Featured marques and classes for the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance have been determined, and the crucial process of selecting the 200 cars and motorcycles that will compete on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links on August 21 is now underway.
“The success of everything we do really hinges on this one thing—selecting the best cars and motorcycles to compete here at Pebble Beach,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button.
Entry applications were mailed to interested enthusiasts this week and are due to be returned by January 15. Applications are then vetted by members of the Selection Committee, and formal invitations to compete are delivered in the spring.
A major focus for the 61st annual Concours will be the 125th anniversary of the automobile. In 1886, Karl Benz received the first patent for a gas-propelled car (the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motorwagen). Later that same year, Gottlieb Daimler mounted an engine on a four-wheeled vehicle. The automotive era had begun.
“It amazes me to realize that enthusiasts have gathered at Pebble Beach to celebrate automobiles for nearly half of the automobile’s life,” said Button. “And there is much to celebrate still!”
The 2011 Pebble Beach Concours will feature The creations of Benz and Daimler and their successors—notably, Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz. In addition to classes emphasizing style and technology, one preservation class will be devoted solely to these marques.