Concours in the Hills Smashes Records for Eighth Year in Succession
The eighth annual Concours in the Hills car show on Saturday February 12 continued its unbroken tradition of record setting. Almost 1,200 vehicles, and an estimated 40-50,000 spectators, completely filled 35-acre Fountain Park in Fountain Hills, AZ to raise over $430,000 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Mother Nature again cooperated with clear, sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80’s. The magnitude of this show is a testament to the enormity and diversity of the car scene in Arizona. The show had over 100 sponsors, including Title sponsor Gila River Resorts & Casinos, and encompassing most facets of the car business. Private car owners pay just $60 to participate and spectators are free.
The show is arranged by sections for Domestic, European, Asian, Race Cars, Motorcycles, Military and Off-Road vehicles. A new section for this year was Limited Edition Exotics which included such exceptionally rare cars as a $20 million McLaren F1, Hennessey Venom F5, LaFerrari, McLaren Elva, Aston Martin One-77 and a vintage Ferrari 500 Superfast.
The Race Car Section featured about forty cars from Indy, LeMans, CanAm and other race series. One car was Mario Andretti’s Lotus 38, which revolutionized Indy from front engine to rear. Others included a Ford GT Mk IV, McLaren Mk 8E, Toyota GTP, Lola T70 and T160, Genie Mk 10, Surtees TS-8, Maserati Birdcage, Mirage M1 and M12.
Six helicopters flew in and were on display including a USMC AH-1Z Cobra around which Cobras from the local club were displayed.
The show was declared open by former race-drivers Arie Luyendyk, Harley Cluxton, Derek Daly and Lyn St. James announcing, “Drivers Start Your Engines”.
A special interactive feature was the Discount Tire Pit Stop Competition where the public were able to test their skill at a timed wheel change as in NASCAR.
Peter Volny, show founder and lead organizer, stated “I’m amazed every year at how this show just grows and grows. I’m so appreciative of the many volunteers from both the car community and PCH who help make it all happen”.
Awards were given for:
Best Domestic: Terry Rials – 1959 Chevrolet Impala
Best Import – tie: John Breslow – 1955 Jaguar D-Type & 1957 Jaguar XKSS
Best Race Car: Bill Pope – 1960 Maserati Birdcage
Best 4 X 4/Off Road: Ruben Reyes – 1948 Chevrolet B300
Best Car Club Display: Fountain Hills Auto Club
Best of Show: James Kramer – 2011 Aston Martin One-77
People’s Choice: Michael Odierna – 2021 IsoRivolta Zagato GT
