Fans of antique, classic and modern vehicles were drawn to downtown Geneva over the weekend for the annual Geneva Concours d’Elegance car show.
The free event, held along Third Street from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday, drew vehicles from all over the country with many owners vying for what officials call the coveted Benz Trophy.
The event normally features nearly 400 vehicles, showcasing various groupings including motorbikes and vintage cars.Concours d’Elegance
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Patt Barrett of St. Charles, who represents the Concours d’Elegance, said the event has been held since 2004 except during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the mission “was to have a high-end car event in downtown Geneva.”
“This year we are featuring phaetons – a certain type of coachwork which are four-door cars without roll- up windows. We are going to have the story of Audi and the Sportscar Club of America will bring 30 race cars and the Ferrari Club will bring another 30,” she said. “We’ll also have a collection of Whizzer motorbikes as well as classic and vintage cars and sports cars, both domestic and foreign.”
Sheila Joynt, who handles promotions for the event, said the Geneva Concours d’Elegance always draws a big crowd.
“We know that this is one of most popular shows each year and I think it’s because we have things no one else has. It’s the cars we put on the show and the location which is right on Third Street,” she said.
Joynt said the hope is “that people will donate each year as we have a beneficiary for the event,” which is Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources.
Geneva Concours d’Elegance Director John Barrett of St. Charles said that organizers “like to tell stories of something” at the show.
“One of our features this year is Audi, a name that a lot of us are familiar with, but many don’t know that it started in 1902 or 1903 by a man named Horch. He lost the company and he started another called Horch and it was combined into a group of four called Auto Union – Audi was one, Horch was one, Wanderer was another and DKW was the fourth,” he said. “They evolved and grew together and in the late ‘60s Volkswagen bought the company Auto Union and they created Audi. That logo with four rings goes back to the 1920s.”
Once again this year, winners in certain categories were awarded “Benz” trophies, named after Karl Benz, the German engine designer and automotive engineer
Cool temperatures and sunny conditions brought a big early crowd Sunday including Kathy Attlan of Oakbrook Terrace.
“I like the uniqueness of every single one of the cars,” Attlan said. “Every one is unique and even a person who doesn’t care about cars – me – loves it. I love coming here.”
Robert Costello of West Dundee brought a 1947 MGTC to the show “which is the car I wanted since high school.”
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“I specifically wanted a ’47 and I would write love letters to my girlfriend and speak more about the car than her,” he said. “I’ve only had this for a year-and-a-half but I drive it everywhere, even the grocery store. It’s something you’re supposed to enjoy, not just look at.”
Amanda Lishamer of Batavia enjoys all sorts of classic, vintage and modern cars and says she never misses the Geneva Concours d’Elegance event.
“I like the sports cars,” she said. “I like to see the cars that have a backstory.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.