Stately classic cars and assertive racers share the field of automotive dreams during this three-day festival of parades and genteel rallies, tours and test drives known as The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Sensed more than seen or heard, Duesenbergs, Packards, Rolls Royces and other grand dames of their era glide across the dewy fairways of the Golf Club of Amelia Island like elegant ghosts of automotive history.

Suddenly, the morning's stately peace is rent by ear-splitting roars, snarls and gut-gripping coughs. The race cars have arrived, bucking along the fairways in fits and starts, unaccustomed to moving at such a slow pace.

Each car has its designated space and class for The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, the premier such show in the state of Florida and two-time winner of the International Historic Motoring Awards Motoring Event of the Year Award.  The three-day Amelia Island motoring event is held the first full weekend of March.

By 9 a.m. the Sunday of the event, the fairways will have become fields of glory and glamor where more than 300 examples of the finest design and engineering on four, three and even two wheels are arrayed for judging by the experts and examination by the envious. Priceless classics from the first days of automobiles, inventive curiosities, former possessions of royalty and celebrities, racing legends and unique motorcycles take the stage to entertain and fascinate an audience of thousands.

The cognoscenti, from famous collectors and celebrities, will arrive early in the week. They and other enthusiasts gather at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island for gala dinners, parades, genteel rallies, tours, white-knuckle test drives and panel discussions. These events are open to the public, though tickets are often snapped up far in advance.

Sunday is our day to gaze, talk to proud owners and racing legends, enjoy the beauty of the oceanfront surroundings and decide which of the beauties we would want in our garages.

It's a format followed by other prestigious concours d'elegance. Never will you see brighter chrome, finer paint jobs or more lovingly recreated works of art and nostalgia.

Only at Amelia Island, however, will you see all automotive fraternities together on the same day.

That was the goal of founder and chairman Bill Warner, car collector, author, photographer, racer and member of the prestigious Road Racing Drivers' Club. Another goal was to benefit the community. More than $3.5 million has been raised for Community Hospice and Palliative Care, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville and other area charities.

"The Pebble Beach concours is rated a little bit higher as No. 1, but in my particular view, Amelia Island is the best concours in America," said former race car driver Brian Redman, three-time Formula 5000 champion and three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona. "The actual people who take part as owners and judges enjoy it so much more."

Redman, who has been a judge since the first Amelia Island concours in 1995 and was its honorary chairman in 2000, explains that – even for VIPs like judges and concours car owners – merely reaching the site of the Pebble Beach show can be difficult, while at Amelia Island, they simply walk a short distance to the field of dreams from their rooms at the adjacent Ritz-Carlton.

Amelia Island's concours is more user-friendly for spectators, who can park at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport and catch a shuttle to and from the event.

Auctions also make the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance special, according to Redman. Even way back In 2011, the RM Auction at The Ritz-Carlton, held the Saturday before the concours, posted a record-breaking $70.9 million in the sale of 103 classics. The star, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet, brought in $7.7 million. Tickets for the auction must be purchased, but the cars that will be auctioned can be viewed for free the day before.

Judging of the Amelia Island car show is done in the morning; the parade of winning vehicles and the presentation of awards fills the afternoon. Winning owners admire their awards and accept congratulations from peers who silently vow to return with an even better car next year.

By dusk, the car curious are home perusing the photo-filled program and dreaming of what might be in the garage some day. 

PLACES TO REMEMBER