Based in East Sacramento CA since 2014.
Sierra Blue's studio is located in East Sacramento, a neighborhood rich with architecural history. A few weeks ago, I came across a call for volunteers to help with the 47th Annual Home Tour which happens to be in East Sacramento this year.
would be akin to calling the World Series just a baseball game. The “Concours,” is the premier “Woody,” event in North America with a history rooted back to 1890 when wooden steamships transported timber for the Comstock Lode’s mines. But the history of “Concours d’Elegance,” goes back even further.
Concours d’Elégance, French for a “competition of elegance”, is a well-known term and event dating back to 17th century France when aristocrats paraded their horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. Over time, carriages became horseless, and Concours d’Elégances became renowned competitions among the owners of fine and collectible automobiles. ~ deRivaz & Ives, July 25, 2022. (https://magazine.derivaz-ives.com/a-look-back-at-the-first-concours-delegance-at-dinard/)
Established in 1925, the Tahoe Power Boat Club, now the Tahoe Yacht Club, was managed by Edwin Letts Oliver of San Francisco. (https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/edwin-letts-oliver). Its first “base camp,” was the Ehrman Family’s grounds, known today as Sugar Pine State Park in Tahoma with a small pier just large enough to accommodate 2 large Gar Woods. Spontaneous regattas began drawing large crowds. Contests began. In 1972, the inaugural Tahoe Concours was born at Chamber’s Landing.
“Burnished mahogany hulls appointed with gleaming chrome became the "must-have" status symbol for the social elite, and several boat dealerships including Chris Craft, Gar Wood, and Century established a brisk trade along the shores of Tahoe.”
~ Tahoe Yacht Club, https://www.tahoeyc.com/Default.aspx?p=dynamicmodule&pageid=58&ssid=100063&vnf=1
Today, the Concours includes some sixty vessels in various categories that meet rigorous standards. This year's illustrious competition celebrates 49 years with the exception of a few years skipped.
1932 Hackercraft, runabout
The first organized show began at Chamber’s Landing in Homewood, moved to the Tahoe Boat Company in Tahoe City, the Sierra Boat Company in Carnelian Bay, and since 2014, Obexer’s - tucked between Homewood and Tahoma. Obexer’s is also Lake Tahoe’s first wooden boat dealership with roots in Lake Tahoe going back to 1911. (Read the official history here).
The judges are experts and understand every part of every vessel based on year and model. Only entries exhibiting perfection are eligible for a trophy. They review everything from upholstery, paint, plating, and mechanical restoration to ensure that they meet or exceed the standards of the boat when it was new. After-market parts or even parts from a different year aren't allowed, not even to replace broken pieces on entries. This is truly the gold standard of boat competitions.
Over the course of its 49-year legacy, the Concours has meticulously created a 100-point judging system and expanded its exhibitor showcase to include Italian Rivas, wood-deck flatbottom go-fast boats, and classic fiberglass boats. But it’s the Marque Class that holds center court.
Roar-Off at Olson Bridge
Each show is crafted to draw a distinct group of boats with a celebration of a different Marque Class each year. The move to Obexer’s Boat Company established a now iconic tradition – the Roar-Off under the Olson Bridge. In just the past few years, the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance has added an intimate tour of the exhibitor boats with past Chief Judge, Terry Fiest. This year's Chief Judge is "young gun," Brian Robinson.
The legacy of Sugar Pine not only includes the first Tahoe Yacht Club locale, but the 1960 Winter Olympics. I called an old friend and neighbor; I knew he'd be up on the West Shore and he was.
I asked, “Hey, are you related to Ed Z’berg?”
Matthew responded, “That’s my grandfather.”
It’s mind-boggling how the roots of this area, planted nearly 100 years ago, continue to thrive and pass down traditions through generations. Mr. Edwin Z’berg served in the US Navy during WWII, and then in the California State Assembly in Sacramento’s 9th Assembly District where he lead the fight to protect Lake Tahoe and establish the Tahoe Area Regional Planning Agency. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_L._Z%27berg
Author's note:
Many people pshaw these kinds of events and lifestyles, presuming that they're only for the very wealthy. I can personally attest that this is not true. Some people visit Tahoe and stay in the tourist lane and yes, many wealthy families live this lifestyle, but many hard-working blue-collar men sacrificed much to make a life for their families and future generations in Lake Tahoe. I personally know of several families that made this commitment. One example is a winner of 3 Concourses, pictured below. Mr. Wagner was a contractor with four loves: his family, his cars, his boat, and Lake Tahoe. The vessel, Pure Heaven, a 1962 Sanger ski/race boat, is pictured below and was used on countless mornings on the West Shore morning glass. Hilary and her father skied on Maharajas one even embossed with "TAHOE," upon it.
