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Benedict Castle Concours

May 24, 2019

Benedict Castle Concours
For the past 6-years, the Benedict Castle Concours has brought together automotive enthusiasts for a great local cause.

And that cause is the Teen Challenge substance abuse and recovery program.  It’s a non-profit with centers across all of Southern California.

Additionally, the annual Inland Empire car show plays host to a wide variety of cars and car lovers.

Upcoming Benedict Castle Concours event details HERE.

iDriveSoCal’s Professor, Clinton Quan, attended this year’s soiree.  Click play below to hear his complete review and scroll through the gorgeous pics of automotive excellence below.

6th Annual Benefit Car Show
Clinton "The Professor" Quan: This Concours is a little bit more unique and I think the organizers of the event, they really wanted to capture the automotive community of Southern California and not just a specific genre of vehicle.

The type of vehicles that you normally wouldn’t see at a Concours d’Elegance. This is the reason why it’s, I think, why it’s called just a Concours. 

Classic Woody @ Benedict Castle Concours

Tom Smith:  Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast. All about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with the good Professor, Mr. Clinton Quan. Say hello, Clinton.

Professor:  Hey, Tom!

Tom:  Hello, my friend! This podcast, as you know, because you clicked play, is on the Benedict Castle Concours. And what the Professor just explained to me—and I didn’t know, but he knows these things, that’s why I call him the Professor, that’s why we keep him around—the Benedict Castle Concours is not a Concours d’Elegance. A Concours d’Elegance and a Concours are apparently two different things.
"...the Benedict Castle Concours is not a Concours d’Elegance. A Concours d’Elegance and a Concours are apparently two different things."
Professor:  Yes.

Tom:  And I did not know that. So, Professor, please enlighten us.
Difference Between Concours and Concours d'Elegance
Professor:  Well, most car shows that are a Concours, it is called a Concours d’Elegance, which translates to a competition of elegance, in French. So, usually, you’ll see very elegant automobiles on display. There could be 20, 25, 30 different classes of vehicles, and you’ll see a lot of the owners of the vehicles, they’ll dress up in that same time period as their vehicles.

Chevrolet Corvette

This Concours is a little bit more unique and I think the organizers of the event, they really wanted to capture the automotive community of Southern California and not just a specific genre of vehicle.

Tom:  Okay.

Professor:  They’re looking for muscle cars and exotics and hot rods, all types of vehicles. Maybe the type of vehicles that you normally wouldn’t see at a Concours d’Elegance. This is the reason why it’s, I think, why it’s called just a Concours.
"They’re looking for muscle cars and exotics and hot rods, all types of vehicles. Maybe the type of vehicles that you normally wouldn’t see at a Concours d’Elegance."
Tom:  And we just scrolled through the pictures that you took and some gorgeous automobiles, as always.

Professor: There are a lot more cars there. That doesn’t really showcase all the vehicles that were on display, yes.

Tom:  I’m sure you can’t picture all of them, right?

Professor:  Yeah.

Custom Volkswagen Bus
Cars at the Benedict Castle Concours
Tom:  So, give some examples of vehicles that are going to be at a Concours d’Elegance as opposed to a Concours.

Professor:  A Concours d’Elegance, you’re really talking about some of the most expensive vehicles in the world.