Event: The Amelia (Week)

The Amelia Island Concours was long a respected staple on the niche calendar that is exclusive vintage car events. It had reached a well-respected level of significance on its own, one that likely caught the eye of the rapidly growing Hagerty automotive lifestyle empire. And while Hagerty hasn’t modified much of the original and successful formula for the event, now dubbed simply “The Amelia”, the classic car insurance brand has built upon its bedrock to expand this weekend concours schedule into a growing group of shows and days that begins to rival Monterey Car Week in its significance to the auto enthusiast community.

Given the growth and relevance, we decided to take a closer look this year, covering as much as we could and participating wherever relevant to better share the experience so that others might replicate it… at least for those who aren’t already veterans of The Amelia.

Part 1: The Amelia Prep – Getting there, The Amtrak Car Train & Lodging

The Amelia week just happens to be at the end of February and on the Eastern Seaboard. Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach are located just south of the Florida / Georgia border, meaning warm weather for those Northerners tired of winter and a drive that’s doable about a day’s-worth for most road dogs south of New York City.

If you’re less enthused about 12+ hours on I-95 South or looking to bring your vintage car along, consider the Amtrak Car Train. More popular with the retiree snowbird set, this car-hauling train departs daily from Lorton, VA just south of Washington, DC and travels direct through the night to Sanford, FL just north of Orlando. From there, it’s a two-hour drive up to The Amelia. While you won’t get there any faster, it’s considerably less draining, with Wi-Fi should you want to get some work done or a cocktail-serving dining car where you can socialize with your fellow travelers.

Once in Amelia, the obvious and likely most expensive option for housing is the event host hotel, The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island. Should you care to pay the premium, you can walk to most events and maybe bump into the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. or Hurley Haywood in the bar.

There are other more budget-friendly lodging options. Fernandina Beach is a vacation town, meaning there are plenty of rental homes and condos that’ll keep you in town for all the festivities. Alternatively, an even more cost-effective option is to book a room in Jacksonville, FL where rooms are more driven by commodity pricing. The Jacksonville commute is about a 45-minute drive, pleasant enough as it hugs the coast and makes for a scenic backdrop.

Part 2: The Support Events

Filling out as it is as an event week, there are plenty of car activities to compete for your time. 

First are the auctions, whether you are buying or just ogling the incredible cars for sale. Broad Arrow is Hagerty’s own auction house, with a presence right there at The Ritz. Beyond that, are events for Gooding & Company and Bonhams at other nearby locations as well. Check out their online listings before going, allowing you to figure out what you want to see, along with times and locations of their auction viewings.

Next are the support events. Porsche Club has their own Werks Reunion event just like Monterey Car Week. Classic Motorsports Magazine held a beachfront Amelia Island Kickoff show that included the quirky Concours d’Lemons and club presences that included Audi Club Florida. The Hangar Amelia offered a more luxury-focused experience the night before the main event, while Hagerty also peppered in various seminars and vendor presence back at The Ritz.

Audi Club also worked with Audi Jacksonville for its own off-site event Mobile Museum. This was the first showing of two Audi Tradition cars that had come for the event (read more on pp. 53-54).

Part 3: Radwood Intersects with Cars & Community
Worth separating from the rest are Hagerty’s two Saturday events. Held at the same time, they don’t really compete as they’re on parallel fairways at The Ritz.

The first, Cars & Community, is a legacy Amelia Concours weekend staple. On the day before the main concours, organizers allow a predetermined mix of applicants to bring their cars onto the show lawn and celebrate The Amelia as part of the event. Audi Club members are regular participants, with a strong presence by Audi Club Florida. Cars on hand were mainly modern – several RS 5s, several R8s, a TT RS and even a first-generation TT that may be approaching vintage status.

Across the street at Radwood, the focus is 80s and 90s cars. Worth noting at Radwood this year was maybe the raddest 80s Audi display you’ll see all year. It starred the 1989 Audi 90 IMSA GTO and Michèle Mouton’s 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 Pike’s Peak that took their positions with the Audi Club North America tent. 

The Amelia marks the beginning of the Radwood event series’ season, with more events already scheduled in Austin, San Francisco, Tacoma, Detroit and San Pedro.

Part 4: The Main Event, The Amelia

Every act needs a headliner, and that is most definitely The Amelia Concours. Suggesting it’s the jewel in the Hagerty portfolio’s events crown would be a pretty accurate statement. Like other experiential anchors such as Monterey Car Week or Goodwood, The Amelia is bucket list for the car community, and in as much it’s also highly relevant for car manufacturers. And though traditional players like Porsche and BMW didn’t have an official presence on the field this year, you couldn’t miss the gargantuan Rivian display or the concept car revealed by Chrysler.

Like most concours, the main field at The Amelia is organized in predetermined classes. Most notable to Audi aficionados was likely the Pike’s Peak Class, which is where the Mouton S1 ended up on display for the main event. Not far up the fairway was also the 90 IMSA GTO that did end up winning a special people’s choice award once the final judging was announced.

Part 5: Say You’ve Got Family in Tow

In addition to being a warm getaway for northerners, the timing of the Amelia is also notable as being in-and-around Spring Break. Should that happen, and you have family in tow, this part of the country makes for some compelling further travel with a spouse or the kids.

The Amelia is spectacle enough that you won’t have a hard time selling the less-enthused in your clan to join for the day of walking around an eclectic mix of super exotic and historic cars. Even better if you give them time strolling the various shops or restaurants in downtown Fernandina Beach.

Heading north, the amazingly pristine Cumberland Island (Georgia) is just a ferry ride from downtown Fernandina. There, you’ll find the small but luxurious Greyfield Inn, wild horses and a Manhattan-sized swatch of land that’s remained largely undeveloped.

If developed is more your speed, then heading two hours south to Orlando will benefit you with endless family activities. The usual suspects are all there, from Disney to Universal Studios and even Lego Land. Yes, you may find yourself yearning for the fairways at The Amelia as you stand in line for the GM Test Track at Epcot, but you’ll rest easier that night knowing your kiddos are getting plenty of quality indoctrination into the automotive enthusiast lifestyle from your efforts. 

PHOTO GALLERY

The Amelia Kick Off

The Amelia, Cars & Community

Radwood at The Amelia

The Amelia Concours

Amtrak Car Train