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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3. 2015 Colorado Grand RecapEv e n t R e c a p : C o l o r a d o G r a n d 2 0 1 5 Co m m i s s i o n o n S p e c i a l E v e n t s No v e m b e r 4 th , 2 0 1 5 Photo by Jack Affleck Co l o r a d o G r a n d : S e p t e m b e r 1 8 - 1 9 , 2 0 1 5 Ev e n t P r o d u c e r 2 Ev e n t P r o d u c e r : A n g i e G e t c h e l – C o l o r a d o G r a n d (c o o r d i n a t o r / a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r Co l o r a d o G r a n d o p e r a t i o n s ) 72 0 . 6 7 0 . 6 4 3 3 in f o @ c o l o r a d o g r a n d . o r g Co P r o d u c e r : P e t a r Ko n s t a n t i n o v i c – L i o n s h e a d Me r c h a n t s A s s o c i a t i o n ( f i n i s h li n e a n d c o n c o u r s ) 63 0 . 2 7 2 . 3 5 6 7 PK o n s t a 2 3 @ g m a i l . c o m Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Va i l B r a n d C o m p a t i b i l i t y “P r e m i e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o u n t a i n R e s o r t C o m m u n i t y ” 3 St a n d a r d o f e x c e l l e n c e m e t b y : • D r a w i n g d e s t i n a t i o n g u e s t s a n d l o c a l s t o t h e Li o n s h e a d a n d V a i l a r e a a n d c r e a t i n g b u s i n e s s fo r t h e L i o n s h e a d a n d V a i l m e r c h a n t s . • T h e C o l o r a d o G r a n d h e l p s t o s t r e t c h t h e su m m e r e v e n t C a l e n d a r f u r t h e r i n t o t h e su m m e r / f a l l , e x t e n d i n g t he l e n g t h o f t h e s e a s o n . Bo t h p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d s p e c t a t o r s e x p e r i e n c e d Va i l i n a u n i q u e w a y u n l i k e a n y o t h e r r e s o r t i n th e S t a t e o f C o l o r a d o . T h e r a r i t y o f t h e s e c a r s , th e w o r t h o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s , a n d v a l u e t h a t t h e gu e s t s p r o v i d e e q u a l s a p e r f e c t f o r m u l a t h a t i s co n g r u e n t w i t h t h e V a i l b r a n d o f b e i n g a P r e m i e r In t e r n a t i o n a l M o u n t a i n R e s o r t C o m m u n i t y . T h e Co l o r a d o G r a n d c o n t i n u e s t o b e a tr a d i t i o n / i c o n i c e v e n t i n t h e T o w n o f V a i l . Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Ev e n t S t r e n g t h s & W e a k n e s s e s 4 • E x c e e d e d e x p e c t a t i o n s : • Va r i o u s g i v e a w a y s , g i f t s , a n d s c h w a g i n c l u d i n g a n in c r e a s e i n b o o k l e t s f o r i n c r e a s e d s p e c t a t o r s , po s t e r g i v e a w a y , a n d c h e c k e r e d fl a g s p r o v i d e d f o r k i d s . • Li o n s h e a d V i l l a g e c a m e a l i v e o n F r i d a y ( 9 / 1 8 ) a n d Sa t u r d a y ( 9 / 1 9 ) s e e i n g si g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e s in g u e s t p r e s e n c e d u r i n g t h e e v e n t . S e v e r a l g u e s t s s u rv e y e d b y v o l u n t e e r s f l e w i n f r o m o u t o f st a t e e x c l u s i v e l y f o r t h e c a r s h o w . • A l i v e M C o n F r i d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 8 th th i s y e a r e n a b l e d u s t o c o n n e c t w i t h v i s i t o r s a n d g i v e t h e m a l a r g e r q u a n t i t y o f i n f o r m a t i o n o n th e v a r i o u s c a r s a n d t h e i r d r i v e r s . • Th e e v e n t w a s o n e w e e k l a t e r t ha n l a s t y e a r a n d a t t r a c t e d e v e n mo r e p e o p l e . T h e e v e n t t i m i n g is p e r f e c t w i t h r e g a r d s t o t h e s l ow p e r i o d i n V a