Concours

Concours d'Elegance is the glamour event of the Porsche club. In plain English this French term means beauty show or elegant gathering and that's exactly what it is. Porsches of every vintage and model are judged for their cleanliness and perfection.

Cars are judged in different categories. The classifications are designed to accommodate various levels of commitment (both of time and finances), car usage, age, and originality. As a beginner you can enter your daily driver and learn a great deal about the history of that model and year while making it gleam like it hasn't since leaving the showroom. If you want to take it a little more seriously then there are categories in which the originality of the car is considered as well as every tiny nook and cranny of the undercarriage.

Cars are judged by teams of experts. As your car is examined you will be asked to open everything from the glove box to the spare tire well. The judges will also ask questions about the originality of the car, repairs that may have been made, and other details that strike their fancy. You will learn an incredible amount about your particular car. Over the years the Porsche factory produced many unique cars due to its heavy reliance on hand assembly and willingness to accommodate the requests of its customers, so the complexity of Porsche judging is remarkable and educational.

Unlike most club events, in which enjoyment is achieved nearly exclusively through participation, concours appeals very much to spectators as well as participants. This is the best opportunity to see a varied collection of pristine Porsches in one place and learn a great deal about them from owners and experts. There are always fascinating history lessons and stories to be heard at a concours. Ask Paul Risinger about the background of his and Shirley's Parade-winning 911S some time!

Never forget that the s in concours is silent and the e in Porsche is not!