Amelia Island 2020

By Eddie LePine

The automotive world is descending upon Amelia Island for what has become a “must see” event for anyone interested in celebrating automobiles and their place in this world as works of art.

This year’s honoree is Roger Penske, whose automotive and motorsports achievements are legendary and sure to draw a record crowd to the 25th installment of founder Bill Warner’s outstanding event.

The actual concours will be held on the Golf Club of Amelia Island at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Sunday, with supporting events getting underway on Thursday, March 5.

The Porsche Driving Experience (which is sold out) will be held on Friday morning along with the Reliable Carriers’ Eight Flags Road Tour for Concours registered vehicles. Also Friday evening will be the McLaren Dinner of Champions, featuring Roger Penske and his team and fifteen of Amelia past honorees.

On Saturday, various auto manufacturers will be offering test drives of their cars at the Ritz-Carlton, also there will be a seminar Saturday morning about Team Penske. Also on tap for Saturday will be the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction, featuring 80+ automobiles. To top things off on Saturday, the Mercedes-Benz Gala Dinner will be held, honoring Roger Penske (by invitation only).

Throughout the week, the Ritz-Carlton will be filled with quality automotive related vendors from around the world, showing off their wares – with everything from fine art to racing and motoring memorabilia.

Of course, the focus of the event will be Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance, which gets underway on the field at 9:30am. 300+ cars are scheduled to be on the Golf Club of Amelia Island fairways, and this year’s automotive design honoree is Harley Earl.

This event, started by Bill Warner back in 1996, not only is a tribute to the automobile, but an outstanding fundraising event for local charities. Since its inception, the show’s foundation has donated over $3.45 million to Community Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeast Florida, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Shop with Cops and other deserving charities in Florida.

The 25th annual event promises to be a record setter. Attend this year if you can, and if not, be sure to put this event on your bucket list for the future.

For a car guy, this is heaven.

Eddie LePine

Eddie has been involved in motorsports for over 30 years as photographer, columnist, and driver. Eddie also is now a retired racer (well, retired unless a good ride pops up).

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