The annual Kirkland Concours d’Elegance event that has drawn thousands of car enthusiasts to Carillon Point’s waterfront over the past nine years is moving to Tacoma.

The all-volunteer Concours board agreed to legally transfer ownership to the non-profit LeMay–America’s Car Museum (ACM) in Tacoma after the event that was held earlier this month in Kirkland.

City and business officials expressed their disappoint with the decision.

“I’m so sad,” said Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride. “I think what strikes me the most is the Concours is such an elegant event and Carillon Point is such an elegant venue – it was very fitting.”

Bill Vadino, the executive director of the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, said, “Of course, we’re disappointed, but let’s celebrate the legacy of nine years of this event that has raised approximately $1.5 million for the hospitals.” Seattle Children’s Hospital will remain a primary beneficiary of proceeds from the event.

The transfer will also be a loss for younger car aficionados. Dozens of Lake Washington School District students have served as event judges over the years, learning judging etiquette and what characteristics to look for when judging: originality, rarity, history, design and beauty.

Concours chairman Jeff Clark said the new partnership with ACM gives the car show a “home that’s at the heart of the collector car community in the U.S.,” he said in a press release. “As a board, our goal has always been to insure the long-term viability and significance of the Kirkland Concours.”

The board will remain as a working Founders’ Committee to help with the transition and production at the new location, Clark noted.

“This will provide continuity and help retain the high caliber sponsors, judges and participants the Kirkland Concours is known for,” added Clark.

Phil Smart, a Mercedes-Benz dealer in Seattle, has also agreed to remain as title sponsor of the event.

Starting in 2012, ACM will oversee the production, planning and administration of the non-profit Kirkland Concours d’Elegance. The “Phil Smart Kirkland Concours d’Elegance, presented by America’s Car Museum” will take place Sept. 9, 2012 at ACM’s Haub Family Field in Tacoma.

The 3.5-acre show field has ample room to accommodate all of the Concours’ classic coupes, sedans and sports cars.

Scot Keller, chief marketing communications officer for ACM, said the museum has long been a supporter of the Concours as an event sponsor.

“Our CEO and museum have been involved with the board for years. The founding members of the Concours are all people we know well and have great relationships with,” said Keller. “We’ve been very interested in supporting the event and had a vision for continuing to help it grow.”

The event will also become a signature event for the museum, said David Madeira, president and CEO of ACM, the Tacoma automotive museum that will open its nine-acre campus in June 2012.

“The Kirkland Concours ranks among the top five Concours in the nation and has become the premier event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest,” said Madeira in a press release, adding, “I salute Tom Armstrong, Jeff Clark, Peter Hageman, Marc Nowak and the rest of the Concours board for having faith in ACM to assume stewardship of this fabulous event that is known by car collectors around the world.”

For more information about ACM, visit www.lemaymuseum.org.