In Beverly Hills, Father’s Day is synonymous with the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, an antique automobile legacy event that first began in 1993. While COVID-19 prevented the show from taking place in 2020, a modified version was held in 2021 called the Tour d’Elegance, where a car rally featuring rare luxury vehicles toured the city streets instead of on display along Rodeo Drive. The Concours d’Elegance returns this year on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a new format that includes elements from the Tour and Concours, with select cars positioned on Rodeo Drive for the public to view in addition to a VIP/sponsor driving tour.
The 2022 Father’s Day car show will invite auto enthusiasts to participate, driving a planned route that begins at City Hall and concludes on Rodeo Drive, giving fans the chance to see the vehicles both in motion and up close. At its April 12 Study Session, the Beverly Hills City Council heard plans for the event from the President of the Rodeo Drive Committee, Kathy Gohari, and approved a total associated budget request in an amount not to exceed $228,970. Since its inception, the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance has been among the biggest automotive events in the world, drawing in as many as 46,000 people each year. From American muscle cars to pre-war collectibles and winning race cars, some of the most exquisite vehicles ever made by Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari, McLaren, Bentley and more will be on display.
“Having the combination of a car rally in conjunction with the stationary exhibition on Rodeo Drive, residents and visitors are in for an exciting Father’s Day celebration,” Gohari told the Courier. “As we are heading into the summer months, and hosting the annual Father’s Day event, with outmost caution for safety, this tradition is an excellent way to come together again.”
The Concours event is curated and supported by founder Bruce Meyer, a longtime Beverly Hills resident, founding chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum and prominent collector of classic cars. “We’ve traditionally done a car show on Rodeo Drive,” Meyer said at the council meeting. “Then over COVID we did a parade last year, which I thought was quite successful. So, this year, we’re going to do the best of the best, do the parade and the car show.”
The daylong event will be confined to the city, beginning in front of City Hall on Crescent Drive with a parade of 50 curated cars and drivers who will be cheered on as they set out to follow the proposed route, ending on Rodeo Drive. Another 50 cars will be staged concours-style on Rodeo Drive for the public to enjoy close-up before being joined by vehicles from the tour. “We’ve really taken out all the stops,” Meyer added. Last year, the tour included vehicles like the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1960 Maserati Typo 61 Birdcage, 1957 Dual Ghia Convertible and the only 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero.
“I love the fact that we have made this a hybrid,” Mayor Lili Bosse said. “I love the fact that there’s going to be the tour in Beverly Hills and the car show on Rodeo. I think people are so excited to have it back. So, I’m going to be a predictor, and I’m going to tell you it’s going to be the best one yet. And there’ll be people who will love both and do both.”
Video monitors will be installed throughout enhancing the experience and ensuring that attendees know what vehicles are positioned where, giving everyone a chance to enjoy all the event has to offer. Organizers will work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Beverly Hills Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to map out restaurants in the city on the monitors to help people find a bite during the car show. “We’re going to get people to really enjoy our restaurants and really enjoy our city,” Bosse said.
Luxury auto dealership O’Gara Coach will return this year as the event’s main sponsor, displaying some of their most rare historic vehicles. According to coordinators, additional sponsorships will be secured, including from other local brands.
The Council also approved the following street closures required for the event: Crescent Drive from S. Santa Monica Boulevard to N. Santa Monica Boulevard on June 19 from 7 to 11 a.m.; Rodeo Drive from Wilshire Boulevard to S. Santa Monica Boulevard on June 18 from 9 p.m. to June 19 at 10 p.m.; Dayton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways on either side from June 18 at 9 p.m. to June 19 at 10 p.m.; and Brighton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways on either side from June 18 at 9 p.m. to June 19 at 10 p.m.
