The Class Host at a Concours d’Elegance by Mike Thies

The Person Who Keeps the Field Working

A Concours d’Elegance may look simple from the outside: beautiful cars, polished chrome, fresh grass, well-dressed owners, judges with clipboards, and spectators enjoying the day. But anyone who has worked behind the scenes knows better. A good concours does not happen by accident. It takes planning, discipline, and a strong team of volunteers who understand both cars and people.

One of the most important volunteer positions on the field is the class host. Some events call this person a class captain, class steward, or field marshal. Whatever the title, the job is the same: make sure one assigned class of cars runs smoothly from early morning staging through final awards.

The class host is not just a traffic director. A good host is part concierge, part diplomat, part field manager, and part ambassador for the event. When done well, the role is almost invisible. The entrants are comfortable, the judges stay on schedule, the cars are protected, and the show feels organized. When done poorly, everyone notices.

The First Welcome Matters

The class host’s day usually begins before the public arrives. Cars are coming onto the field, owners are looking for their assigned spots, trailers are being moved, and last-minute questions are flying. This is where the host sets the tone.

A good host greets each entrant warmly, confirms they are in the right class, helps position the car correctly, and makes sure the owner has whatever materials the event is providing. That may include programs, dash plaques, judging information, entrant gifts, or instructions for the day.

This early welcome matters more than many people realize. Most entrants have spent days, weeks, or even months preparing their cars. Some have traveled a long distance. Some are showing a car that has been in their family for decades. Others are presenting a fresh restoration or a rare automobile that draws real attention. A calm, organized, and friendly host immediately tells the owner, “You and your car are in good hands.”

Helping the Judges Do Their Job

During judging, the class host becomes a key part of the process. The host helps introduce the judges to the entrants, keeps the cars in the proper order, makes sure owners are present when needed, and helps the judging team move efficiently from one car to the next.

This does not mean the host judges the cars. The host should stay neutral. But the host can make judging better by keeping the process orderly and respectful. If an owner needs to open the hood, start the engine, show documentation, or demonstrate a feature, the host helps make sure that happens without delay or confusion.

Judging can be tense. Owners care deeply about their cars. Judges are trying to be fair, accurate, and consistent. A good class host keeps the atmosphere professional. They help answer basic questions, smooth over misunderstandings, and keep the class moving without making anyone feel rushed or ignored.

The Host Protects the Experience

A concours entrant’s experience is shaped by many things: the quality of the field, the judges, the weather, the crowd, the awards, and the overall organization. But the class host is often the one person the entrant sees and relies on throughout the day.

That makes the host extremely important. Entrants are the lifeblood of any concours. Without their cars, there is no show. If they feel welcomed, respected, and well cared for, they are far more likely to return and to recommend the event to others. If they feel forgotten or poorly treated, they may not come back.

The host also protects the cars. Many vehicles on a concours field are rare, fragile, valuable, or irreplaceable. A host who watches crowd movement, notices hazards, prevents accidental contact, and reports safety concerns is doing more than providing hospitality. They are helping protect history.

The Host Also Represents the Event

To the entrant and the public, the class host often becomes the face of the concours. Their attitude reflects directly on the event. A polished, helpful, knowledgeable host makes the entire concours feel more professional. A disorganized or indifferent host can undo months of planning.

The best class hosts are not necessarily the biggest experts in the class. Expertise helps, but temperament matters just as much. A host needs patience, good judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm when the schedule slips, a car will not start, or an owner becomes anxious.

A good host likes cars, but also likes people. That combination is essential.

Training Makes the Difference

Class hosts should not be left to figure it out on the morning of the show. The position is too important. A concours should give its hosts clear training, a written checklist, and a simple chain of command.

Hosts should know the schedule, field layout, emergency contacts, judging sequence, awards procedure, and basic expectations for their class. They should understand where restrooms, water, first aid, and event officials are located. They should also know who to contact if there is a medical issue, a damaged vehicle, a dispute, or a safety problem.

It also helps to brief each host on the cars in their class. They do not need to be a marque historian, but they should know enough to speak intelligently with entrants and spectators. A class of prewar cars may have different needs than a group of modern supercars. A brass-era car may require different starting procedures than a 1960s muscle car. A little preparation goes a long way.

Pairing a first-time host with an experienced host is one of the best training tools. No handbook can teach everything that happens on a concours field. Some of it is learned only by watching someone who has done it well.

What Makes a Great Class Host?

The best class hosts share a few common traits.

They are reliable. They arrive early, stay engaged, and do not disappear when they are needed.

They are composed. When something goes wrong, they do not add to the problem. They help solve it.

They are observant. They notice when an entrant needs water, when a spectator is too close to a car, when a judge is looking for an owner, or when a small issue could become a bigger one.

They are gracious. They understand that the day is not about them. Their job is to make the entrants, judges, cars, and event shine.

And finally, they have genuine enthusiasm. A concours is a serious event, but it should also be enjoyable. A host who brings warmth and energy to the field helps everyone have a better day.

The Bottom Line

The class host is one of the most valuable people on a concours field. The role blends hospitality, organization, diplomacy, safety, and stewardship. Done well, it helps the entire event run with grace and confidence.

A well-trained host does more than manage a row of cars. They help create the experience that entrants remember. They support fair and efficient judging. They protect valuable automobiles. They represent the standards and character of the concours itself.

For any concours that wants to grow in reputation and quality, investing in class hosts is not optional. It is one of the smartest things an event can do.