i l b e f o r e t h e f a l l fo l i a g e b e g i n s t o c h a n g e c o l o r . • Th e L i o n s h e a d M e r c h a n t s A s s o c i a t i o n c o n t i n u e d t o pr o v i d e s e r v i c e s t o t h e C o l o r a d o G r a n d in c l u d i n g F i n i s h L i n e c o o r d i n a t i o n, v o l u n t e e r i n g e f f o r t s , a n d d o n a t io n s t o t h e s i l e n t a u c t i o n va l u e d a t $ 4 , 0 0 0 • Th e n e w K i d s Z o n e w a s a g r e a t a d d i ti o n t h a t h e l p e d e n t e r t a i n p e o p l e o f a l l a g e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e ev e n t . C h i l d r e n w e r e g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to h a n d b u i l d s m a l l c a r f i g u r i n e s u n d e r t h e su p e r v i s i o n o f B r i a n H a ll a n d B l u e C r e e k P r o d u c t i o n s Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Ev e n t S t r e n g t h s & W e a k n e s s e s 5 • Me a s u r e s t h a t c o u l d b e t a k e n f o r e v e n t i m p r o v e m e n t : • Gu e s t p r e s e n c e v i r t u a l l y d i s a p p e a r s a t t h e e n d o f t h e c a r s h o w . Ne x t y e a r w e h o p e t o p r o v i d e ad d e d v a l u e i n a w a y t h a t w i l l n o t o n l y b r i n g v i s i t o r s in t o w n f o r t h e c a r e v e n t, b u t a l s o k e e p t h e m in t o w n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w e e k e n d . • In c r e a s e d m a r k e t i n g a n d p r o m o t i o n – l i v e T V c o v e ra g e a t t h e s t a r t i n g li n e c o u l d h e l p p r o d u c e mo r e b u z z a n d p r e s e n c e i n t o w n w h i l e t h e d r i v e r s a r e on t h e i r j o u r n e y . • Fi n d i n g V o l u n t e e r s p r o v e d t o b e o f di f f i c u l t y e v e n w i t h t h e i n c e n t i v e s w e h a d i n p l a c e . I t i s t h e sl o w s e a s o n , V a i l R e s o r t s d e c r e a s e s i t s o p e r at i n g h o u r s , a n d e m p l o y ee s a r e d e s p e r a t e f o r wo r k . V o l u n t e e r i n g i s a l o w p r i o r i t y f o r t h e s e V a i l e m p l o z e e s w h o n e e d m o n e y . • Fo r r e p e a t e v e n t , c o m p a r i s o n t o p a s t y e a r s : • Th i s y e a r ’ s i n c r e a s e d f u n d i n g a l l o w e d u s t o s i g n i fi c a n t l y i m p r o v e e v e n t a c t i v i t i e s . W e h a d a MC , l i v e b a n d , m u s i c , a n d a k i d s zo n e w h e n p r e v i o u s y e a r s w e w e re a b l e t o p r o v i d e v e r y f e w en h a n c e m e n t s . Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Ev e n t B u d g e t 6 Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 • T o t a l e v e n t b u d g e t : • C S E f u n d s : $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o C o l o r a d o G r a n d a n d L i o n s h e a d M e r c h a n t s As s o c i a t i o n • P r o f i t a n d l o s s : Fu n d i n g u t i l i z a t i o n : Ca r  br o c h u r e ,  li v e  ba n d ,  ma r k e t i n g  di r e c t i v e s ,  li v e  MC,  mu s i c ,  ki d s  zo n e ,  in s u r a n c e ,  sp e c i a l  ev e n t  li c e n s e s ,  pe r m i t s ,  oi l  pa n s ,   pa r t i c i p a n t  br u n c h ,  fi n i s h  pl a q u e s ,  fi n i s h  li n e  aw a r d s  (D V D ) ,   ev e n t   wo r k e r s ,  we b s i t e  an d  Co n c o u r s  in f o  sh e e t • I n - k i n d s p o n s o r s h i p : T o w n o f V a i l Ca s h s p o n s o r s h i p : Me r c e d e s  Be n z ,  RM  Au c t i o n s ,  We a t h e r T e c h ,  La z i e r   Pr o p e r t i e s  an d  Ha g e r t y  In s u r a n c e Es t i m a t e d R e s u l t s * At t e n d a n c