PEDAL TO THE METAL

To say that the Geneva Concours d’Elegance was missed last year is an understatement. “You have no idea how many phone calls we’ve had,” says Patt Barrett, director of the annual Geneva Concours d’Elegance event. “‘Are you having the show?’ I’ll say turn to our website we’ll have something there for sure.” After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, Barrett says the plan is for the event to return to Geneva on Aug. 22. A wonderful variety of the best classic, exotic and race automobiles that showcase the heritage, artistic and engineering significance of the automobile will be on display on Geneva’s vibrant Third Street. Concours d’Elegance is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at no cost, so whether you’re into classic cars and this is an event you cannot miss, you’re simply someone looking to try something new and affordable to do, or you’re looking for a reason to visit downtown Geneva, Barrett is hopeful folks visit. “We’ll have the early Fords, A through T, that were built in the Chicago area,” she says. “There will be multiple things to look at with probably about 150 cars there and a number of car clubs will be there on display behind the Kane County Courthouse.” This year’s event will honor the 60th birthday of the Chevrolet Corvair and Austin Mini Cooper, the

100th birthday of both Duesenberg and Citroën automobile manufacturing companies and, finally, the Sports Car Club of America, which is celebrating seven decades of motorsports. “We’ll have some cars coming in from Wisconsin and Michigan, Pennsylvania and Iowa so we’re pulling them from neighboring states,” Barrett says. “We do have some cars that will come back every three years so we do have a winner’s circle where some that have won are on display, so you might see a couple cars you’ve seen before, but most are pretty unique and haven’t been here before.” designed, mass-produced passenger car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, was revolutionary at its time.

The Mini, created by Alec Issigonis and produced by the British Motor Corporation, was intended as an affordable vehicle in response to an oil crisis. Today, the car remains an icon of the ’60s.

The beautiful collection of automobiles, on display for one’s perusal, will be vying for coveted “Benz” trophies, although the real winners here are those who support the mission of LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, the beneficiary of this year’s event. LivingWell is a gathering place in Geneva where people come together through the shared experience of a cancer diagnosis. Its mission is “to provide compassionate care that empowers, encourages, supports and offers hope to patients with cancer and their families,” according to the organization’s website. “It’s not just about all the cars, but also the beneficiaries,” Barrett says. “LivingWell Cancer Resource Center is a part of Northwestern Medicine and is a great place with great programs that are free of charge for cancer patients, their loved ones and families.”

CLASSIC CARS CLASSIC CARS RACE BACK RACE BACK TO THE TRITO THE TRICITIES FOR THE CITIES FOR THE RETURN OF RETURN OF THE POPULAR THE POPULAR GENEVA GENEVA CONCOURS CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE D’ELEGANCE

By Chris Walker Photos by David Wilks Photography Editor’s note: These photos were taken before COVID-19.