More than 3000 people attended the first edition of the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance at the O'Donnell Golf Course on March 1, 2008 and the Italian marques were well represented including Alfa Romeo (top) which will be featured this year.

Last year's inaugural Palm Springs Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance saw Maserati being honoured as the featured marque and there will be even more glamorous Italian flavour for the second edition of the prestigious next month with Alfa Romeo set to take centre stage. The second annual event will once again be held at the historic O'Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs.

"We believe our partnership with the O'Donnell Golf Club is ideal," said Paul Merrigan, event founder and organizer. "The picturesque green in downtown Palm Springs is the perfect location for the beautiful, true classic automobiles that will be gathered for this rare display."

The collection of more than 100 domestic and foreign museum-quality cars is expected to draw more than 7500 spectators from around the world to the event. Awards will be presented to at least 30 automobiles in 14 categories.

The featured marque of the 2009 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance is Alfa Romeo, with early participants from the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club, Ferrari Owners' Club and Porsche Owners' Club. In addition, as a special tribute to the late Robert Pond, co-founder of the Palm Springs Air Museum, noted aviator and car collector, an array of his most noteworthy automobiles will join this year's Concours, some on public display for the very first time. Also planned for this year's Concours, which will again focus greatly on premier racing cars, is a selection of Dan Gurney's winning Eagles.

More than 3000 people attended the first edition of the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance at the O'Donnell Golf Course on March 1, 2008. More than 100 exquisite automobiles were exhibited, most competing for 36 awards judged by automotive authorities, including Senior Judge Bill Krause, legendary sports car driver. Ed Justice Jr., Voice of Road and Track Speed Radio and President of Justice Brothers Inc. who served as Co-Master of Ceremonies. Michael Lynch, author, founder of the Carmel Concours with long time involvement in the Pebble Beach and The Quail Show, was the other Co-Master of Ceremonies. General Richard Wilmot (US Army ret.) served as Grand Marshall. The featured marque of last year's Concours was Maserati. The event spotlighted sports racing cars including many Ferraris and Maseratis. Both European and American classics were represented by the finest automobile makers. Interesting thematic Corrals, as well as the first Ferrari ever built, Chassis Number 01C, making its first-ever western United States appearance, were also draws to last year's event that received international attention.

The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance is a non-profit corporation. Proceeds benefit Coachella Valley charities including Animal Samaritans, the Palm Springs Police Department's Mounted Enforcement Unit, Angel Light Academy and area cancer research and treatment organisations.