I met Bill Warner over an email discussing Garage Style Magazine covering his Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 2012. I was a little apprehensive meeting him, as he was a big shot Concours boss, and I was a tiny publisher of a tiny magazine. I had nothing to fear, right?
Bill got right to business connecting me with his media pro who arranged everything and then called me. The big shot Concours boss was calling on little ol’ me. With a soft, understated tone and a thick southern accent, Bill complimented Garage Style, me and my crew who brought it together. We talked about cars and racing, and Concours and publishing, and that’s when I learned how extremely multifaceted Bill was in the car world.
He was more than a Concours boss, he was a great car guy. He spent a lot of his prior years working for magazines, something that impressed me more than running the Concours. There was no ego, no falsities, he was just “car-guy Bill” putting on a show to benefit Hospice of North Florida among other beneficiaries.
When my friend, Tony, and I went to the Amelia Island Concours that year, Chevrolet hooked us up with a new, bright red Corvette Grand Sport. We were in a slice of heaven – a Vette, north Florida in early spring, the Concours, and spending time with Bill who, after the Concours, took us to many of his friend’s garages – I really wanted to photograph them all, but stupidly was so overwhelmed by his generosity and that of his friends, I couldn’t think straight.
We got to see the back room at Brumos! Unreal. Bill drove a C-Class Mercedes-Benz diesel at the time, a car that amounts to basically a German rest-of-world taxicab, and I’ll tell ya, he’s a race driver. I’m okay behind the wheel, but Bill in his taxi made effortless escapes from us through traffic as he simply left Tony, me and the mighty Corvette in the dust. Amazing driver.
Since then, I’ve considered him a very good friend. He’s one of the best humans on earth. And an awesome car guy. Enjoy his story! – Don Weberg, GSM Editor.
Tonight’s guest has been around automobiles his entire life. On weekends, he worked as a “gopher” for the dealership racing team and became enthralled with motor racing. His photographs and writing have appeared in Road & Track, Car and Driver, Autoweek, The Atlantic Monthly, Automobile, Automotor und Sport, Classic & Sportscar, Porsche Panorama, and Forza to mention a few.
He has competed in the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash known to many of us as just “The Cannonball Run” as well as the Firestone/Firehawk series, winning the IMSA Media Challenge (for racing journalists) in 1984-1986. And if that wasn’t enough he also restores and collects interesting cars.
Who exactly are we talking about? Acclaimed author, photographer, racer, car collector and all around petrol-head… none other than Bill Warner, who in 1996, also founded the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance near his home of Jacksonville, Florida.
In our discussion with Bill, we cover topics like:
Check out the follow-along notes, transcript and more details for this episode at GTM
- Let’s talk about Bill, the petrol-head, like many of us… you got your start in Volkswagens?
- Talk to us briefly about your book, The Other Side of the Fence. Were you a racer or a documentarian first?
- 1975 – the original Cannonball Run – what made you decide to take on that challenge? What was the experience like? What were some high/low points of that cross-country journey?
- In 1984 he entered the International Motorsports Association Firehawk Series – we interviewed Andy Pilgrim a while back, and if our chronologies align correctly you would have competed against him in the Firestone/Firehawk series, right?
- In the intro we talked about how you have a collection of “interesting cars” – let’s explore what’s in your stable?
- and much, much more!
A lifetime devoted to Motorsports and the Automotive Enthusiast world. Bill Warner has been around automobiles his whole life. If you want to learn more about Bill – pick up one of his book, or flip through copies of your favorite car magazines.
How do you sell a Concours? Easy!
During this episode we asked Bill about the process of building and then selling the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (now owned/operated by Hagerty, and known as “The Amelia”) with questions like:
- How do you go from Motorsports to Concours d’Elegance? What was the inspiration behind starting the Amelia Island Concours – known to many of us as “Motoring Event of the Year” – Give us the backstory/history of the Concours, its evolution and future.
- We understand how you can sell a car… but how do you sell a Concours?
Celebrating with Break/Fix guest Lyn St. James!
Bill has made friends with some fabulous people in the collector car and racing community. He even celebrated his birthday with Break/Fix guest Lyn St. James during the 2021 Amelia Island concours where her career and cars were celebrated at that event.
