Participants in the 17th annual Italian Concours d' Elegance huddle in the rain at the Des Moines Marina on Sept. 6. Despite the weather, nearly 100 Italian sports cars representing Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo filled the marina lot. This is the the Concours' third year in Des Moines.
On a rainy Sunday, Sept. 6th the Des Moines Marina was the site of the 17th annual Italian Concours d'Elegance, which featured nearly 100 Italian sports cars and motorcycles of different makes and models.
The number of cars and attendees was down dramatically from last year, due to the weather, but a hardcore group came out and endured the rain with good spirits.
Ninety cars, representing Italian auto makers Ferrari, Maserati, FIAT, and Alfa Romeo, among others, filled the north marina parking lot.
Last year, there were over 140 cars and bikes lining the marina parking spaces, Italian Concours d'Elegance director Mike Wilson said. On Friday before the event, 118 vehicles were preregistered. Wilson said they were expecting a better turnout than last year, until the rain started on Saturday night.
Still, Wilson said the people there all seemed to be having a lot of fun.
The Concours partnered with the Make a Wish Foundation four years ago, selling raffle tickets to win various donated items.
For the last two years the biggest item has been a scooter, worth over $2,000, given by an anonymous donor. The raffle raised $3,700 last year for the foundation.
Among the cars in attendance was Microsoft's 2010 Alfa Romeo Spider.
Corporate sponsors of the event gave out trophies to various vehicles in attendance, for best paint, best unrestored car and best in show, among others.
This is the Concours' third year at the Des Moines Marina. Founder Greg Soter said that with the exception of this year the event grows bigger each time.
The Cocours started 17 years ago at the Snoqualmie Winery and had fewer than 30 vehicles.
Last year, which had the Concours largest turnout, there were 145 cars and bikes and more than 2,000 people came.
Soter said he never imagined when he first started the event it would turn into this.
At first, he said it was invitation only, but it has gradually kept growing. The Concours moved to a Seattle pier after the winery burned down.
After a moving a couple more times the City of Des Moines approached the board of directors of the Concours to hold it at the marina, where it has been for the last three years.
