Cars & motorsport
A. Lange & Söhne’s Guide to the Regal Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace
The watchmaker’s season of classic cars continues in royal fashion at the upcoming Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace outside of London. And as courtly British style meets impressive collectible automobiles on the sculptured grounds, A. Lange & Söhne will have a few surprises up its sleeve for lucky attendees.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
The Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace will take place from September 5th to 7th on a glorious estate that served as a residence for England’s monarchs from Henry VIII up to George II.
Loaded to the turrets with history (as well as furnishings and art from the Royal Collection), the location presents an unrivaled opportunity to experience a globally important automotive car concours in a particularly appropriate regal setting.
We can personally vouch for all that, because Watchonista was hosted by A. Lange & Söhne for this event back in 2019. And, per that experience, you can also expect a pudding bowlful of focus on historic luxury British automakers (think Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar/Land Rover, and others, including special emphasis placed this year on Lotus).
At that time, the event was in its 13th year (it was launched in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee), and Lange was in its second year of sponsorship. Of that show, CEO Wilhelm Schmid commented, “Enthusiasm for timeless elegance, sophisticated mechanisms, and top-quality craftsmanship – that’s what connoisseurs of extraordinary watches and classic cars have in common.”
Now in its 7th partnership year, Schmid’s sentiments still ring true, and the shared connections he mentioned have only grown stronger. Given those connections and history, below you will find some insider advice from the brand on the don’t-miss experiences that await you at Hampton Court.
Special A. Lange & Sohne Alert!
During the recent Concours of Elegance Germany, the watchmaker made a bit of history with its first timepiece novelty to debut within its automotive concours portfolio.
We suggest you check your program closely at Hampton Court Palace, since we don’t think we are speaking out of school by suggesting A. Lange & Söhne might pack along a similar moment that appeals to horological fans as well as classic car aficionados.
Also, last year, Lange produced a very special Hampton Court auction watch for a King’s Trust youth charity auction that took place in November after the show. The Datograph Up/Down “Hampton Court Edition” hammered out at 877,919 Euro, all of which went to the charity.
Walk the Grounds
Similar to the “season opener” of the Lange-partnered concours for this year, the Italian Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May, you’d be doing yourself a favor if you drag yourself away from the automotive displays and simply drink in the history, beauty, and ambiance of the palace and grounds.
As stated, artifacts from the Royal Collection can be found throughout the interiors. The Great Hall, in particular, features a gorgeous timber hammer beam roof meant to proclaim the grandeur of the palace’s first regal resident, the bombastic Henry VIII.
Over 60 acres of impeccably formal gardens serve as a verdant highlight to Hampton Court Palace’s 750 acres of pristine parkland. The so-called “Magic Garden” is a particularly whimsical hit with younger visitors, but also appeals to the kid in anyone.
Owners’ and VIP Day Introduction
The show will open the morning of Friday, September 5th, which includes a special event wherein 70 of the very best vehicles from the competing concours exhibitors are driven right up to the show stage throughout the day by their owners for an intimate, in-motion inspection.
At press time, the final list of competing cars was unavailable, but if you want to see what was fielded last year, click here.
Awards Day
Awards and trophies presentations start up during the day Saturday, September 6th, with some particularly special-to-this-show honorees: The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) sponsors the Club Trophy, which presents the top British-made autos to an independent panel of judges who select a winner that will be invited to be part of the main concours for next year.
Similarly, the Jaguar Trophy runs the top cars from that marque past the eyes of a judging panel (which in the past has included legendary car designer Ian Callum).
A special Chairman’s Award rounds out the offerings for Saturday.
The Finale
Sunday, September 7th, sees the presentation of what might be considered some expected award categories, including the coveted Best of Show, which is uniquely selected by the participating owners themselves. A. Lange & Söhne is the presentation partner for that top award.
Meanwhile, specific-era Class Decades awards go to outstanding vehicles from the timeframes represented by the participants. Awards for Special Classes and Future Classics are given out, as well as several others.
Sunday’s Grand Depart event should also be on your don’t miss list: As the show closes, 80 of the rarest autos fire up their engines and prepare to depart the palace, waved out by hundreds of onlookers in mannerly British fashion. To see who earned top honors from last year, click here.
One More Pit Stop to Go
The A. Lange & Söhne-sponsored classic car concours season culminates at the Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week in Newport, RI, which runs from October 2nd to 5th.
Frankly, Watchonista has been a fan and constant attendee of this event for many years, and we consider it one of the best, special, and most easily enjoyable concours in the US. Rest assured, we are already working on ensuring that our coverage keeps up with the burgeoning popularity of this show. To get a flavor of last year’s happenings, click here.
For an overview of A. Lange & Söhne’s commitment to classic cars, visit the watchmaker’s dedicated webpage.