Biography of William (Bill) C. Warner
Born: 1943 | Education: BS Electrical Engineer, The Citadel, 1966 | Hometown; Jacksonville, Florida | Occupation: CEO, H.C. Warner, Inc. | Major (retired), Florida Air National Guard | Contributing Editor, Road & Track Magazine | Founder and Chairman, The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
Bill Warner has been around automobiles his whole life. As a teenager he worked at the local Volkswagen and imported car dealership in the parts department and driving the delivery truck. On weekends, he worked as a “gopher” for the dealership racing team and became enthralled with motor racing. Upon earning his degree in Electrical Engineering, he entered the family filter business and started work on the side for Sports Car Graphic Magazine. In 1971, he began his relationship with Road & Track Magazine which continues today. His photographs and writing have appeared in Road & Track, Car and Driver, Autoweek, The Atlantic Monthly, Automobile, Automotor und Sport, Classic & Sportscar, Porsche Panorama, and Forza to mention a few. His photography has won awards from The Los Angeles Art Directors, the Creative Arts Yearbook, and the Sports Car Club of America (Photographer of the Year 1970). His photos have been featured in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles as part of the 50th Anniversary of Ferrari and at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance, in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
In 1975, he teamed with Tom Nehl in a Porsche 911 to finish 14th in the third running of the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash (AKA The Cannonball run) and with English racing great, Innes Ireland; Can Am racer, George Drolsom; and sedan racer, Dick Starita, to finish 26th in the inaugural running of the Cannonball One Lap of America.
The One Lap was run in a Hertz-Unlimited Mileage Lincoln Town Car. Warner started racing in 1978 in a Brabham BT-8 and later in the SCCA in an ex-Bob Sharp Racing Datsun B210. He finished 5 th in the American Road Racing Amateur Championships at Road Atlanta in 1982 in Class GT-3 (having started in 22nd place). His drive earned him a nomination for the Mark Donohue Award.
In 1984 he entered the International Motorsports Association Firehawk Series in a Camaro and had top ten finishes at St. Louis and Sebring, top five finishes at Watkins Glen (twice), a 3rd at Road America, a 3rd at Lime Rock, Ct., and a win in the Escort Series at Mid-Ohio, all in Camaros. Warner won the IMSA Media Challenge (for racing journalists) in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He also drove in two “Longest Day of Nelson” in Ohio with Innes Ireland (1984) and Bob Akin (1983) in Jack Roush’ Fords. He participated as a driver in the SAAB World Speed Record Run at Talladega, Alabama in 1986. Warner has driven factory sponsored racer cars for Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Mercury, and Ford. He currently races the ex-Bob Tullius, Group 44 TR-8 Trans Am/IMSA car in vintage racing. He has been awarded the Skip Barber Cup (Lime Rock) and the John Kelly Trophy (Mid Ohio) for driving.
In addition to racing, he restores and collects interesting cars. Currently in his collection are a 1957 Cadillac El Dorado Biarritz, a 1958 Cadillac El Dorado Brougham, a 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 “Daytona”, a 1971 Porsche 911T (owned since new), a 1979 Mercedes Benz 450SL (Jane’s car), a 1928 Simplex Piston Ring Special, 1985 IROC Firehawk Camaro (one he drove to a 5th overall in the 24 Hours of Watkins Glen), a 1990 Pontiac 1LE Firebird (ex-Firehawk/Players car),1978 Bill Mitchell Special Vehicles Development Oldsmobile Omega, a 2005 Ford GT, and the previously mentioned Triumph race car. The centerpiece of his collection was Edsel Ford’s 1934 Ford Model 40 Special Speedster which he sold in 2008. Over the years he has restored a Brabham BT-8 (ex-Denny Hulme, Tourist Trophy winner), an Elva Mk 5, a Lotus 11 LeMans (ex-Innes Ireland), the Lang Cooper (nee Shelby King Cobra), a 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta (now in the General Motors Heritage Collection), a 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder, a 1954 Corvette, a 1955 Corvette, and a BMW M-1.
In 1996, he founded The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance near his home of Jacksonville, Florida. In the twenty-five year history of the show, it has raised over $ 3.7 million dollars for Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and the Shop with Cops Program of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County (FL). For his charitable work, he was recognized by The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville Frank Sherman Award; WTLV Channel 12 Philanthropic Award , Twelve Who Care Award; National Volunteer of the Year (1998)and the American Institute for Public Service, Thomas Jefferson Award.
- In 2002, he was recognized by a panel of automotive writers and journalists with the Meguiar’s Automobile Hobby Person of the Year. The ceremony was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, and was nationally televised. Other recipients of the Meguiar’s Award have been Jay Leno, the late Chip Miller of Carlisle Productions, and Steve Earle of the Monterey Historic Races.
- In 2003, he was inducted into the Road Racing Driver’s Club by British Racing Champion, Brian Redman and Indianapolis 500 winner, Bobby Rahal.
- In September of 2005, Warner was named to the Steering Committee of the LeMay Automotive Museum, Tacoma, Washington.
- In February 2006, The Federacion de Automovilismo de Puerto Rico recognized Bill and Jane for their contribution to the preservation of antique and classic cars.
- In July of 2008, Bill was named one of the “Top 50 Players in the Classic Car World” by Octane Magazine (UK) joining such automotive luminaries at Sir Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Jay Leno, American Formula 1 World Champion, Phil Hill and The Duke of Richmond.
