Concours Chairman Sandra Button Presented with Nicola Bulgari Award
September 9, 2024
Amidst its annual Wheels & Heels Gala, America’s Automotive Trust presented its Nicola Bulgari Award to Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Chairman Sandra Button, honoring her for her dedication to the car world.
“Sandra’s passion has made her a force deeply engaged in making the collector car hobby a global celebration of the automobile as she supports numerous events and encourages the next generation of enthusiasts,” the Trust noted in the printed program for the gala.
The Nicola Bulgari Award is conferred annually on an individual who has made major contributions to the preservation of America’s automotive heritage and promoted awareness of its importance to today’s automotive culture. The award is named for Italian collector Nicola Bulgari, who has dedicated much of his life to this cause.
Bulgari selects the recipient from a slate recommended by America’s Automotive Trust. This year the Trust recommended Button—and Bulgari wholeheartedly agreed.
The gala program first noted Button’s contributions to the Pebble Beach Concours, an event she has guided since 1986, first as its Executive Director and then as its Chairman: “Her leadership has shaped the character of the Concours as she established its first Selection Committee, expanded the range of cars shown and the numbers of participants from overseas. Her belief that classic cars should be driven, not just displayed, led to the creation of the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic and the Tour d’Elegance. These along with the creation of the Pebble Beach Classic Car Forums and RetroAuto have made the Concours what it is today—consistently the top-ranked Concours d’Elegance in the world.”
The program went on to note that Button is “one of the most important persons in the collector car world, with wide-ranging involvements in the most prestigious international automotive events.”
America’s Automotive Trust is a nonprofit entity connecting a group of organizations that seek to secure America’s automotive heritage for future generations.
About Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
First conducted in 1950, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® (www.pebblebeachconcours.net) has grown to be the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and historic cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and connoisseurs of art and style gather to admire these masterpieces. Charitable donations raised by Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® now total over $41 million. Related events include Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum™ presented by Alliant Private Client, and Pebble Beach® Auctions presented by Gooding & Company. Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum™, and Pebble Beach® Automotive Week are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved. For more information, please call 831-622-1700 or visit pebblebeachconcours.net.
About America’s Automotive Trust
America’s Automotive Trust was founded with the goal of securing America’s automotive heritage for future generations. The Trust brings together like-minded organizations, such as LeMay—America’s Car Museum and the RPM Foundation, that honor the past, celebrate the present, and drive the future of car culture to make a greater impact. America’s Automotive Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.americasautomotivetrust.org.