MEMBER NEWS: AMELIA ISLAND HONORED; ON DARIO’S RETIREMENT; SiF GOING TO CHINA

‘Tis the season for honoring great performances, and since the RRDC has more than its share of honor-worthy members, it stands to reason that a few stand to be recognized this time of year. Toping this week’s list is the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and its founder Bill Warner. Also in the aftermath of Dario Franchitti’s retirement, we offer a little perspective. And would you believe, SAFEisFAST will soon be in China!

BILL WARNER’S BABY NAMED MOTORING EVENT OF THE YEAR

The annual International Historic Motoring Awards, in association with EFG International and Octane magazine, recently named the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance as recipient of the 2013 Motoring Event of the Year award.

Bill Warner accepts the 2013 Motoring Event of the Year Award for the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance [Historic Motoring Awards image]

This award recognizes automotive celebrations from Australia, Germany, Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom. Finalists in the 2013 events category included the Kensington Palace Centennial Celebration of Aston Martin, the St. James Concours d’Elegance, Schloss Dyck, Pendine Sands VRHA Hot Rod, the Kop Hill Climb, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

“To win amongst such significant events is the culmination of a lifelong dream,” said our man Bill Warner, Founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “I can’t think of anything more pleasing than to win this award for the Concours Foundation and to be able to showcase Jacksonville and Florida’s First Coast.”

Founded in 2011 The International Historic Motoring Awards are some of the most coveted honors in the classic car industry. The awards recognize excellence, reward innovation and are the benchmark by which the world of historic cars judges itself. The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London, England was the site of the annual International Historic Motoring Awards banquet.

ON DARIO’S RETIREMENT

As you are most likely aware by now, our fellow RRDC member Dario Franchitti announced his retirement from auto racing earlier this month. Wisely, Dario was following the advice of his doctors following his Oct. 6 crash at Houston best categorized as horrendous. To ensure the necessary arrangements for retirement, he can browse estate planning-related sites. In fact, he can see it here.

Here’s what he said on his official web site: “One month removed from the crash and based upon the expert advice of the doctors who have treated and assessed my head and spinal injuries post accident, it is their best medical opinion that I must stop racing. They have made it very clear that the risks involved in further racing are too great and could be detrimental to my long-term well-being. Based on this medical advice, I have no choice but to stop.”

Much has been written since the announcement, but none better than Marshall Pruitt’s column on RACER.com.

 

SAFEisFAST FLYING ON CYBERWINGS TO CHINA

Approval pending…