2002 Concours d'Elegance
September  7, 2002 ¯ Celebration, FL

Note: Some Photos are quite large, but they are worth the download wait...(Article & Results are below the photos)

   Story: Ginger Corda 

       Photos: Ginger Corda & Mike Baker

Yes, Jaguar Club get-togethers are fun, and the best place to see exquisite Jaguars and have a good time with the people who care for them is at our club's annual concours. This year, our show exceeded our expectations and gave us even more to celebrate! We had been watching a possible hurricane Edouard for days, and it passed without much ado. There was a healthy supply of Florida sunshine by the time our weekend began. After being rained-soaked at the last few shows, we deserved a break, and got it. So, for dozens of Jaguars all over the state, it was time to pack up the cleaning supplies and get on the road. Part of the fun is getting there, especially if you're driving your Jaguar in a caravan with others. It's what we call "arriving in style."

We began celebrating Friday evening in the lobby of the hotel with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, catching up with good friends and making new ones. The casual yet elegant setting of the Celebration Hotel lobby is just the way we like it. The wooden half-circle bar with the natural Florida wilderness painting on the wall is a warm and welcome place to be.

For our evening out, we chose the wonderful Spanish cuisine at the Columbia Restaurant just down the street. The evening's conversations were filled with excitement and anticipation--the newest members asking all kinds of "first-timer" questions and savoring the stories being shared of concours past. It was a great way to start our weekend.

Saturday morning came quickly, but was clear and bright. Show time! We rolled our fancy cats onto Market Street, a wide promenade in the heart of the town's business district. Faithful Jaguar owners from as far as South Carolina had spent blood, sweat, and tears to get the cars in tip-top shape for this show. This year brought an extraordinary collection that exceeded past shows. Each one sparkled... and they just kept coming! A new section at the top of the street was opened when it looked as if we would bust at the seams!

The judging was officially opened by a bagpiper playing a crisp, morning song. It echoed through the little town's shops and streets signaling "rags down." Now it was time to let the Jaguars speak for themselves. Judging is a process that can take a few hours, depending greatly on how many cars you have. We had a record number of 54 Jaguars on the street and almost 40 to judge. The familiar sound of horns being tested soon joined the bagpiper, and the excitement built. Never a dull moment for the rest of the day.

Hundreds of onlookers marveled at the sights while strolling through a sea of precious cars, ranging from 1938 to 2003. We had an impressive representation of the marque, with the vintage Jaguars right alongside the latest models. Two of the rarest cars at this year's Concours d'Elegance were a 1993 XJ220 and an 1953 XK120 Special. After looking at this gathering, no one could have gone away unimpressed.

By early afternoon, all the judging was done and the pressure off. The rest of the day was open... nap, shop, or swim in the pool -- just relax while the results were being tallied.

Saturday evening's awards banquet was a surprise-filled event as this year's unique trophies were revealed... beautiful bottles of superb French Cognac, with a gold-leafed Jaguar. The design was crafted by two of our most creative members, Hudson and Jennifer Marvel. A great idea, but it was pointed out by Dan Middleton that in this instance, the largest trophies should be going to the owners who placed last in their division!

Announcements and awards moved right along as we enjoyed our dinner. The 2002 President's Meritorious Service Award (and monstrous trophy) was presented to the team of David and Barbara Eshelbrenner for all their hard work on behalf of the JCOF. We were fortunate to have our Southeast Regional Director and JCOF member, Jerry Wise, was our guest speaker for the evening. He presented issues and requested input from all members so that he may vote accordingly at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

The raffle was won by Jack and Cyndi Voller, and all entrants received a commemorative engraved metal flask.

The Jaguar Club of Florida appreciates all who contributed and supported us and this event.