrange to meet with the board & volunteer to do some grass roots based advertising for next year's event.
I actually was a volunteer this year there. I was recruited by my cousin who is one of the main people who runs it. I agree that there wasn't much advertising for it. Maybe taking out a page ad in one of the chicago papers would be good for the future. It is a great event though. And definatly worth going to. My cousin's goal actually is to try to get the event on the level of a pebble beach for the midwest. And some of the cars at the event have won awards at pebble in the past. Another reason it has a chance to get to a higher level of concours is the setting. Downtown Geneva is a great place to hold a car event like this. It has a lot of charm. I have quite a few pictures if anyone is interested. All the pictures I have are listed in the spotted thread.
Here's my input......... You sound like you are interested in doing a lot of events. Our region does a LOT as far as driving events are concerned. I threw out offers to all of you from the Chicago area to come to my June event. I got one person from the FCA/FOC from Chicago. With that being said, I got 14 people with other makes from Chicago that day. And ALL had a blast. It was sponsored and everyone went hom with a gift bag. And it was FREE. No entry fee. I did have a raffle to sponsor a charity and everyone won something. So here's the deal. The event will go on again next year. I will let you know about it. Show up if you want something fun to do. If not, enjoy what you've got or do something about it. Frank, if you want some great people to cruise with now and then, come up and meet up with the Wisconsin group. We have events in Lake Geneva also. And they are ALL well-attended....... Pics from June..... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
more Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
more Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
By the way, we had 49 cars show up that day........ And, yes, that is THE Ford GT40 that started it all....... And the Bentley?? 650HP at the wheels!! I don't mess around when I throw a party. ;-) Anyway, I know for a fact that "Minte" (Yellow Gallardo owner from this board) will be having his annual Fall drive sometime around October up by Wisconsin Dells and ending near Madison. I can guarantee Carrera GTs, other Porsches, Ferraris, etc. Also, Wayne Obry (Motion Products) will be having his annual Fall Foliage Tour up in Door County. There are usually 20 or so Ferraris there among other cars. And Wayne keeps pretty good company as far as cars go. Wouldn't be surprised to hear that he will have his F40 out for it. Those are two. There is one on the Mississippi River Saturday that will include a prime rib dinner cruise at night. Also another FCA event in October that is AWESOME. Those of you there last year know what I am talking about. Unbelievable setting...... If you get the FCA bulletin, check it out.
Hey, any chance we can get this thread back into something trying to improve the Geneva Concours instead of bickering over an F-car club?? Geesh - that's the reason I don't belong to any of those clubs (ok, I belong to PCA for some of the discounts, but will probably let that membership lapse as I turn my own wrenches & can source parts on the cheap). I volunteered to spread the word about the Concours as broadly as I can if only they send me a reminder a few weeks prior to the next event. <--- There's a positive contribution - anybody else?
I would imagine they set the date way in advance... so why not spread the word then? Not under your control, I understand, just asking...
Sorry you missed it, David. Its been listed on the PCA calendar in the PCA Chicago's Chicago Scene and website since at least January, and there were full page ads in both the July and August editions also. As a past/present invitee/participant, I recieved a couple of emails and flyers in the mail as well. It was, IMO a great event with some world class cars, including, as noted above, several past overall Pebble/Meadowbrook/Amelia winning cars. Sponsorship from Maserati and Porsche. Around 120 cars, by my count. A real IROC 911 and center seat RSK. Len Bernstein had his black Ghibli coupe there, and John Weinberger had his simply stunning alloy bodied, fly yellow 275 GTB there also. My young daughter also got the opportunity to crawl around the cavernous back seat of a Maybach 62, which impressed her far more than the alloy 275. Kids these days. Go figure... Fairly large crowds were present all day, but it sounds like they could have done a better job of getting the word out to spectators. Lots of money raised for the MS Foundation as well. All in all, I think they're doing a pretty good job at building the event.
I was going to take my Mangusta, but they called me and asked me to bring the Dino, as there were fewer Ferraris than normal due to the conflict with the Italian Village event. I really think this is turning into one of the best midwest shows. Don't forget, it's still relatively new and they are continuously improving. It's a quality event benefitting a worthy cause. Since attendance was high it's hard to criticize their promotion.
Daryl, is that your Dino at the Geneva Show? (I saw it in the photos that were posted.) Those cars are absolutely gorgeous! Man, I too wish I would have known that the show was going on that day. I would have definitely went. BTW...Do you happen to know who this may be? (Picture below) Last Summer, I was driving Eastbound along Ogden Av. in Hinsdale, and was right along side of, then in front of this beautiful Dino as we passed Continental. Then, I turned North by Wolf Rd.and we parted ways.... (Note: Apologies for the somewhat fuzzy photo. It was taken with a disposable Camera, just held out the window, backwards while doing 40MPH.... ) Image Unavailable, Please Login
Daryl, Sorry I missed seeing your Dino, but your Espada was a thrill last year! I'll admit the event is new & probably having growing pains, but I'd be surprised if the crowds you saw were much bigger than the typical bunch of shoppers on 3rd street over a weekend
I cleaned the thread of the off topic banter (which is in another thread left intact). Feel free to continue the Geneva Concourse discussion.
Well alrighty, then... Thanks for cleansing the palate, T-Man. There was also a story in the Daily Herald the Friday before the Geneva Concours, with interviews and details on time/place. Given that there was no paid admission, I think the organizers did an admirable job of getting the word out, despite no financial incentive to do so. I don't know of a better organized event, with the caliber, range and breadth of cars invited/accepted anywhere in the Chicago area. As reiterated before, the crowd was quite good. I was there from roughly 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. I have more than a passing familiarty with typical Sunday 3rd street foot traffic, and it was a nice turnout. A photo my daughther took early in the AM during setup of the gorgeous alloy 275 is attached. Image Unavailable, Please Login
