A DAZZLING SUMMER CONCOURS AT WOODCOTE PARK
The Royal Automobile Club’ s inaugural Concours made a big impact with lovers of beautiful cars, as Giles Chapman reports
Overlooking the feature displays on the golf course at Woodcote Park.
The Royal Automobile Club’ s huge experience in organising events around historic cars produced a different kind of glorious occasion this summer – the Club’ s first ever Concours.
Although many know of its historic Pall Mall home, the Club also has a country estate near Epsom, Surrey, with spectacular facilities for its members across 350 acres and two golf courses. This is Woodcote Park, and in July it hosted the Concours with over 200 exceptional motor cars on display … and thousands of guests experiencing the exclusive delights of Woodcote Park for the first time.
The concours d’ elegance, a type of informal car exhibition, originated in the 1930s as a way to display the most beautiful cars, with a judging panel to choose winners and a party atmosphere to celebrate automotive excellence. It was along these lines the Concours was arranged … with the added benefit that the Club’ s membership includes many significant cars in their private collections that could be considered for entry.
The day itself, on 9 July, was blessed with wonderful weather and, in addition to the cars competing, Club members brought a mouthwatering
26 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run