Hilton Head Island, SC, June 23, 2008 -– The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival has announced the return of The BMW Group (BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars) for the seventh consecutive year as the Official Automotive Sponsor for the 2008 event, taking place October 30 – November 2.

“The Concours is thrilled to have had BMW with us since our inception in 2002,” said Carolyn Vanagel, executive director of the Concours. “Their continuing presence has helped to make our event one of the top Concours events in the nation.”

Hank Schoeler, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for BMW of North America, said, “BMW Group is proud to be involved again for the seventh straight year. This is the only Concours event in which BMW participates as a primary sponsor, and, with our South Carolina connection, we are pleased to see its rapid expansion, both for the event organizers and for the state.”

“With BMW’s only U.S. manufacturing plant located in Upstate South Carolina, the Motoring Festival allows BMW to help build tourism for the state of South Carolina and support local philanthropy in the town of Hilton Head Island. We look forward to another successful Concours this year,” said Max Metcalf, Assistant Manager for Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing Co.

In past years, BMW has consistently brought excitement and interesting exhibits to the event, helping to build attendance. This year, in addition to BMW’s signature “Driving Experience” and the presence of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and MINI, the BMW Group plans to increase involvement with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars leading Friday’s American Grand Prize Centennial Driving Tour, a hospitality tent on property at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, participation of BMW Car Club of America in Saturday’s Car Club Jamboree and the BMW Performance Center offering rides with their trained drivers at the Hilton Head/Savannah Historics track event on Hutchinson Island, Thursday and Friday, October 30 & 31.

New exhibits for the seventh annual Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival include a special celebration of Brass Era (Pre-1916) Cars as the 2008 Honored Marque. Additionally, new to the 2008 event will be a display in the Quest for Speed & Style exhibit of Pre-WWII, heavy-duty trucks.

Other marque celebrations featured throughout the weekend include the 60th anniversary of Porsche, which will include a celebratory display of vintage vehicles that traces the evolution of the Porsche from its early days to its contemporary expression. The Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, November 2 will also honor the anniversaries of Edsel (50th), Morgan (100th) and General Motors (100th) with special classes for each group of vehicles.

One of the perennial highlights of this automotive festival is the Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction, which is conducted by The Worldwide Group. Held on Saturday, November 1, the auction will feature many of the finest pre-War American and European classics, as well as exotic cars, American Muscle Cars and sports cars. Admission to the auction is by catalog ($50), which includes seating for two. Catalogs can be purchased in advance a www.wwgauctions.com or at the event. Standing room outside of the bidding area is available with the purchase of a general admission Festival ticket.

Gate ticket prices are $15 for Thursday or Friday’s vintage track event, the Hilton Head/Savannah Historics, $25 for Saturday, $35 for Sunday, $50 for a two-day (Saturday & Sunday) pass and $55 for an all-access (Thursday – Sunday) pass. Children under 12 get in free, ages 12-18 are $5 per day (with student ID) and military (with an active duty I.D.) receive ½ off general admission ticket prices at the gate. Advance discounted tickets are available at www.hhiconcours.com.

For more information, visit www.hhiconcours.com.

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