Going to Amelia Island Concours is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a kid. This year I had the opportunity to go with Madison Automotive as the marketing intern. Hopping off the plane, I was greeted by warm weather and numerous palm trees.
The week began with visiting our cars at the Gooding Auction. This year we brought down a Fjord Green 356 Speedster (1 of 72 in Fjord Green) and a Guards Red 944 SE. The first car we came across really shocked me; it was a 1959 Ferrari 250 California. The expected selling price was $18-$20 million dollars! I spent the entire second day visiting the three auction previews on the Island.
Saturday was a huge day leading up to Concours. We woke up early and headed over to the Ritz Carlton for Cars and Community. To start the day, we attended a ride and drive event. We test drove the new Hummer EV. I had no idea an 8000-pound vehicle could move that fast. It was very impressive. After our test drive, we walked onto the golf course lawn for the car show. There were a huge number of Porsches this year. Porsche displayed their brand new GT3RS and the new 911 Dakar. The 911 Dakar is Porsche’s new off-road model in homage to the 959 Dakar that used to race in the 1980s.
Sunday was the big day… Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. As we entered the golf course lawn we were greeted by our CEO, Cole Scrogham’s, friend, by the Porsche Pavilion. Alex gave us a full tour of the show and introduced us to some car celebrities. We later saw Jeff Gordon arrive in a new Corvette Z06. Several of his race cars were on display. I enjoyed hanging out with the other Madison Automotive interns and getting to see some of the rarest cars in the world. Our next door neighbors for the week won their class for both their cars. They brought out a very impressive 1920’s Rolls Royce and another car called a “Crane” which was one of two in the world. One car that really stood out to me was Bruce Mclaren’s Ford GT40 that raced in Lemans. Most people know it as the car that won Lemans in the Ford vs. Ferrari movie. Needless to say, it was a jammed pack week full of automotive excellence.
Amelia Island Concours 2023 was an incredible event and one I will not forget anytime soon. It only fueled my passion for car photography and learning more about digital marketing for events. I am super thankful for the opportunity and to experience this event with Cole whose knowledge and respect in the auto industry is second to none. It was also a great opportunity to get to know our other interns better and learn how each contributes to the success of Madison Automotive.
Great posts here guys! Congrats to Cole and the team!