Rodeo Drive celebrated dads, racers, cruisers and car enthusiasts at the 29th annual Concours d’Elegance. The event, powered by O’Gara Coach, attracted nearly 50,000 guests to view 100 cars on display. Legendary comedian and renowned car collector Jay Leno made an appearance to present awards and impart some of his trademark levity, and Netflix held a photo opportunity with the iconic Chevy Nova from “Beverly Hills Cop.”
Photos by Evan Klein
“Having a show of this caliber on Beverly Hills’ famed Rodeo Drive is unlike anything else in Southern California,” said Mayor Lester Friedman ahead of the event. “Nothing beats the cars and the scenery, and I love that it brings the community together to celebrate Father’s Day.”
Dads gazed at vehicles of all colors as their children—and plenty of fur babies— posed for pictures next to their favorite cars. Other visitors admired the iconic scenery as they surveyed the collection.
The Concours featured classic racers like the 1965 Porsche 911 and 1954 Kaiser Darren alongside a brand-new Ferrari 296 GTB and a 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Coupe. Car lovers also got a rare look at some unique cruisers like a 1961 Chevy Impala lowrider and a historic Ahrens Fox fire engine from 1928.
The Courier observed countless attendees excitedly pose with Axel F’s 1970 Chevy Nova at the Netflix pop-up. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix provided another photo opportunity, displaying two of their 2024 F1 race cars. And sponsor O’Gara Coach displayed 13 new luxury models at the south end of Rodeo Drive, including the Aston Martin Vantage and the McLaren Artura Spider.
“You don’t even have to be a car lover to really enjoy this event,” said Mayor Lester Friedman on the stage set up at Brighton Way and Rodeo Drive. This is really a great way for family to spend the time together, looking at all the vehicles. And you see the little kids looking at the cars and their amazement and the dads and the moms explaining to them about the cars.”
Leno drove up to the stage in his 2015 volcano yellow McLaren P1, and joined Bruce Meyer, founder of the Rodeo Drive Concours d’ Elegance and Friedman in presenting the automotive awards. They also handed the Beverly Hills Firefighters Association and Police Officers Association checks for $7,500 each.
After Friedman awarded Aaron Weiss with the Mayor’s Award for most elegant car, Meyer presented the Beverly Hills Blockbuster Award for most eye appeal, which went to Michael Kerns’ 1967 Bizziarrini 5300 Strada from Palermo, Italy. The original driver, as Kerns explained, only put 11,000 kilometers on it because he was afraid that if he drove it around too much, the Italian mafia would find him and take it from him. This car was one of many at the show with a unique heritage. In fact, the Concours d’Elegance was launched as a fundraiser to restore Beverly Hills’ last remaining fire truck from 1928, the Ahrens Fox that was displayed at this year’s event. It has since grown into the immense car show that it is today, paying homage to Meyer’s original idea by featuring fascinating and unusual vehicles with backgrounds from around the world.
The highlight of the afternoon came when Meyer presented the Best of Show Award to Phillip Sarofim, for his Porsche 935 that won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979. One of the car’s drivers who won the race, Ted Field, accepted the award alongside Sarofim. Field made history with the car when he and the car’s two other drivers won the 24 Hours of Daytona by the greatest margin of victory in the history of the race, after starting in eighth place.
Photo by Amanda Coscarelli
“That just goes to show Ted is a true winner and he’s won at everything he does,” said Sarofim, who was proud to share the stage with a racing legend.
Photo by Amanda Coscarelli
Photo by Amanda Coscarelli
List of Award Winners
Best of Show
Phillip Sarofim, 1979 Porsche 935/No. 79 Interscope Racing
Chairman’s Award
Mel Matsurra, 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza
Mayor’s Award: Most Elegant
Aaron Weiss, 1931 Cadillac Sport Phaeton
Icon Award: Timeless Classic
Matt Guirguis, 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster
Beverly Hills Blockbuster: Most Eye Appeal
Michael Kerns, 1967 Bizziarrini 5300 Strada
Rodeo Drive Award: Most Stylish
John D’Agostino, 1941 Cadillac “Gable II”
Police Chief’s Award: Life in the Fast Lane
Matt Katz, 2008 Koenigsegg CCXR
Fire Chief’s Award: “Smokin’ Haute Classic”
Logan McJilton, Hypersociety, 2019 McLaren Senna GTR
Rodeo Drive Award: Most Fashionable
Richard Davis, 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Carroll Shelby Award: Most Sporting
Cole Hennessey, 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Coupe
Steve McQueen Award: Classic Sports Car
Bryant Kreadon, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Most Passionate Enthusiast
Andrew Labi
