Over the decades, the second Sunday in February each year has become the highlight of the New Zealand car lovers’ calendar. That’s when thousands of car enthusiasts and the simply curious visit Auckland’s Ellerslie Race Course to see the country’s biggest line up of classics – many of them rated among the world’s best restorations.
The best, entered individually or as teams, vie for coveted awards ranging from the Intermarque Team Shield (pairs of cars) to Masters Class (individual vehicles), best “Survivor” (original rather than restored cars) and best Club Display - the theme for which changes each year.
The Intermarque Concours d'Elegance is a celebration of classic and marque cars, with competitions based on presentation, cleanliness, condition, originality and excellence.
The first Intermarque Concours event was held on December 1, 1972 at the sunken gardens, Cornwall Park by the MG Car Club. Then as now, it was an inter-club affair and MG became the first winner of the Inter-Club Challenge Shield. Honours also went to Alvis, Studebaker, Jowett, Riley, and Citroen Car Clubs. Until 1981 MG and Jaguar dominated the Cornwall Park event. Then Porsche took the Shield and moved the rapidly growing show to Ellerslie. Today over 80 car clubs, leading new vehicle dealerships, sponsors and the restoration industry are part of the day. Vehicles and visitors not only come from around the country but also the world – one year, for example, we welcomed 27 Alvis owners and their cars from the UK.
It takes almost a year to put a show like this together. The winning club each year hosts the subsequent event with the support of other leading clubs and an experienced executive committee. Continuity, procedure and judging is overseen by TACCOC, the Thoroughbred and Classic Car Owners’ Club. The organising committee meets monthly.
Displayed vehicles range from the turn of the century through to the latest modern exotics, and vary from Micro cars through to the latest exotic and high performance new cars from all around the world.
Intermarque Concours events around the world
In the United States and Europe, the attendance at such events is in the hundreds of thousands, the investment measured in millions. Clearly New Zealand cannot hope to emulate such extravagant affairs, but thanks to committed imaginative sponsors, commercial partners, exhibitors and clubs, the Ellerslie Classic Car Show and Intermarque Concours events are acknowledged as world class.
The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show Incorporated (registered number 2546539) was incorporated on the 14th March 2011. To view the constitution of the society click the button below
MISSION STATEMENT The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d'Elegance and Classic Car Show Inc. is an annual event open to the public, organised on behalf of motor vehicle clubs by their representatives in order to allow those clubs to display vehicles, promote their clubs and take part in friendly competition. In addition, the event will display and promote the motor vehicle industry and its associated activities, to provide a broad spectrum of interest to the participating clubs and the general public and to be regarded as a motor vehicle show in the broadest sense.
1. NAME: The event will be known The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d'Elegance and Classic Car Show Inc. This title may be amended to include the year and the name of a major sponsor, e.g. The 2020 Acme Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d'Elegance and Classic Car Show Inc.
2. ORGANISING COMMITTEE: Refer to the Constitution
3. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Refer to the Constitution
4. FINANCIAL: Any cash surplus, after expenses and provision for the next year's event, will be distributed as follows: - Hosting Club - 17.5% - Thoroughbred and Classic Car Owners Club - 8.75% - Other clubs of the Organising Committee - 8.75% each - Remaining surplus to be shared equally by the other participating clubs.
5. INCORPORATED SOCIETY: The Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show Incorporated (registered number 2546539) was incorporated on the 14th March 2011. To view the constitution of the society click the button above
DEFINITIONS:
CAR CLUB: A group of enthusiasts representing a car marque or marques, or model of a marque, e.g. Jaguar, Consul Zephyr Zodiac (Ford), Model A (Ford) .
ENTRANT: A registered and financial member of a car club relating to the marque of the competing car.
COMPETING CAR: A registered, road-legal car of a recognised marque, at least five years old from the date of manufacture. The competing car will be owned by the entrant, and if not, the organising committee must be advised on the official entry form. In those circumstances, acceptance of such a car will be solely at the discretion of the Organising Committee. Replicas and "specials" are specifically excluded.
