Canada’s most prestigious automotive event is set to rev up this weekend as the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Motoring Festival returns to the shores of Georgian Bay from Sept. 12 to 14 — and this year, Bill Gates’ world-famous Porsche 959 will be stealing the spotlight.
The festival, held at the stunning Cobble Beach Resort in Kemble, is expected to draw between 5,000 and 8,000 visitors eager to see over 100 meticulously restored collector cars. Often compared to California’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this Canadian counterpart has become a must-attend event for car enthusiasts across the country.
Bill Gates’ Porsche 959 has a fascinating backstory. The tech billionaire’s 1988 model was once seized by U.S. customs and kept in storage for 13 years, until Gates successfully lobbied for the creation of the “Show or Display” exemption, which allows special vehicles of historic significance to be imported and driven under limited conditions.
Beyond Gates’ iconic Porsche, this year’s event will feature rare GM concept cars that paved the way for legendary Chevrolet Corvettes, as well as the quirky “Concours d’Lemons” in downtown Owen Sound — a tongue-in-cheek celebration of hilariously terrible cars. The weekend also includes a Cars & Coffee meet-up, scenic drives, and the main showcase on the resort’s 18th fairway Sunday.
Since its inception in 2013, the event has raised over $1.1 million for the Brightshores Health System Owen Sound Foundation and Toronto’s Sunnybrook Foundation. Tickets and full schedules are available online or at the gate.