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Dayton Concours d'Elegance Returns To Carillon Park

Dayton History

The Concours d'Elegance is Dayton History's largest fundraiser of the year. The annual event brings in antique automobile owners from near and far. This week, WYSO's Jerry Kenney spoke with just two of the people involved in organizing and promoting the event, Skip Peterson, the board chair for Concours, and Lauryn Bayliff, Director of Community Development.

 

More information on Concours provided by Dayton History. (WYSO is not responsible for this content)

Concours d'Elegance speeds into Carillon Historical Park on Sunday, September 17 from 10:30am-4:00pm. Celebrating the Cars of Orville Wright, the 50th anniversary of the Camaro, MG sports cars, and so much more, the 11th annual Dayton Concours is the Midwest's premiere antique and classic automobile and motorcycle show. Guests travel from across the map to witness this breathtaking display of "art on wheels" -- some of the finest automobiles in the country. Concours 2016 saw upwards of 6,000 attendees -- a record-breaking crowd -- and this year's event will capitalize on the momentum.

For the first time ever, Concours will celebrate the Cars of Orville Wright, displaying a variety of automobiles similar to those owned by the world's first pilot. Known as a sharp dresser, a fanatic for keeping his shoes shined, Orville was also known as an early automobile enthusiast with a heavy right foot. With license plates OW-1, Oakwood police officers were instructed to allow the famed pilot to ignore the speed limit (which he did regularly) as he drove to and from his Hawthorn Hill home.

Credit Dayton History

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Camaro -- the "pony car" Chevrolet introduced to compete with the Ford Mustang -- this year's Concours will also feature first generation 1967-1969 Camaros. MG Motor sports cars will also be highlighted at this year's event, featuring two classes of the famed British automobile.

Concours 2017 will also include a special class featuring historic sports cars of Japan; racecars connected to the Dayton area will be exhibited; and hand-built model cars will displayed. For the second year, the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild will hold a reunion, displaying futuristic model cars built by teenagers in the 1950s and '60s; a dozen nationally recognized automotive artists will showcase their work in the art pavilion; and on Sunday at noon, courtesy of Forgeline Motorsports, the Wright "B" Flyer will fly over Carillon Historical Park.

Credit Dayton History

Museum buildings and exhibits will be open, food and beverages will be available in a special food court, and the Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society will offer miniature train rides. As always, Concours concludes with the Parade of Class Winners at 3:00pm.

Concours weekend officially kicks off at 6:30pm on Saturday evening with The Wright Place to Be preview party at Carillon Historical Park. Presented by AAA, all proceeds from the Concours weekend directly benefit Dayton History in its mission to bring the region's past to life to understand the present and inspire the future.

  
 
 
 

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.