2017 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
The jolting ride, the sudden deceleration as the wheels touched the tarmac—it was all part of the familiar excitement as I arrived at the event that holds my heart and my best photos: The Amelia Concours d’Elegance. This annual event in March is a beacon of warmth and joy, a stark contrast to the frigid, salt-covered cars back in Boston. Each year, I leave behind the miserable winter weather and head south, where the sun shines and the cars gleam. This time, with plans to make Florida my winter home and Massachusetts my summer haven, the trip feels even more like a returning pilgrimage.
After touching down in Florida, my first stop was the Ritz Carlton, where I checked in with the organizers of the Amelia Concours d’Elegance and settled in for the event. This year holds special significance for me—I've been hired as one of the official photographers for the event. It's a moment of validation for my hard work and personal style. Yes, 2017 is definitely shaping up to be my year, and I can feel it in the air.
The local media crew, including Nathan Deremer, Nick Williams, and Chris Brewer, gathered for a dinner meetup at Catalina Louie's to share laughs and plan coverage for the upcoming Amelia Concours d’Elegance. With different sections and events to cover, both on and off-site, our dinner discussions were essential for organizing our tasks. Speaking of off-site events, let me tell you about an unforgettable experience I had during this trip—a teaser for later in this article. When I return this winter, I hope to stop by Catalina Louie's again for a behind-the-scenes tour they offered, and who knows, maybe that cute intern will still be there! Stay tuned for more about this spectacular event later in this article.
Arriving at my usual accommodations for the Amelia Concours, I was met with a bit of a shock. Each year, I travel with the team from The Boston Cup, a prestigious car show on Boston Common, and we typically stay just a mile away from the event. However, this year brought an unexpected twist. A month prior to the event, the condo we usually stayed in had changed ownership, leaving us without a place to stay near the event without breaking the bank. We ended up settling for a spot close to the airport, a good 40 minutes away from the hub of automotive excitement.
Given my early morning tasks, this setup just wouldn't cut it. Frustration mounted as I scrambled to find closer accommodations within budget. It was then that Ed Owen, owner of European Auto Solutions in Waltham MA, came to the rescue. During a casual poolside chat at the Ritz, where we were having drinks and discussing our businesses, I mentioned my lodging dilemma. Without hesitation, Ed generously offered me a room at his place, a mere 3 miles from the event. The stress that had been building melted away, and I gratefully accepted his kind offer. With Ed's hospitality, I could finally rest easy, knowing I had a comfortable place to lay my head for the duration of the event.
The excitement of the Amelia Concours d'Elegance truly kicked off on Thursday, the unofficial start to the weekend for enthusiasts. It was a day filled with the sight of random cars roaming the streets, being unloaded from trucks, or taken for a spin before their grand display on the fairways. Nathan and I, seizing the early bird special, eagerly peered through our viewfinders to capture stunning photos of the cars destined for auction at RM. Spread across the back lawn of the Ritz Carlton, these automotive gems awaited their moment in the spotlight.
As official photographers, we were granted the privilege of being invited up to the clubhouse on the top floor to capture the cars in the courtyard. Amidst the snapping shutters and excitement, a moment of amusement ensued as we watched the gentleman tasked with uncovering the cars take his sweet time. I joked with Nathan that we should catch his attention, as he seemed to be delaying our coveted shot. Little did we know, my jest would ring true—I chuckled as I whispered to Nate, "Watch him not uncover one of the cars." Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. After a comical delay, he packed up the covers, hopped into his Gator, and drove around the corner. In one of the photos from this article, I had to use some Photoshop magic to remove the car he left covered, as it didn't quite fit the pleasing image I wanted to capture.
Two significant changes altered the course of the 2017 Concours forever. While relaxing on the balcony, my colleague and I received a text from Nina Snopkova, the Media Coordinator, delivering the unfortunate news of heavy rain forecasted for Sunday, prompting a last-minute shift of the show to Saturday. Suddenly, my schedule became tightly packed, and the workload doubled as I scrambled to cover more ground in less time. The strain was evident—I logged an astonishing 28,351 steps on Saturday alone. The second game-changer was the unexpected appearance of a McLaren F1 LM, a dream car I had long admired from Andrew McCartney's Instagram feed. Determined to track it down amidst my hectic schedule, I ventured to Gooding and Company to collect my credentials and snap a few shots of the cars. There, I crossed paths with Andrew for the first time, and we discussed the whereabouts of the elusive McLaren. As we admired another remarkable piece, the Porsche GT1, our conversation ceased abruptly as we turned a corner and laid eyes on the McLaren F1 LM. It was a moment reminiscent of my first encounter with a McLaren F1 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston—an overwhelming surge of euphoria and tranquility followed by gleeful astonishment. Meanwhile, my friend David Geisinger participated in the Amelia or Bust 2017 road tour, driving his 911 Porsche to the event. Intrigued by the idea of a photoshoot, we scouted downtown Fernandina as the perfect backdrop to capture his stunning gulf livery vehicle.
