Enthusiasts Enjoy Sunny Showcase of Vintage Cars, Motorcycles & Boats

About 10,000 car geeks were expected to stroll, photograph, reminisce and daydream along th rows of vintage cars on display at the 4th annual Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, topping last year's 7,000 attendance number.

The showcase is the largest annual fundraiser for Marin Hospice By The Bay, and this year's proceeds were shared with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties.

"We continue to be grateful to be supported by people who love cars and care about community," said Sandra Lew, CEO of Hospice By The Bay.

Looking around at the crowd, Lew admitted that the event appeals primarily to middle-aged men, but said that they are pushing to expand the audience by keeping the entrance fee low. By doing that, she said the event continues to grow and that the county is fortunate to be able to have an event that is affordable for families when compared to similar events, such as at Pebble Beach, where it costs nearly $150 to get in the gate.

Marin and Sonoma students are also encouraged to join the ranks of car afficianados by participating in the Junior Juror program.

"They're taught by the senior judges on how to judge a car," said Lew. "It's a way to get the youth involved."

For those who attended, a drive through Civic Center parking lots served as a sneak preview — with cars and motorcyles nearly as varied as what was seen inside — although not approaching the price tag of the high-end collector cars on display.

One auto that gathered a crowd was a Bugatti Veyron that runs about $1.9 million out the dealer door — an example of how the event serves as the perfect showroom for potential lottery winners.