- In October of 2008, Bill was awarded the Lee Iococca Award given as recognition for “Dedication to Excellence in Perpetuating an American Automotive Tradition”.
- In August of 2009, Bill was appointed to the Selection Committee of the Monterey Historic Races, Monterey, California.
- In 2011 he was asked to serve on the advisory board of the Friends of Harry Miller.
- In November of 2013, The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was awarded “Motoring Event of the Year” by Octane Magazine in ceremonies held at the Saint Pancras Hotel in London. This award represented worldwide recognition of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance as “Best of the Best”.
- In June of 2014, Hospice of North East Florida named their new care facility The Jane and Bill Warner Center for Caring, in Fernandina Beach, FL.
- In August of 2014, Bill was presented the President’s Cup for the Car of Most Historical Significance to Laguna Seca at the 2014 Rolex Monterey Historic Races.
- In November 2014, The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was once again nominated for the “Motoring Event of the Year” by Octane Magazine in London.
- On January 21, 2015, Bill was awarded the “Bob Akin Memorial Motorsports Award” from the Road Racing Driver’s Club. The award is presented by the late Bob Akin’s son, Bobby, to the individual who best mirrors the character of his father, including passion for motorsports and automobiles, a high level of sportsmanship and fair play, and who has contributed to the sport of motor racing.
- In May of 2015, Bill teamed with Frank Campanale of Detroit to compete in the 2015 Mille Miglia (in a Studebaker Golden Hawk). He has raced continuously in SCCA, IMSA, and various vintage events from coast-to-coast for 43 years.
He co-authored with Tom Cotter the book, Cuba’s Car Culture, that was released on September 15, 2016. The book was awarded a silver medal by the International Automotive Media Competition and is in its third printing. He is currently working on his second book, The Other Side of the Fence, 50 years of Motorsport Photography.
- In 2016, “The Amelia” became the only motoring event to win the coveted Octane Magazine award for “Motoring Event of the Year”. This award is for all motoring events worldwide.
- In 2016 he was awarded the Veterans of Influence Award by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The award recognizes veterans who have contributed to the Jacksonville community. The Antique Automobile Club of America awarded Bill the Winters Racing Award in ceremonies in Philadelphia.
- In 2017, he teamed with Paul Gould of New York City in Paul’s 1933 Alfa Romeo 1750 to compete once gain in the Mille Miglia (1000 miles of Italy).
- On September 8, 2018, he received the Nicola Bulgari Award for contributions to automotive history. The ceremony was held at America’s Car Museum, Tacoma, Washington.
- On September 27-30, he served as Honorary Co-Chairman of Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion along with Dr. Wolfgang Porsche at the WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California.
- In July of 2019, he received the Automobile Enthusiast of the Year Award at the Concours of America at St. Johns in Plymouth, Michigan.
- In 2020, Bill was named to the Board of Directors of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, Daytona Beach, Florida.
- In 2021, The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was awarded an Emmy for the made for television, NBCSN, special, “Winning Amelia”.
- In 2021, he published his second book, “The Other Side of the Fence” which is up for the 2021 nomination for the Motorsports Book of the Year in the UK.
- In August of 2021, Bill attempted (unsuccessfully) a 200 MPH + run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the Thacker and Shine Special.
- In August 2021, The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance made for television special won its second Emmy award.
- In November of 2021, he was honored at the Historic Motoring Awards ceremony in London sponsored by Octane Magazine with a Lifetime Achievement Award. It was the first time this award had been given.
- In March of 2022, he was named Chief Steward of the Rolex Historic Races, Monterey, California.
He has served as the Honorary Chief Judge at the Thousand Oaks Concours d’Elegance, Thousand Oaks, California, and Honorary Chairman of the EyesOn Design, Detroit, Michigan (2010), Honorary Chairman, The Elegance of Hershey (2017), Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Honorary Chairman , The Greenwich Concours, Greenwich, Connecticut (2017). He has served on judging teams at the Glenmoor Gathering (Ohio); The Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance; the Concours of America at St. Johns; The Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance; the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance (Philadelphia); The Hilton Head Concours; The Louis Vuitton Concours, New York City; Salon Privé (Blenheim Palace, UK) and the Keels and Wheels Concours d’Elegance (Seabrook, Texas).
Bill is recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Florida Service ribbon and served 30 years in the Florida Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Major.
His wife of fifty-five years, Jane, has patiently put up with his automotive mania with an understanding beyond reasonable expectations, as have his three children, son, Clay, and twin daughters, Demery Webber and Dana Shewmaker, and granddaughters, Lindsey Jane Webber, Mildred Huxley Warner, and Ruby Meeks Warner. This biographical information was provided by Bill Warner.
