The Colorado Grand
Don't you just love it when you visit somewhere and you happen upon a festival or event or fair that you didn't even know was happening? Me too! And that's what happened when we visited Lionshead Village at Vail, Colorado last fall.
It was my first visit to Vail. I hadn't made any plans or done much research beforehand except that I knew Oktoberfest was happening over the weekend. Our first stop was the excellent Visitors Center at Lionshead Village, which is a small European-like village a few miles from Vail Village. The lady at the Vistors Center not only helped us with our plans for the day but she also told us that there was a car show going on - only until noon so we needed to see that first.
The car show was the Colorado Grand, an annual charity tour for 1960 and older sports and race cars. According the the website, every September approximately 85 cars are driven 1000 miles through the Rockies in five days. A charity event, each year the Colorado Grand generates about $300,000 for charities in Colorado. And the day we were in Vail was the culmination of the tour. Lucky us!
You can see Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Bentley's,Aston Martin, and Jaguar's. They also claim several 1920's and 1930's cars are usually included.And in such a beautiful setting!
In most of the towns that the cars stop for lunch on the tour, spectators are invited to see the cars and talk with the owners. This years event is scheduled for September 14 - 19. So if you are a car gal or guy and you want to see this event in person you can go to the website here to find out more info.
It was my first visit to Vail. I hadn't made any plans or done much research beforehand except that I knew Oktoberfest was happening over the weekend. Our first stop was the excellent Visitors Center at Lionshead Village, which is a small European-like village a few miles from Vail Village. The lady at the Vistors Center not only helped us with our plans for the day but she also told us that there was a car show going on - only until noon so we needed to see that first.
The car show was the Colorado Grand, an annual charity tour for 1960 and older sports and race cars. According the the website, every September approximately 85 cars are driven 1000 miles through the Rockies in five days. A charity event, each year the Colorado Grand generates about $300,000 for charities in Colorado. And the day we were in Vail was the culmination of the tour. Lucky us!
You can see Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Bentley's,Aston Martin, and Jaguar's. They also claim several 1920's and 1930's cars are usually included.And in such a beautiful setting!
In most of the towns that the cars stop for lunch on the tour, spectators are invited to see the cars and talk with the owners. This years event is scheduled for September 14 - 19. So if you are a car gal or guy and you want to see this event in person you can go to the website here to find out more info.
Are you a car aficionado? Have you been to the Colorado Grand?
I'm linking up with Friday Postcards at Walking On Travels, Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections En Route, Weekend Wanderlust at A Brit and A Southerner and Thursday Travel Photos at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Go give them a look see for some travel inspiration!
I am definitely not a car person but I do like seeing old/different ones. In Italy I photographed lots of cute cars and I love the old ones in this post.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Jan - not a car person but there is something about these older ones in this setting that I do like!
DeleteIt is funny because by only looking at your photos, I thought this post was going to be about Europe. However, I have to admit Vail looks pretty. I guess that many ski resorts try to give the European look to their towns and surrounding areas. Not long ago, I visited June Lake and the atmosphere is Swiss.
ReplyDeleteThat is funny Ruth - Vail is definitely European! In fact, I am going there at Christmas and hope to take some snowy Vail photos. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm not one for cars but I am one for beautiful views - Colorado looks so pretty and funnily enough, totally reminds me of Switzerland :D
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful country and does remind me a bit of Switzerland, too!
DeleteLike you and Jan, I'm not a car person, but I like how the old ones look. When we stayed at Lionshead Village in Vail a few summers ago, our surprise was that none of the lifts or the gondala was running. That's why the condo rates were so low that week! I should have suspected something because the price was too good. Thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration.
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame! But I guess you were able to stay in Vail for a lower price ha ha! We looked into rates there for our Christmas stay but it just made me laugh! Thanks for visiting!
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