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It’s gone viral... coronavirus-affected event update

It’s gone viral... coronavirus-affected event update 20th March 2020

With the news just out that this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has been postponed to 16-18 October 2020, here’s the latest state of play in what is normally a busy time for events pre-Monterey Week.

As the global situation changes daily, do check with organisers before making irreversible travel plans but these are the dates immediately affected by the global pandemic of COVID-19.

RM Sotheby’s auction at Techno-Classica Essen

The Canadians have already announced that their late-March Essen sale will be rescheduled to 24-27 June, assuming the main Techno-Classica actually takes place then. At the time of writing, RM’s 1 May Elkhart Collection auction is going ahead. Auburn Spring has been cancelled.

See rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/es20
See rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20

78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting

The annual informal race meeting, scheduled for 28-29 March, has been postponed. In a message on the Goodwood website, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon stated, “We are currently exploring potential alternative dates with all relevant parties and I would like to reassure you that your ticket will remain valid for the new date.”

See goodwood.com/motorsport/members-meeting

Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting

The intention is to run the sale in ‘real time’ but as a closed event, starting at 1pm on Sunday 29 March with James Knight on the rostrum as auctioneer. There will be no admittance for the general public and the sale will operate with increased capacity for telephone, online and absentee bidding only.

Lots will be available to view strictly by appointment only at Goodwood over the weekend of 28-29 March and the sale will be live-streamed – with extra capacity for online and telephone bidding – on the Bonhams and Goodwood Road Racing websites.

If in doubt, email ukcars@bonhams.com or call +44 (0)20 7468 5801.

See bonhams.com/auctions/26110

UPDATE 23 March: The sale has been cancelled, all lots to be offered as Private Treaty Sales.

Gooding Passion of a Lifetime auction

Californian saleroom Gooding & Co’s first-ever European auction, in London on 1 April for cars from the collection of Hubert Fabri, has been postponed until further notice.

See goodingco.com/auction/passion-of-a-lifetime-2020

Tour Auto Optic 2ooo

Tearing around the French countryside in a barely road-legal racing car has been put back this year until 31 August. The event will run to 5 September and its programme, duration and route (towns, circuits, special stages) remain unchanged.

See peterauto.peter.fr/en/tour-auto-2020-2

Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

In line with the cancellation of the May Monaco GP, the biennial historic event held on the streets of the principality will “under no circumstances” take place this year. That’s told us.

RM Sotheby’s has already cancelled its planned Monaco sale and we expect Bonhams to follow suit.

See acm.mc/en/edition/grand-prix-de-monaco-historique-edition-2020
See rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mc20
See bonhams.com/auctions/26125

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

The intended early May date for this year’s Concorso has been cancelled. BMW Classic and the organisers of probably the world’s most stylish concours have rebooked the glamorous lakeside luxury hotel for the long weekend of 16-18 October.

See concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com

Mille Miglia

Forever a May ‘must-do’, the dates for the annual Mille Miglia retrospective have been rescheduled for 22-25 October 2020.

See 1000miglia.it

That’s it so far. While June’s Le Mans 24 Hours has been postponed until 19-20 September, the Le Mans Classic is currently still scheduled to go ahead on 2-5 July, as is the Goodwood Festival of Speed (9-12 July), along with their associated auctions.

So, pull up a chair, pour yourself a strong drink and, finally, get round to enjoying those books you’ve long been wanting to read – a great suggestion from Mark Hyman today that we’ll return to on K500. Or even write a book, perhaps… whatever, expect K500 to be your companion and constant hotline to the world of collectable cars.

And most of all, wherever you are, stay safe.

From the Kidston team.

Photo by K500