The 2012 Colorado Grand

February 29, 2012 by co1000.com

Mark your calendar! The dates for the 2012 event are September 10, to September 15, 2012.

In its twenty fourth year, this remarkable event has continued to provide help for Colorado Charities. To date, the event has contributed more than $3 million dollars.

The Colorado Grand is an annual charity tour for 1960 and earlier sports and race cars of distinction. The event was founded in 1989 by Englewood automotive enthusiast Bob Sutherland. Every September at the peak of the fall color season approximately 85 vintage cars are driven in this relaxed, non-competitive event, covering 1,000 miles through the Rockies in five days.

The tour attracts entrants from around the world and always includes several 1920's and 1930's cars. Typical makes include Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Maserati, Allard, and such exotic names as Amilcar, Cisitalia, Squire, Delahaye, and Talbot-Lago.

The Colorado Grand currently generates about $200,000 annually for small Colorado charities and Western Slope towns as well as college scholarships to graduating high-school seniors in those towns. Current charities include the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation, the Robert Sutherland Foundation, Flight for Life, CASA, and medical facilities in small towns. Cumulative donations since 1989 are over $3 million.

The event is run with the cooperation of the Colorado State Patrol and in towns where we have lunch-such as Lake City, Walden, Paonia, Salida, Ridgway, Hotchkiss, and Meeker, spectators are invited to see the cars and meet their owners. The 2012 event will run from September 10 to September 15 starting and finishing in Vail, Colorado. Admission is free for the 'Concours d'Non Elegance'.

Major sponsors include Mercedes-Benz, Chopard, Hyde Park Jewelers, Hagerty Insurance, Greenberg Traurig law firm, RM Auctions and Passport Transport.