e N u m b e r s 7 Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 • Es t i m a t e d  at t e n d a n c e : • 98  dr i v e r  pa r t i c i p a n t s  + gu e s t s • To t a l  ev e n t  tr a v e l l i n g  gr o u p  of  30 0 + • Pa r k i n g  ga r a g e s  in  Li o n s h e a d  we r e  fu l l  bo t h  Fr i d a y  an d  Sa t u r d a y  of  the   Gr a n d  ev e n t . • % of  pe o p l e  in  Va i l  sp e c i f i c a l l y  fo r  ev e n t :   Ba s e d  on  be i n g  a  pa r t i c i p a t o r y   ev e n t ,  10 0 %  we r e  he r e  fo r  th e  ev e n t .    Sp e c t a t o r s  or  th e  Li o n s h e a d  event   we r e  al s o  pr i m a r i l y  in  to w n  to  vi e w  th e  ev e n t s  sp e c i f i c a l l y . • % of  pe o p l e  at t e n d e d  pr e v i o u s  ye a r s :    Th e  ma j o r i t y  of  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d   dr i v e r s  re t u r n  ye a r  af t e r  ye a r  bu t  a  po r t i o n  of  fa m i l y  me m b e r s ,  gu e s t s  and   st a f f  ar e  ne w  to  th e  ev e n t .    Ma n y  of  th e  sp e c t a t o r s  ar e  th e  sa m e  fa c e s  we   se e  co m e  ye a r  af t e r  ye a r . Es t i m a t e d R e s u l t s * De m o g r a p h i c P r o f i l e 8 At t e n d e e s  ca m e  fr o m  (l o c a l ,  re g i o n a l ,  ou t  of  st a t e ,  in t e r n a t i o n a l ) :   Th e  ev e n t  co n t i n u e d  to  dr a w  a  di v e r s e  cr o w d  of  bo t h  Va i l  Va l l e y  lo c a l s  an d  de s t i n a t i o n   gu e s t s ,  ma n y  re p e a t  gu e s t s  in c l u d i n g  bo t h  dr i v e r s  an d  sp e c t a t o r s .  Wh i l e  so m e  of  the   de s t i n a t i o n  gu e s t s  in  at t e n d a n c e  dr o v e  to  Va i l  sp e c i f i c a l l y  fo r  th e  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d   ev e n t ,  ot h e r s  we r e  al r e a d y  in  th e  Va l l e y  an d  th e r e f o r e  th e  ev e n t  se r v e d  as  ad d e d  value   of  th e i r  Va i l  ex p e r i e n c e .   Th e  dr i v e r s  pa r t i c i p a t i n g  in  th e  ev e n t  ar e  a  sp l i t  of  in ‐st a t e ,  ou t  of  st a t e  an d   in t e r n a t i o n a l  gu e s t s ;  wi t h  a  la r g e  po r t i o n  of  th e  at t e n d e e s  co m i n g  fr o m  ou t  of  st a t e   an d  al l  st a y i n g  in  Va i l  lo d g i n g  th e  ev e n i n g  be f o r e  th e  Gr a n d  be g i n s  an d  th e  Fr i d a y  they   re t u r n  to  Va i l  (i n  ad d i t i o n  to  so m e  fo r  lo n g e r  we e k e n d  st a y s  as  we l l ) . Av e r a g e  ag e  an d  in c o m e  br a c k e t  of  at t e n d e e s :   Pa r t i c i p a n t s  in  th e  gr a n d  ar e  of  an  in c r e d i b l y  hi g h  in c o m e  br a c k e t  (w i t h  a  bo a r d   co m p r i s e d  of  pr i m a r i l y  mu l t i ‐mi l l i o n a i r e s )  an d  ge n e r a l l y  ra n g e  in  ag e  fr o m  50 ’ s ‐60’s. Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Es t i m a t e d R e s u l t s * Ev e n t A t t e n d e e E s t i m a t e d S p e n d i n g 9 • Lo d g i n g : • 10 0 %  of  pa r t i c i p a n t s  st a y  in  Va i l  Lo d g i n g • Th e  Gr a n d  br i n g s  to  to w n  98  dr i v e r s  (m o s t  wi t h  a  gu e s t  or  fa m i l y  me m b e r ) ,  al o n g  with   sp o n s o r s ,  cr e w ,  me c h a n i c s ,  CO  st a t e  pa t r o l l e r s ,  ph o t o g r a p h e r s ,   vi d e o g r a p h e r s  an d  staff   fo r  a  to t a l  of  30 0 +  to t a l  gu e s t s ,  al l  th a t  st a y  in  Va i l  Lo d g i n g ,  fi l l i n g  18 0 +  ro o m s  fo r  at  least   tw o  fu l l  ni g h t s  (t h i s  ye a r ’ s  sp e n d  wa s  $7 0 , 0 0 0 + ) . • Ad d i t i o n a l l y ,  Li o n s h e a d  lo d g e d  of f e r e d  sp e c i a l  pa c k a g e s  fo r  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  sp e c t a t o r s   th i s  ye a r ,  dr i v i n g  ad d i t i o n a l  ro o m  ni g h t s  as  a  re s u l t . • Di n i n g :    F& B  fo r  th e  gr a n d  pa r t i c i p a n t  ev e n t s  al o n e  to t a l s  ov e r  $1 0 0 , 0 0 0 .    