2017 Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance Preview. Porsche Featured Marque!

About the author: Marvin Water’s has been involved with the Porsche marque since 1994. He prefers track events but also enjoys showing Porsche’s as well. Follow him on Instagram @swiftmotoring

The 5th annual Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance (PCDE) is just around the corner, on Saturday May 6. This event quickly separated itself from other Concours events held in the US and is a must attend for automobile collectors as well as vintage automobile enthusiasts. To understand the PCDE, you must understand the driving force behind the event- Jay Howard, PCDE President and Bob Ingram, PCDE Chairman.

Jay Howard founded the Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance 5 years ago. His vision of a modern Concours continues to impress judges, car owners and those that attend the event. Jay’s company, JHE is the preeminent Event Planning Company in the world of motorsport. JHE is based in Harrisburg NC, in the heart of NASCAR country. JHE is a strategic partner with NASCAR for over 30 years and produces most of the opening ceremonies and concerts held in conjunction with NASCAR race weekends. You simply do not survive in this business if you do not deliver what you promise, when you promise it. When JHE sets a start and finish time for an event, you can set your watch by it! Jay is a big fan of Porsche and his allegiance to the brand is very evident at the Pinehurst Concours.

Bob Ingram serves as Concours Chairman, was the former CEO and Chairman of Glaxo/Wellcome and was instrumental in the merger that resulted in what we now know as GlaxoSmithKline. Mr. Ingram remains very active in world of business while at the same time assembling one of the most incredible collections of Porsches in the world. The Ingram Collection, as it is known, is very much a family affair. Bob’s son Rory Ingram manages the collection while Cam Ingram (and business partner Kevin Watts) operate Road Scholars. The Ingram’s support the major Concours events by generously donating cars from their collection for display. Often transporting and showing as many as a dozen Porsches. The Pinehurst Concours is only 65 miles from the Ingram Collection home base. It is worth attending this event simply to see what the Ingram Collection has on display.

An integral part of Concours weekend is the Iron Mike Rally, staged on Friday, the day before the Concours. The Rally visits the nation’s largest army base, Fort Bragg, a 70-mile round trip for Rally participants, whose cars are shown and judged the next day. Concours entrants are encouraged to participate in the Tour and it is thought that Judges look favorably at cars that participate. The automobiles are staged early Friday morning in front of the prestigious Pinehurst Hotel in the Village of Pinehurst. This is the perfect vantage point to see these cars in motion prior to the Concours held on Saturday.

The Concours is a first-class affair and surprised many by adding a concert to the schedule 3-years ago. Three Dog Night and The Commodores have played past events. Country music star Sara Evans is the featured act this year. The Fairway Club, also part of Saturday’s schedule, allows local automobile clubs to display their cars on a fairway adjacent to the Concours’ participants.

Porsche is the featured marque at Fairway Club this year and should attract at least 65 Porsches. Other marques are also featured in the Fairway Club: Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, BMW, Corvette and others.

Another unique aspect of the Pinehurst Concours is the Fairway Club Owner’s Choice Award. Steve Gaddy and his 1964 356 in Bali Blue won last year and accepted the award on the same stage as the Concours winners! When the dust settles early Saturday morning and the cars are parked on the show field, there are over 250 pristine automobiles on display.
H2>Porsche Test Drives

By the way, Porsche offers new vehicle test drives throughout the day on Saturday, simply sign up and enjoy a drive through the North Carolina countryside in the Porsche of your choice.

The Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance offers something for everyone, visit www.pinehurstconcours.com
.
Please enjoy the gallery below featuring 2016 Concours and Fairway Club participants.