GENERAL RULES FOR ALL COMPETITIVE EVENTS:
Entries for the Team Event, Masters Class, Survivors Class and Best Club Display must be received on the official entry form on or before the date defined on the entry form. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the Organising Committee.
Each competing club, or individual, must complete a declaration (on the entry form) stating that they have complied with the rules of the event.
On the day of the event competing cars must be in place by 8:45 am, all others must be in place by 9:15 am. All cars (both competing and non-competing) must remain in their positions until after the results have been announced or 4pm, whichever is the later.
Clubs will be required to supply one knowledgeable member who must be available to answer questions from the judges should they require any information. Other than that, no discussions are to be entered into with the judges.
Each Club will be responsible for the security of its own cars.
The event will be held wet or fine.
Participating Clubs will be supplied with passes for use by entrants and official helpers.
All other Club members will pay normal public admission prices. Children under 12 years of age are admitted free.
The decisions of the Chief Judge and Organising Committee are final and binding.
The public will be admitted between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, or as determined by the Organising Committee.
The Organisers accept no liability for vehicles entered into or displayed at the event.
Cars may be trailered to the event but must be road-legal and be capable of being able to be driven under their own power - refer "Competing Car".
See Additional Rules for each of the Competitive Events as follows:
Teams Event
Masters Class
Survivors Class
Club Display
50-50-50
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE TEAMS EVENT:
An entry for this event will consist of two competing cars and named entrants (per Definitions). One reserve competing car and entrant may be nominated on the entry form and substituted for any one of the competing cars prior to the start of judging.
Age points will be awarded, one point for each year after five years of age, to a maximum of 40 points.
The teams will be judged initially to establish the top six teams, based on general appearance and preparation.
The top six teams will be rejudged including points for originality of the car.
In the event of a tie for any place, the winning team will be determined by countback of points on (a) Age, and if still tied then (b) Originality, and if still tied then by judged groups one to ten in sequence until the tie is broken.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
- The permanent trophy, to be engraved with the year and the name of the winning club, will be held by the winning club for one year. - Trophies will be awarded to each of the top three competing teams. - An individual trophy will be awarded to the competing car scoring the highest points in the team event. - A certificate will be awarded to all competing clubs and cars. - Cash donations will be made as determined by the organising committee
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE MASTERS CLASS EVENT
The maximum number of competing cars accepted for the Masters Class will be six. Should the event be over-subscribed entries shall be selected by the Organising Committee taking into account the following: - The car's history in previous Concours d'Elegance events - The condition, originality and standard of restoration of the car - Any qualities of rarity or unique aspects of the car
Competing cars for the Masters Class will be judged individually and cannot be entered as part of the Teams Event in the same year.
Cars will be judged including Age and Originality points as for the Teams event.
Prizes will be awarded as follows: - - The permanent trophy, to be engraved with the year and competing car, will be held by the winning entrant for one year.
- Trophies will be awarded to each of the top three competing cars. - A certificate will be awarded to all entrants. -Cash donations will be made as determined by the organising committee
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE SURVIVORS CLASS EVENT
The Survivors Class is for unrestored vehicles with original bodywork, paint and upholstery
The maximum number of competing cars accepted for the Survivors Class will be six. Should the category be oversubscribed, entries shall be selected by the Organising Committee taking into account the following: - originality & condition - age - any qualities of rarity or unique aspects of the car
Competing cars for Survivors Class cannot be entered as part of the Teams Event in the same year.
Cars must be at least 35 years old.
Cars will be judged on Originality, Age, Condition, Preparation and History. The points totals have been set as follows: Originality, 440 points. Age, 2 points per year over 35 years. Condition and Preparation, 440 points. History, 50 points.
Prizes will be awarded as follows: - The permanent trophy, to be engraved with the year and competing car, will be held by the winning entrant for one year - Trophies will be awarded to each of the top three competing cars - A certificate will be awarded to all entrants.
