Preparations for the Pebble Beach Concours are a year-long process and start the day after the Best of Show has been crowned. The organizers are working hard to make next year's show one of the best ever, and have already announced that Bugatti and Bentley will be the featured marques, with Zagato designs, and the 100th anniversary of Morgan and Audi also highlighted. Bugatti was last featured in 2003 and has the largest number of best of show winners of any make, with a total of nine. Entry forms were mailed out a few months early in an effort to bring out the best field of cars possible, and if history is anything to go by, the selection of cars will be nothing less than impressive. Full details in the press release after the jump.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2008) – The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is already accepting entry applications for the 59th annual show to be held on Sunday, August 16, 2009. Entry forms were mailed out last week, and all completed forms are due back to the Concours by January 7, 2009 - two full months earlier than in previous years.

"The earlier time frame allows our Selection Committee to put together the very best field," says Concours Chairman Sandra Kasky Button. "By verifying and then confirming our field of entries as soon as possible, it will also be easier for our entrants – especially those outside the United States – to fully prepare and ship their vehicles. The number of applicants and participants from outside the United States continues to increase demonstrating that the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance has truly become 'the world's concours,' and we want to provide everybody with the time they need to get ready for this great competition."

Entry forms were mailed to past participants and interested enthusiasts who had previously requested them. Other car collectors interested in receiving an application are invited to send an email describing their car to Entrant Relations Manager Sean Jacobs at sjacobs@pebblebeachconcours.net. Most entrants will be notified in early spring if their cars were accepted or declined, with the balance of entries notified soon thereafter.

Bugatti and Bentley will be the featured marques for the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Concours will also celebrate the centennials of Morgan and Audi and will highlight the designs of Zagato. The complete list of show classes and additional entrant information are available online at
www.pebblebeachconcours.net/pages/3008/entrant_info.htm.

Here's the schedule for 2009 Pebble Beach Automotive Week events:
– Sunday, August 16
- Monday, August 3 through Wednesday, August 12
– Thursday, August 13
– Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16
– Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16

First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® (www.pebblebeachconcours.net) has grown to become the world's premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and connoisseurs of art and style flock to see these masterpieces. Charitable donations raised by the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® now total over $11 million. Related events include the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance™ presented by Rolex, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, and the Pebble Beach® Auction presented by Gooding & Company.

Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance™, and Pebble Beach RetroAuto™ are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.

Pebble Beach Company, headquartered in Pebble Beach, Calif., owns and operates the world-famous Pebble Beach Resorts®, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ and Casa Palmero®. The company also operates four renowned golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Spyglass Hill® Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay™ and Del Monte™ Golf Course. Its other famed properties include the scenic 17-Mile Drive® and The Spa at Pebble Beach™. In addition to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®, Pebble Beach Resorts® annually hosts the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, The Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational. Pebble Beach Golf Links® has hosted four U.S. Opens, four U.S. Amateurs, one PGA Championship, and will host its fifth U.S. Open in 2010. For reservations or more information please call (800) 654-9300 or visit the Website at www.pebblebeach.com.

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