2021 Concours of the Americas at St. John's - 160 images and commentary

[tim boyd]

Flexibility and adaptability. Two management behaviors that are all too often not seen in the automotive industry (and to be honest, I was as guilty as anybody in my career there).

Fortunately for those who attended the 2021 Concours of the Americas at St. John's, the team managing the event and the exhibitors themselves showed a great deal of flexibility and adaptability after the fourth major rainfall event the last month in Plymouth Township, Michigan happened the night before the show. The magnificent St. John's Golf Course, where the event has been held over the last 20 years, become unnavigable due to the latest rainfall.

The event team reconfigured the entire layout overnight, and the exhibitors cooperated such that most of the show was moved to the parking lot in front of the facility, along with the Classics exhibits moved to the parking lot behind the facility. Yes, it was a bit chaotic, and yes some of the displays (particularly the Classics classes) were fairly disorganized, but the overall event came off without evident hitches on a beautiful, sunny Michigan summer Sunday.

Victory snatched from the impending jaws of defeat! Yes! Great job by the event organizers and exhibitors.

Sadly, it appears this will be the last Concours event at the superb St. John's facility in Plymouth Township. In what appears to me (and to some others I talked to there) to be a very flawed decision, the new owner of the event, the highly respected Hagerty Insurance organization, is moving the Concours event to downtown Detroit starting next year. The event will be held there at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Those of us familiar with that venue are having a very hard time understanding how the Concours atmosphere will be preserved at this facility and grounds, as well as logistics that will be required to support it there. I fear they may lose many longtime event spectators with this new location. Time will tell, of course, but in the meantime enjoy these photos of what will probably be the last ever Concours of the Americas at St. John's in Plymouth Township, Michigan.

(The image below is one of several in the album showing one of the two "Best in Show" winners at the event.  It's a fascinating car.  See more images of this car in the album (at the link underlined above) for more details.)

Thanks for looking....TIM 

Flexibility and adaptability. Two management behaviors that are all too often not seen in the automotive industry (and to be honest, I was as guilty as anybody in my career there).

Fortunately for those who attended the 2021 Concours of the Americas at St. John's, the team managing the event and the exhibitors themselves showed a great deal of flexibility and adaptability after the fourth major rainfall event the last month in Plymouth Township, Michigan happened the night before the show. The magnificent St. John's Golf Course, where the event has been held over the last 20 years, become unnavigable due to the latest rainfall.

The event team reconfigured the entire layout overnight, and the exhibitors cooperated such that most of the show was moved to the parking lot in front of the facility, along with the Classics exhibits moved to the parking lot behind the facility. Yes, it was a bit chaotic, and yes some of the displays (particularly the Classics classes) were fairly disorganized, but the overall event came off without evident hitches on a beautiful, sunny Michigan summer Sunday.

Victory snatched from the impending jaws of defeat! Yes! Great job by the event organizers and exhibitors.

Sadly, it appears this will be the last Concours event at the superb St. John's facility in Plymouth Township. In what appears to me (and to many others I talked to there) to be a very flawed decision, the new owner of the event, the highly respected Hagerty Insurance organization, is moving the Concours event to downtown Detroit starting next year. The event will be held at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Those of us familiar with that venue are having a very hard time understanding how the Concours atmosphere will be preserved at this facility and grounds, as well as logistics that will be required to support it there. I fear they will lose many longtime event spectators with this new approach. Time will tell, of course, but in the meantime enjoy these photos of what will probably be the last ever Concours of the Americas at St. John's in Plymouth Township, Michigan.

Edited July 31, 2021 by tim boyd

[Misha]

What a great variety of automobiles in one spot, something for everyone! The classics of a bygone era, with long time manufacturers now gone, display such a flair for design and size. The late fifties/early sixties offer a  design transition with two tone paint and chrome highlights into the muscle car era of eye catching paint schemes with the ultimate Pro Stock quarter milers. An amazing event.

Thanks Tim for sharing your photos and travels, it is always a treat to roll thru your albums!
Cheers Misha

[misterNNL]

Outstanding post my friend. The level of design excellence and elegance evident in the early classics shown here is not likely to ever be repeated again. Thank goodness there were people willing and able to expend huge amounts of money to buy them originally and those of adequate means to restore and preserve them for everyone to appreciate them today.

 

[tim boyd]

Thanks Tom and Misha for the comments.  

Obviously, I totally agree with you guys on your thoughts about the Classics.  

******

As I looked at these, and especially that Best of Show Cadillac, I couldn't help but think of Harry P. and how he would have enjoyed checking out those cars, and inevitably building a few big-scale replicas of the best of 'em.  

Both an era, and a builder, long ago passed by and very much missed today...

TIM 

 

[Zippi]

Nice pics of some fantastic looking cars.  Boy would I love to go there one day and walk around.  Thanks for posting the pics.