2005 EVENT

The inaugural New York City Concours d' Elegance was a great success for the organizer, participants, judges, sponsors and visitors. Blessed by three days of abundant sunshine some of the rarest automobiles were displayed at the Wollman Rink in Central Park. The scenery appeared to be as out of a movie. It was true Gotham with the skyscrapers of Manhattan's trendy upper Eastside as dramatic backdrop. The cars were displayed on the Wollman Ice Skating Rink, which is, as it couldn't be any different, managed by nobody less than Donal Trump's team. All of this in the serene setting of New York's Central Park - the world's most famous park. It would have not been a surprise if Batman would have dropped in with his Batmobile...

City Hall was very pleased and officially declared the day "New York City Concours d'Elegance Day". Sport Commissioner Ken Podziba was a great patron of the event and handed New York City Concours d'Elegance chairman Thomas Hamann the official proclamation signed by Mayor Bloomberg during the Gala Dinner.

The three days of the 2005 New York City Concours d'Elegance allowed thousands of spectators to adore some of the finest classic and exotic automobiles ever assembled in such setting in the City. But it wasn't only New Yorks attending or admiring...

Participants had actually traveled not only from all across the United States, but even from all over the world to attend the event. Cars were flown in from London, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome and Zuerich/Switzerland. An impressive International field especially for an inaugural show.

AUDI as the official automobile used this event for an exclusive First showing of their luxurious Performance SUV Q7. It was indeed the very first time the car was ever shown in public in the United States.

YAMAHA motorcycles did the same and celebrated their 50th anniversary at the New York City Concours d'Elegance with a world exclusive premier of their complete new line of powerful and fast Super Sport motorcycles nobody had laid eyes on before. The chairman of Yamaha Motors flew in from Japan to unveil these motorcycles together with the President of Yamaha Motors North America.

The cars were judged by an international committee of renown automobile specialists which included multiple LeMans winner and ex-Ferrari factory team racer Derek Bell, Christian Philippsen from Monaco, automotive publishers David E. Davis and Gerald Roush amongst others. Actress Anne Hathaway (Princess Diaries, The Devil wears Prada) was one of the names to be recognized in celebrity judging panel. Well known TV-commentator and ex race car driver Alain de Cadenet flew in from his home in London, UK to act the Master of Ceremonies.

The event was, as everybody attending stated, a first class event offering some of the finest and rarest automobiles as well as VIP treatment and daily luncheons, cocktail parties and the final Black Tie Gala Dinner.

As a well-know collector from the New York area told a fellow collector after- wards "It was a three-day party for car guys in an unbelievable atmosphere and setting you shouldn't have missed". This compliment says it all as the following photos, articles, video and list of winners clearly show.