What began nearly a decade ago as a “car show for car guys by car guys,” has evolved over time to befit the title of the eighth annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. While the show continues to pay homage to its roots, those same passionate car guys have cleaned the grease from their fingernails and transformed into cigar- and champagne-wielding gentlemen donning bowties for this year’s world-class event. Each year, La Jolla’s signature car show has seen drastic improvements in quality — from its vendors and the festivities surrounding the event to the automobiles themselves, said Mike Dorvillier, chair of the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance committee. This year, La Jolla’s formerly dubbed Motor Car Classic has been elevated in title to reflect the high quality of the car show itself, as well as its growth into a full weekend of events that incorporates and promotes the entire community — including beneficiaries of the event, the La Jolla Historical Society and the Monarch School. “For the first seven years of its life, it’s been a very high-end event in a concours venue,” said Dorvillier, referring to the show’s location at the scenic Ellen Browning Scripps Park. “We’ve always had that, so I felt that it was due time for this event to rise to the status that this village deserves from the standpoint of quality.” At this year’s show, more than 150 of the finest automobiles — ranging from classics to sports cars and motorcycles to horseless carriages — will be competing in the concours, with an additional 75 automobiles on display at the car corral. In salute to the founding of the car show tradition, La Jolla Concours d’Elegance organizers decided to come full circle with this year’s theme by featuring Italian marques — the focus of the inaugural car show eight years ago. Seventy-five judges, led by chief judge Dr. Cy Conrad, will scrutinize every aspect of each car’s preservation, restoration, design, quality, care, cleanliness and authenticity to determine the top three cars in each competing class. Awards include best in show, excellence in design, a People’s Choice Award and a “Spirit of Motoring” award, among others. Honorary chief judge Ed Gilbertson, the longstanding chief judge at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will also select one winner for the Honorary Judge’s Award. In addition to proper judging and quality cars, La Jolla’s concours is about community, said Dorvillier. “It’s no longer just a car show in the park,” he said. “The La Jolla Village Merchants Association has been making this an event that really has the potential to reach out to the hotels [and] the merchants in the village.” Three days of featured events leading up to the car show on April 1 will ensure everyone in the family — not just the car guys — have something to enjoy. Events include book signings at Warwick’s, a free family movie in the park, a guided motor tour through San Diego and an evening VIP reception on the days preceding the show. The La Jolla Concours d’Elegance will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 1. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Children under the age of 14 are free. All proceeds will benefit the La Jolla Historical Society and the Monarch School. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.lajollaconcours.com or call (619) 233-5008. Concours events • Warwick’s, located at 7812 Girard Ave., will host a free book signing event with Linda Weldon, author of “Road Racing: Drivers of the 60s and 70s,” and Scott Jacobs, author of “The Art of Scott Jacobs: The Complete Works,” at 5:30 p.m. on March 30. For more information, visit www.warwicks.com or call (858) 454-0347. • Ultrastar Cinemas will feature the classic car film “Cannonball Run” at Ellen Browning Scripps Park on March 30 starting at 7 p.m. The family-friendly film screening and popcorn are free for all community members. • A guided motor tour will take off from the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park at 8 a.m. on March 31. The tour will cruise through 60 to 70 miles of San Diego’s scenic locations, including a stop at the Coronado Naval Base accompanied by the “Wolfpack” helicopter squadron, a visit to Chuck Spielman’s exclusive car museum “Only Yesterday,” lunch at the Grand Del Mar Resort and a champagne award reception at the La Jolla Country Club. The cost is $100 per driver and car and $50 for each additional passenger. Only 75 cars will be allowed entry on the tour. To register, visit www.lajollaconcours.com. • An evening VIP reception on March 31 will feature a silent auction, live music and complimentary food and beverages catered by local merchants, including La Valencia Hotel, George’s at the Cove, Eddie V’s and Whisknladle. VIP tickets are $100 and include one entry, access to the exclusive VIP area with complimentary food and beverages, and a commemorative program. To purchase tickets, visit www.lajollaconcours.com.