A STORY AROUND EVERY TURN

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Blog

Traditions: Road to Best of Show

August 4, 2021

Pictured above: Emcee Derek Hill, Chairman Sandra Button, and Pebble Beach Company CEO William L. Perocchi greet The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie’s 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer upon its win in 2019.

The Countdown to Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours

At its core, the Pebble Beach Concours is a competition of elegance — and as with most pageants, there are stages in this contest and a countdown to the winner.

This is not a closed competition; enthusiasts can offer any car they believe to be concours worthy. Our Selection Committee then agrees to vet more formal applications from about 1,000 of these cars, choosing just over 200 to appear on our show field. 

Fireworks greet the 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet of Robert M. Lee as it pulls forward to take the top prize in 2009.

On Concours Sunday, cars first compete within their assigned class, undergoing the expert eyes of Class Judges who assess their authenticity, the quality of their restoration or preservation, and their beauty, technical excellence, and history.

Only class winners move on to the Best of Show competition, where a select group of individuals — comprised of Chief Class Judges, Honorary Judge Team leaders, Chief Judge, Chief Honorary Judge and Chairman — cast votes for the best among them.

Confetti rains down on David & Ginny Sydorick’s 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta in 2018.

Tensions mount as the top three to four vote-getters are recognized as the final Best of Show Nominees. Then the winner is announced amidst an explosion of confetti. 

In 2021 many of our former Best of Show cars will be on hand to welcome our 70th winner. We are eager to see which car that will be!

An Unmatched Tradition of Automotive Excellence since 1950

August 18, 2024 — Just 142 Days left!