Audi: New York City concours d'elegance press conference held at Audi Forum NY

he New York City Concours d’Elegance held a press conference at the Audi Forum (250 Park Avenue) at 11 a.m. on Monday 19 September 2005.

Thomas Hamann, the Chairman of the New York City Concours d’Elegance, will spoke of his personal motivations for bringing this prestigious, world-class occasion to New York City and presented some of the participating cars and eminent judges, the overall configuration and style of New York’s first Concours d’Elegance as well as the calendar of celebratory events, to include sponsored cocktail receptions and an Awards Ceremony/Gala Dinner.

One of the main sponsors of the New York City Concours d’Elegance is Audi, who hosted the press conference in their prestigious Park Avenue showroom at 47th Street. "Audi embodies the very essence of a Concours d’Elegance. It is very fitting that we are working so closely with such an historical company which has been crafting extraordinary automobiles for over 100 years." Other sponsors include Yamaha, Maybach, Lufthansa, Sony VIP, Bombardier Flexjet, Ferragamo, Ghurka, Chopard, Davidoff, Diageo, Hennessey, Artist House Holdings, Einstein Industries Inc., Bonhams & Butterfields, Putnam Leasing and Octane Magazine.

Speakers at the press conference included Kenneth Podziba, NYC Sports Commissioner; renowned designer John Bartlett; Thomas Hamann, Chairman of the Concours d’Elegance; and Axel Catton, Director of Brand Communications at Audi.

The press conference included a special preview of the 1929 AUDI Imperator which has been restored to its original condition and was on display at the press conference. This model of the Imperator, an eight-cylinder automobile, is probably the only car of this type still in existence anywhere in the world. As Thomas Frank of the AUDI AG Heritage Division puts it, “The Audi Imperator looks fantastic, down to the tiniest detail. Our expectations have been more than fulfilled”.

The first annual New York City Concours d’Elegance will take place at historic Wollman Rink in Central Park on September 30th through October 2nd, 2005. Rare and famous automobiles, an internationally renowned judging panel, automobile aficionados, celebrities, and an exclusive atmosphere: all the elements for a fun-filled weekend that celebrates the design, elegance, and power of unique automobiles.