The next morning brought an exciting adventure as I headed to the Fernandina airport for the Porsche Driving Experience, an off-site event that required my coverage. Our ride for the day was a luxurious Mercedes S600, joining a caravan of cars bound for the Mayport Naval Base. There, attendees had the thrilling opportunity to drive new Porsches around an autocross track and experience the adrenaline rush of riding in a GT3RS down the runway at a blistering 160mph. With my camera in hand, I captured the exhilarating moments as participants pushed these high-performance machines to their limits.
After the Porsche Driving Experience, I teamed up with Jonathan Brownfield and made our way to the Jacksonville Zoo for another remarkable opportunity. Barrett Jackson had sponsored a road tour featuring a lineup of iconic Jaguar vehicles, including 4 D-types and an XKSS, among others. As these magnificent cars strolled into the courtyard and parked, I seized the moment to capture their beauty through my lens. However, upon arrival at the courtyard, they had already parked and disembarked, leaving me with less than ideal photography conditions. Disheartened, I thought the opportunity had passed, but to my surprise, they announced a unique setup: we would be photographing the cars in front of a fenced-in elephant.
Excitement replaced my initial disappointment as I realized the potential of this setting. The team working the event then made a surprising move—they partially dismantled the fence, allowing me to position the cars with the elephant as a majestic backdrop, completely unobstructed. A fascinating tidbit added to the experience: the elephant had once belonged to Michael Jackson and resided at his Neverland Ranch. This unexpected turn of events turned what seemed like a lost opportunity into a memorable and unique photoshoot, capturing the essence of automotive elegance against the backdrop of a piece of music history.
After the exhilarating experiences at the Porsche Driving Experience and the Jaguar road tour at the Jacksonville Zoo, Jon and I hurried back to the Ritz to cover the Japanese Racing Seminar. Here, we had the privilege of listening to legendary drivers such as Peter Brock, Sam Posey, Chip Robinson, John Morton, and Tommy Kendall, with the seminar being hosted by none other than Adam Carolla. With time being of the essence during this action-packed event, I reluctantly had to leave the seminar early to head over to Paul Teutul Jr., who was setting up his bikes for display and meeting fans. It was a stroke of luck to be able to get up close with his bikes, capturing their intricate details through my lens, and even exchanging a few words with Paul himself amidst the bustling crowd of enthusiasts. This whirlwind of events and encounters was a testament to the diverse and dynamic nature of the Amelia Concours d'Elegance, where automotive legends, iconic vehicles, and passionate fans come together for an unforgettable experience.
The highly anticipated day had finally arrived! Saturday brought the Cars and Coffee at the Concours, a vibrant event organized with the assistance of the Automotive Addicts team led by Malcolm Hogan. The event spanned across two fairways, while the official Concours d'Elegance took place on the other two. The turnout was nothing short of incredible, with a dazzling array of cars on display. Working alongside such a talented media crew was an absolute pleasure, and I was impressed by everyone's exceptional photography skills. The camaraderie and shared passion for automobiles made for an unforgettable experience. As the day unfolded, I found myself looking forward to being part of the team again next year, capturing more stunning moments and exquisite cars at this prestigious event.
As I reflect on the incredible experiences of this year's Amelia Concours d'Elegance, I find myself pondering what I can bring to the table for next year's event. There are ideas brewing, and visions forming, but for now, they remain a tantalizing secret. You'll just have to wait and see what surprises I have in store. As for the final winners of this year's event, they don't exist in my album. Why, you ask? Well, I was too immersed in a mesmerizing moment—light painting the McLaren F1 LM as it prepared to depart into the night. The allure of capturing its essence in a unique way was irresistible, and it became my focus as the event drew to a close. Stay tuned for more adventures and stunning captures at next year's Amelia Concours d'Elegance!
