Bugatti will be the honored marque and the Mercedes Benz 300 SL Coupe, “Gullwing,” the featured model at the 2022 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, April 22–24. Presented by LPL Financial and Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty, the 16th La Jolla Concours will feature 125-plus vehicles that will be independently judged in 14 classes, 13 for cars and one for motorcycles.
The Concours, “World Class Cars, World Class Experience,” takes place at Ellen Scripps Browning Park in the La Jolla Cove, and the weekend’s events, such as the parties and tour, take place nearby, also in La Jolla.
For the first year, a Ferrari Friday on Prospect Street is scheduled, free to the public. “We will be lining the streets full of Ferraris,” says G. Michael Dorvillier, chairman of the event. “We’ll also have live music, retail and dining specials and more to make it a fun evening.”
That night, Le Cabaret du Concours offers whimsical décor, entertainment, a live auction, hosted specialty cocktails and food from one of San Diego’s top restaurants.
The Tour d’Elegance Saturday afternoon features concours-participating and other classic cars, and the people who love them, cruising San Diego. The event includes breakfast, lunch and commemorative gifts. “To top it all off, any participant of the Concours who participates gets an additional point that contributes to the Sunday judging,” Dorvillier explains.
Proceeds benefit the La Jolla Historical Society, which preserves the rich history of the village of La Jolla, and several local community nonprofit partners each year.
On Sunday, the judging occurs between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., led by Chief Judge Nigel Matthews, Global Brand Ambassador for Hagerty; the La Jolla Concours uses the multi-marque system provided by the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG). The car in the class with the highest score is the class winner, and all class winners are eligible for the Best of Show award.
Matthews and his team will award Best in Show, Most Outstanding Pre-War, Most Outstanding Post-War, first, second, and third place awards for the classes. In addition, special awards include LPL Summit Best of Marque; Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty Timeless Elegance; Chairman’s; Mayor’s; La Jolla Historical Society Heritage; and the Restorer of the Year.
During the Sunday Concours, the public can enjoy a honey tasting garden and champagne garden, and VIP guests can visit hosted bars and taste small-bites food.
Honored marque Bugatti is celebrating its 113th year in 2022; the annual meeting of the American Bugatti Club is being held in San Diego the same week as the Concours. “Ettore Bugatti was an engineering and design genius. As an example, Bugatti engine blocks were hand scraped to a perfect flat finish so that gaskets were not required,” explains Bob Kerner, the event co-chairman. “Their unique beauty, superior engineering and light-weight design translated to great success on the racing circuit.”
The Gullwing is being honored because of its design beauty, extraordinary engineering and many race victories.
“What can you say about the Mercedes Benz 300 SL Coupe which was voted the ‘Sports Car of the Century’ in 1999?’” he asks. Both marques will be presented in the strongest field ever for the 2022 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance.”
For more information, see lajollaconcours.com
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