For most enthusiasts cars are more than just something that they find cool. They can be somewhat of a way of life. They can create relationships with fellow enthusiasts and they even can create businesses.
Bill Warner, the founder of one of the biggest car events in the world, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, recently sat down for an interview on the Brumos Collection’s special series entitled “Inside the 59.” In this exclusive interview, he recounts the beginnings of the event and touches on a connection that helped make the event what it is today.
Mr. Warner explains that his relationship with Brumos goes back to when he was a teenager working for a Volkswagen dealership and Brumos had just been founded. Later Brumos would loan the Amelia Island Concours some of its most rare racing Porsches to bring more attention to the event. This give and take relationship continues strong today and Warner actually contributed some of his photographs of key race-car drivers who drove for Team Brumos for the debut of their new facility, a 35k-sq-ft former Ford manufacturing facility.
This connection between Team Brumos, the Brumos Collection Museum, and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is an example of how the relationships formed within the car community can lead to some really great things. As explained by Mr. Warner, “Every major show has great collections in their backyard they draw from. The Brumos Collection has a phenomenal selection of cars, which can make or break the excitement that you’re trying to produce with a Concours d’Elegance.”
This weekend’s Amelia Island Concours events will include a special “Chevy Thunder” display, a presentation that highlights the development of electric vehicles, and the traditional Saturday morning Cars & Coffee display. Legendary race car driver and the first woman to be named the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, Lyn St. James, is this year’s concours honoree. The Concours has raised over $3.75 million for the Community Hospice & Palliative Care and Spina Bifida of Jacksonville among other local and national charities, highlighting yet another benefit to come out of the car community.
