2010 has already proven to be an opportunity to seek change in several aspects of what we’ve come to know as the norm. Take for instance the great automotive events that take place in the warm summer months across our great nation. With the announcements made as of late to the name or title changes to the following events outlined below.
The Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance is changing its name this year and will be known as the Concours d’Elegance of America at Meadow Brook. The vintage-car event is held annually in suburban Detroit on the grounds of the Meadow Brook estate, located on the campus of Oakland University. The estate is the former home of Matilda Dodge Wilson, the widow of auto pioneer John Dodge. The name change reflects the legal name of the concours, which became a registered nonprofit in 2004. The event is scheduled for July 25. Classes for the 2010 edition include celebrity cars, space-age cars from the 1950s and 1960s, Ridler award winners from Detroit’s hot-rod show, AutoRama, and European
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announced that the Monterey Historic Automobile Races® – held each August for more than three decades – will now be known as the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) will be producing the historic races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca going forward, and that General Racing, Ltd., the creator and producer of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races® for the last 36 years, will no longer be producing the event. However, General Racing still owns the copyright to the now-famous name, prompting SCRAMP and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to come up with an alternative.
Paul "Groosh" Grusche
Speaking from the press perspective, I attended the Monterey Historics last year on a press pass for Motor Car Market. They sent out pictures after the event that were royalty free and available for use anywhere. They were really terrific track photos. Then, it hit me. Every single one of them had the Rolex banners, clock or logo in the background. Translation, it already was the “Rolex” Monterey Historics.
As for Meadowbrook… that is a pretty good show but who are they fooling? Pebble Beach is still called Pebble Beach. Get over yourselves.