The Concours Foundation has awarded more $410,000 in grants to various maritime-related, charitable, and cultural organizations.
Daryl and Hilary Wagner preparing for showtime at the Concours.
August 11th, 2023
10:00am – 4:30pm
Presented by Nevada City Winery
11:00am - 4:00pm (separate ticket required)
6:00pm (reservations required)
August 12th, 2023
8:30am
9:00am – 4:30pm
Presented by Nevada City Winery
11:00am - 4:00pm (separate ticket required)
4:00pm (separate ticket required)
About the writer.CT Perez owns a digital media studio, Sierra Blue, based in Sacramento since 2014.
His partner, Hilary Wagner and her father, Daryl, took several trophies at The Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance, including 1st Place in Open Class (2006) for their vessel, Pure Heaven (1962, 18.3' Sanger Ski/Race Boat).
CT began working in in marketing in South Lake Tahoe for Ceasar's and then Mont Bleu.
In 2007 he found his passion working and spending time in North Lake Tahoe and currently works with the North Lake Tahoe Snowfest as a digital media and advertising consultant where he acquired a $120,000 Google Grant to expand their outreach to a national audience. Pictured left: CT and Hilary Wagner aboard their sailboat, CORAZÓN in Oakland. CT is wearing his prized swim cap from Garwood's Polar Bear Race. CT has been a Google Partner since 2014, and continues help businesses and nonprofits grow around Lake Tahoe and nationwide.
Sierra Blue presents a new interactive Google Map to help people figure out where they might want to stay when visiting North Lake Tahoe.
The recent renaissance of sorts in the lodging property space around Lake Tahoe has been big news for a few yaers. From the recent purchase of the old run-down Biltmore up in Crystal Bay by by Hilton, slated to become the Waldorf Austoria Lake Tahoe to the family owned Ferrari Crown and the old Cal-Neva, it seems things are evolving in the right direction.
The global electric vehicle market is heating up and China wants to dominate. The country has invested at least $60 billion to support the EV industry, and it’s pushing an ambitious plan to transition to all electric or hybrid cars by 2035.
Tesla entered the Chinese market in 2019 and has seen rapid growth. In the U.S., Tesla dominates the conversation around electric vehicles, but in Europe, it’s a different story. Germany-based Volkswagen Group has risen from the ashes of its 2015 emissions scandal to become the EV market leader in Europe, where it has an edge thanks to local manufacturing, brand familiarity, and cheaper price points. But whether Volkswagen can broaden its appeal to become the global EV leader remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, electric vehicle infrastructure in the U.S. grows at a rapid pace. San Francisco-based Ample has brought electric vehicle battery swapping to America. The company was in stealth mode for seven years before launching recently with five swapping stations in the Bay Area. The concept isn’t new.
A start-up called Better Place launched an EV and battery swapping company after it raised $850 million in venture funding, but it ultimately went bankrupt in 2013. Tesla also demoed battery swapping in 2013 but only opened one station for about a year. Elon Musk said Tesla owners were not interested in it. Battery swapping is already common in China. Electric vehicle maker Nio, for example, plans to double its network of swapping stations to 500 this year and plans to open stations in Norway as part of its expansion into Europe.
SEGMENTS:
00:00 Why China Is Beating The U.S. In Electric Vehicles
17:46 Why Volkswagen Is Beating Tesla In Europe
31:44 Can EV Battery Swapping Take Off In The U.S.?
For Immediate Release: December 14, 2022
Largest ever funding plan focuses on charging and refueling for clean trucks and buses
SACRAMENTO – The California Energy Commission (CEC) today approved an unprecedented $2.9 billion investment plan that accelerates California’s 2025 electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling goals. The funds will support the deployment of thousands of zero-emission trucks, school buses and transit buses to deliver clean air benefits to communities hit hardest by the impacts of pollution from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.