Ad d i t i o n a l l y ,  the   Li o n s h e a d  po r t i o n  of  th e  ev e n t  fi l l s  Li o n s h e a d  Vi l l a g e  wi t h  gu e s t s  on  Fr i d a y  af t e r n o o n  and   Sa t u r d a y  mo r n i n g ,  in c r e a s i n g  re s t a u r a n t  sp e n d i n g  du r i n g  th o s e  tw o  se g m e n t s .    Ba r t  & Yeti’s   be n e f i t s  gr e a t l y  fr o m  th e  Fr i d a y  af t e r n o o n  ev e n t  an d  ha s  be c o m e  th e  ga t h e r i n g  pl a c e  fo r  local   en t h u s i a s t s  ye a r  af t e r  ye a r . • Sh o p p i n g  & Ot h e r  Ac t i v i t i e s :    No t  me a s u r e d  bu t  an e c d o t a l l y  we  ha v e  be e n  to l d  th a t  th e  Grand   we e k e n d  is  a  ve r y  pr o f i t a b l e  we e k e n d  fo r  ma n y  of  th e  Li o n s h e a d  sh o p s  an d  on e  th e y  lo o k   fo r w a r d  to  ea c h  ye a r .   Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Vi s i t o r I n t e n t t o R e t u r n * 10 Sa t i s f a c t i o n  Ra t i n g s : • Th e  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  co n t i n u e d  to  dr a w  re t u r n i n g  gu e s t s  to  Va i l .  Se v e r a l  lo c a l s  who   at t e n d e d  th i s  ye a r  st a t e d  th a t  th e y  wi l l  to  co n t i n u e  to  jo i n  us  in  th e  fu t u r e .  Th o s e  that   co m e  fr o m  th e  Fr o n t  Ra n g e  sp e c i f i c a l l y  fo r  th i s  ev e n t  al s o  ap p e a r  to  be  ve r y  lo y a l  guests   to  th e  Gr a n d  an d  to  th e  Va i l  ar e a  as  a  wh o l e .   • Se v e r a l  vi s i t o r s  wh o  tr a v e l e d  fr o m  ou t  of  st a t e  vi s i t e d  Va i l  sp e c i f i c a l l y  fo r  th e  Colorado   Gr a n d  ev e n t .  Th e  in c r e a s e d  pr e s e n c e  of  ou t ‐of ‐st a t e  vi s i t o r s  fu r t h e r  va l i d a t e s  ou r   ex p a n d e d  pr o m o t i o n a l  ef f o r t s .  Th e s e  gu e s t s  bo o k e d  ho t e l  ro o m s  in  pl a c e s  su c h  as  the   Ar r a b e l l e  an d  Ma r r i o t t  in  Li o n s h e a d .   Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 To p l i n e M a r k e t i n g E f f o r t s 11 • Ad v e r t i s i n g  th r o u g h o u t  th e  su m m e r  in c l u d e d  th e  fo l l o w i n g • 3  Li v e  TV 8  in t e r v i e w s  sc h e d u l e d  th r o u g h o u t  th e  mo n t h  be f o r e  th e  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d   ev e n t . • Pr e s s  re l e a s e s  to  va r i o u s   me d i a  ou t l e t s  re s u l t e d  in  co v e r a g e  th r o u g h o u t  th e  Va i l  Da i l y   an d  Va i l  We e k l y • TV 8  In t e r v i e w  wi t h  a  dr i v e r  th a t  ai r e d  pr i o r  to  th e  Fi n i s h  Li n e  ev e n t • E ‐ma i l  bl a s t   to  Fr o n t  Ra n g e  Ca r  Cl u b s  an d  lo c a l  ou t l e t s   to  ad v e r t i s e  bo t h  th e  ev e n t   an d  va r i o u s  lo d g i n g  pa c k a g e s • Di r e c t  pr o m o t i o n  in  Ch i c a g o  at  lo c a l  ca r  sh o w  th a t  ho s t e d   se v e r a l  dr i v e r s  on e  mo n t h   pr i o r  to  th e  ev e n t • Lo c a l  we b s i t e   li s t i n g s   su c h  as  vi s i t l i o n s h e a d . c o m • Dr i v e r s  re c e i v e d  a  sp e c i a l  in v i t a t i o n   to  an  ex c l u s i v e  co c k t a i l  pa r t y  at  Mo n t a u k   al o n g   wi t h  sp e c i a l t y   di s c o u n t  ca r d s  at  lo c a l  Li o n s h e a d  re t a i l e r s . Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 To p l i n e M a r k e t i n g E f f o r t s Va i l  Da i l y  Ad s  & CO  Gr a n d  Br a n d i n g 13 Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Co m m u n i t y C o n t r i b u t i o n 13 Th e  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  is  an  ev e n t  th a t  si g n i f i c a n t l y  im p a c t s  ou r  lo c a l  co m m u n i t y .  No t  only  is   th e  Co l o r a d o G r a n d  a  no n ‐pr o f i t  ev e n t ,  it  al s o  do n a t e s  he a v i l y  to  th e  lo c a l  Va i l  co m m u n i t y  by   pr o v i d i n g  op p o r t u n i t y  th r o u g h  sc h o l a r s h i p  fu n d i n g  fo r  a  lo c a l  Va i l  St u d e n t .  We  al s o  re c e i v e d  a   gr e a t  am o u n t  of  su p p o r t   fr o m  lo c a l  bu s i n e s s e s   in c l u d i n g  se v e r a l  me r c h a n t s  wh o  do n a t e d   si g n i f i c a n t  gi f t s  of  hi g h  va l u e  to  th e  ch a r i t y   au c t i o n .    Th e  lo c a l  co m m u n i t y  tr u l y  he l p e d  to   sh o w  th e i r  su p p o r t  by  jo i n i n g  us  fo r  ou r  tw o ‐da y  ev e n t  in  Va i l . Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Su s t a i n a b i l i t y E f f o r t s Gr e e n M e a s u r e s 14 • Re c y c l e d  oi l  pa n s  fr o m  la s t  ye a r  we r e  us e d  to  he l p   ke e p  Va i l  st r e e t s  cl e a n  fr o m  oi l  an d  gr e a s e • Bo o k l e t s  we r e  pr i n t e d  us i n g  re c y c l e d  pa p e r • No  fo o d  an d  dr i n k s  we r e  pr o v i d e d  by  th e  ev e n t ,  bu t   vo l u n t e e r s  co m b e d  th e  st r e e t s  fo r  li t t e r ,  em p t y  wa t e r   bo t t l e s ,  et c  th r o u g h o u t  th e  du r a t i o n  of  th e  ev e n t • Ve h i c l e s  we r e  no t  al l o w e d  to  be  on  du r i n g  th e  ev e n t   to  ke e p  th e  ca r b o n  le v e l s  lo w  an d  th e  to w n  sm e l l  fr e e Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Ad d i t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n 15 • 20 1 5  LH M A  an d  Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  De t a i l e d  Bu d g e t  at t a c h e d • Pr e s s  Re l e a s e  At t a c h e d • Ar t i c l e s  at t a c h e d • Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  in  Li o n s h e a d  –V a i l  Da i l y  Ca l e n d a r  of  Ev e n t s • Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  Fi n i s h  Li n e  Ce l e b r a t i o n  ‐ Va i l  Da i l y  Hi g h  Li f e  Ca l e n d a r • Vi n t a g e  Ca r s  Ru m b l e ,  Ro a r  in t o  Li o n s h e a d  – Va i l  Da i l y • On l i n e • Lu x u r y  Ca r  Co l l e c t o r  En t h u s i a s t s  Un i t e  fo r  Ch a r i t y  in  Va i l ,  Co l o r a d o  – Co l d w e l l  Ba n k e r  Bl u e  Ma t t e r  Bl o g • Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d  dr i v e r s  en d  1, 0 0 0  mi l e  jo u r n e y  in  Li o n s h e a d  Vi l l a g e ,  Va i l  – Va i l  Da i l y Co l o r a d o  Gr a n d    |   CS E    |   11 / 4 / 1 5 Colorado Grand 2015 Budget Lionshead Activation Revenues: Vail CSE Contribution $10,000.00 Other Sponsors/Contributions: Jacques Lazier/Business Sponsors $1,000.00 CO Grand Board/LH Contribution $167.88 Total Revenues: $11,167.88 Expenses: Advertising Brochures/Programs $4,500.00 Newspaper $1,000.00 Television $1,000.00 Total Advertising Expense: $6,500.00 Driver Welcome Bags Total: $997.35 Staff and Administration Coordinator $1,500.00 Volunteer Gift Cards In‐Kind Staff and Administration Total: $1,500.00 Music/Entertainment Music (Band, AV Equip Rental) $950.00 MC $150.00 Kids Zone $1,000.00 Total Music/Entertainment Expense: $2,100.00 Miscellaneous Operational Expense: $70.53 Total Expenses: $11,167.88 Net Income/Loss:$0.00 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Molly Middleton Tel. (970) 845-7196 Email: molly@group970.com LIONSHEAD VILLAGE TO RUMBLE AND ROAR WITH THE RETURN OF THE COLORADO GRAND! September 14 th – 19 th marks the return of the Colorado Grand as drivers arrive with their vintage and historic racing and sports cars, reuniting in Lionshead to celebrate the 27 th annual Colorado Grand. Vail Valley, Co. – Lionshead is the place to be this Friday afternoon as close to 100 Grand participants will roll in with their vintage cars, cruising by local shops and restaurants as they make their victory lap through the Lionshead Village. Friday’s finish line event will mark the end of their four day, 1000 mile journey through beautiful Colorado as they traveled through areas such as Steamboat, Walden, and Grand Junction. The event, which begins and ends in Vail, features an array of truly unique vintage racing and sports cars, the likes of pre 1960’s Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris and Jaguars, and attracts entrants from all around the world. Since its start in 1989 as a charitable event, the Colorado Grand has donated more than 4.5 million dollars to worthy Colorado charities and communities. In addition to these deserving organizations, the event also awards an $8000 college scholarship to a graduating high-school senior in each of the towns that host their lunch stops along their four day journey. The generous donations are made possible by the events’ participants and sponsors who choose to return year after year to enjoy scenic routes, new friends and contributing to a good cause. To cap off the events’ final weekend in style, a Finish Line Celebration Friday afternoon as well as a Concours D’Non Elegance Saturday morning have been arranged. Upon returning to the Vail Valley on Friday, September 18 th , the Grand participants will take their vintage cars across the finish line at the Lionshead Archway, before completeing a victory lap through Lionshead Village. One can expect cars to filter in throughout the afternoon into the evening, starting at about 3:30 pm. The opportunity to celebrate with the drivers and their automobiles in Lionshead is provided as they stroll through the Village before resting their pride and joy for the evening. Celebrations will then continue to take place throughout all of Lionshead restaurants and decks with Colorado Grand specials provided throughout the weekend. Saturday, September 19 th , will bring the exceptional exhibit of these automobiles with the Concours D’Non Elegance. The Grand continues from 9 am – 12 pm as the vintage cars line the streets of Lionshead. This provides spectators the rare opportunity to view these special cars up close and personal exactly as they appeared upon returning from their arduous trek through the high country. In addition to this sight for the eyes, there will also be live music for the ears and an automobile station set for the kids, an activity to please just about everyone in the family! If you’d like to learn more on the Colorado Grand please visit CO1000.com. For further information on the festivities in Lionshead this weekend please contact Molly Middleton at molly@group970.com . # # #