Bob Ingram, one of North Carolina’s most influential business leaders and himself a collector of vintage automobiles, has been named honorary chairman of the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance, to be staged in early May.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 22 and can be purchased online at www.pinehurstconcours.com. The first-ever Concours show competition at Pinehurst Resort will feature a staging of 118 prestigious cars, some valued at more than $2m, in celebration of the 118-year-old resort.
Ingram, a Durham resident, former CEO of GlaxoSmithKline and now chairman of Elan Corp., a major drug firm based in Ireland, will serve as spokesman and adviser for the vintage automobile show at Pinehurst on May 3-5, 2013.
“As a car enthusiast myself and entrant of past Concours competitions, I was thrilled and flattered when approached to be honorary chairman of the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance,” said Ingram, who was named 2011 Business Leader of the Year in the Triangle. “There couldn’t be a more appropriate setting for this historic event than Pinehurst Resort, a true industry leader and trend setter in Southern hospitality. Fans can expect a real treat.”
The official judging takes place on Sunday, May 5, with the 118 cars displayed on the first holes of courses 3 and 5, with the historic portion of the resort clubhouse as a backdrop.
“The inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance is going to bring different guests to the area, folks who aren’t necessarily golfers but who appreciate the scenery, the beauty and our history,” added Pinehurst Resort Executive Vice President Tom Pashley. “And when you combine that with vintage cars and the enthusiasts who follow these rare automobiles, it’s a unique combination, a nice marriage.”
Individual tickets for the Sunday competition can be purchased at www.pinehurstconcours.com starting next Friday, Feb. 22 at an introductory price of $40 through April 30. Tickets are $50 from May 1 until the start of the event, and can be purchased onsite May 5 at the Pinehurst Resort. Teenagers will receive $10 off individual tickets and kids 12 under are free with a paying adult.
Events on May 3-4 leading up to the main judging competition include an Iron Mike Rally on May 3, in which show cars will make the 75-mile roundtrip from Pinehurst to Fort Bragg for a military appreciation day on base, and RKM Collector Car Auctions will offer bidders the opportunity to drive away in their dream car during a live sale at the Pinehurst Resort Fair Barn on Saturday, May 4.