In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by countback of points on (a) Age, and if still tied then (b) Originality, and if still tied then by judged groups one to ten in sequence until the tie is broken
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE BEST CLUB DISPLAY:
The event is open to all participating clubs, but must not be commercially based for the purpose of promoting products or selling cars. A display assessed by the Organising Committee as commercial will be liable for a trade display charge and be ineligible for the competition.
Cars/Vehicles entered for the Teams, Masters Class and Survivors Class events cannot be judged as part of the club display event in the same year.
Cars less than five years old may only be used subject to the notification of, and approval by, the Organising Committee, which must be satisfied that the vehicles are not being used for commercial display purposes.
Display judging will be carried out by the sponsors representatives assisted by the Organising Committee, and will take into account: - interpretation of the theme of the display, 10 points - quality of the props and surrounds of the display, 10 points - quality of the cars in the display, 10 points - the amount of effort in the preparation of the display, 10 points - maximum total, 40 points.
Prizes will be award awarded as follows: - Cash donations will be made for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners as determined by the Organising Committee - The permanent trophy, to be engraved with the year and winning club, will be held by the winning club for one year - Trophies will be awarded to each of the top three competing clubs - Certificates will be awarded to the top six clubs.
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR THE 50-50-50 COMPETITION: NOTE: The 50-50-50 Concours is about the state of cleanliness and condition of a car. Originality or authenticity and the underside of the vehicle will not be judged. ORGANISATION
Judging for 50-50-50 Concours entrants will be held at the time and location stipulated by the Committee, as published in the media and in the official programme for the Event.
Late arrival for Judging – if a vehicle is not in place for judging by the designated time for commencement of judging, the matter will be referred to the Chairman of the Organising Committee who may exercise his/her discretion and deduct up to 10 points from the score achieved. The Chairman's decision on this matter shall be final.
RULES FOR ENTRANTS
All entries to be lodged with the Organising Committee, using the entry form published on the website, https://www.concours.org.nz/505050-competition-entry.html by the time stipulated on the invitation to enter the competition. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the Organising Committee.
Entrants must own their vehicle and may be members of a recognised car club, but this is not mandatory.
Vehicles must display a current New Zealand Registration and Warrant of Fitness.
All entrants and their vehicles who have entered and eligible for any award in this competition must be less than 50 years of age. Vehicles registered after 2016 are also not eligible.
A maximum limit of NZ$50,000 only may have been spent on acquiring and restoring the vehicle, as presented for judging.
Vehicles may be driven or transported on the public highway to the entry point of the event, but must be driven under their own power to the specific judging area for the 50-50-50 competition.
The owner of each vehicle or their delegated assistant must be in attendance while the vehicle is being judged.
All vehicles presented for judging must have their doors, sunroofs and windows closed and all doors, bonnet, boot and interior compartments unlocked. Vehicles of open or drop head coupe configuration must have soft tops erected when presented for judging.
No preparation or cleaning of cars is permitted once judging has commenced.
All vehicles entered in the event must remain in position at the event until the completion of presentation of prizes or 4pm, whichever comes later.
JUDGES
Judges for the event will be appointed by the Organising Committee.
The Judges may at their discretion, request proofs of the age of the owner and their expenditure on the vehicle.
Judges have the sole right to assess and award and/or deduct points and will operate as a team, judging each car together as a group with one judge acting as score keeper.
The decision of the judging panel is final.
SCORING
AREAS JUDGED: Engine compartment, interior, exterior, boot, wheels and tyres, lights.
Scoring is performed by inspecting cleanliness and condition, awarding points up to the maximum points available for the particular area or component. To see score sheets, click here.
Age related points of 1 point per year of age following manufacture/first registration anywhere in the world up to a maximum of 45 for a 1972 model; 0 for a 2017 model, will be awarded in recognition of the greater challenge in presenting the condition of a car’s components, the older the car is.
TROPHIES
A Perpetual trophy, an engraved keepsake trophy and a prize, will be awarded to the First Place winner.
An engraved keepsake trophy and prize will be awarded to the Second and Third place winners.
All prizes will be determined by the Committee.
Certificates will be presented to all prize winners.
HEALTH AND SAFETY All exhibitors must comply with the Health and Safety Rules which can be found here: