Los Angeles Concours

The Inaugural Los Angeles Concours

The Inaugural Los Angeles Concours opened on Sunday, May 21, 2006, and was a resounding success with Exhibitors, sponsors and the public. The event was created by the Assistance League of Southern California, a well known and well respected charity, in operation since 1919.

This charity is particularly impressive because of it's efficiency - 92% of the funds received are used for the charitable work, which in the non-profit world is EXTREMELY high. Further, they help people who really need it. Among their many programs are help for needy kids with their school supplies, day care for needy kids ( so their parents can hold a job! ) and nutritional programs for senior citizens - a fancy way of saying they are feeding hungry people, with 7 on site dining facilities, as well as home meal delivery for seniors. For more information about the charity, or to donate, please click HERE

That's me, in front of the family's 1940 Packard by Bohman & Schwartz. At this point in the show, I was feeling a bit more relaxed - the field was full of great cars, the field layout looked great, and the sheer panic that I felt at 6 AM had receded.

The Exhibition committee - Wally Clark, Matthew Ettinger, Bob Hepler, Ray Hiland, Lynn Park, Bill Plunkett, Jerry Rosenstock, Earl Rubenstein, George Spears, Creighton Turner, and Committee Chairman Steve Snyder, had recruited some really top cars, and we had a great turnout that day ! That's Earl Rubenstein's Dual Cowl Packard in the background, and Robert Herron's Rollson bodied Packard to the right.

Here's a photo of the Nethercutt Museum's 1931 Bugatti Type 51, our Pre-war Best of Show winner. Look at how that car was mobbed with spectators.

Here are more spectators, they made a ring around the entire winners circle during the awards presentations.

KABC Talkradio not only was a sponsor of our show, but Leon "Motorman" Kaplan himself did a broadcast from our field. More detail is available at www.KABC.com

Sponsors and Promotional opportunities like this don't just happen by themselves - there were a very dedicated group of people on the concours committees. The advisory committee included everyone on the Exhibition committee, as well as Don Meder, Bruce Meyer, and Don Prieto.

The Full time volunteers within the Assistance league included Patricia Spears, ALSC President, Suzanne Kahane, concours Chairman, Dianne Hilty, Judy Kloner, and Linette Temple, Julie Jensen, Beverly Irwin, Audrey Fimpler, Alice Weston, Yvonne Cazier, Patricia Petro, Eric Ollenberg, Marlies Chalabi, Anne Page, Anne Salenger, George Spears, Jan Cobler, Linda Eng, Breck Rothage, Nancy Wallan, Wendy Overmire, Arlen O'Hara, and John Shiner.

A huge event like this can only happen with a deep roster of committed people, who use their talents and contacts and community relationships to make things happen.

Post-War Best of show winner, a 1949 Alfa-Romeo 6C 2500, owned by Timothy Walker. On our committee, we decided to have both Best of show Pre-war and best of show post-war, to allow both of the decidedly different eras to be highlighted. Chief Judge Jerry Rosenstock made sure that talented judges with the specific knowledge of their class were on the field.

Here's a nice clear shot of our Pre-war best of show winner, the Nethercutt Collection's 1931 Bugatti. this car is so pretty and the interior and engine bay have so many interesting visual details, that it's almost like looking at a fine watch movement.

We had both local and national media covering our event. Even the Mayor of Pasadena attended to address the show, which was held at the Brookside golf course / Rose bowl complex.

A very, very significant racecar, a ford GT40 Mk IV, similar to the type of car that won LeMans in 1967. Owned by Tom Malloy, a prominent race car collector. We wanted to have a race car display, as well as the traditional concours classes. Race car recruiter George Spears succeeded beyond our wildest imagination, bringing more than 30 wonderful and significant racecars to the field.

Here's Joyce and Clifford Gooding's beautiful 1932 Packard super 8 dual cowl phaeton. This car was originally owned by famous Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, and it was featured in the concours Program.

Here's Dr. Bob Hepler's 1927 Marmon Speedster - Beautifully restored, with wonderful period accessories such as the oval driving lights.

First place in his class was Ray Scherr's 1933 Stutz SuperBearcat.

John & Leslie Milliken's 1934 Packard Convertible sedan.

Aaron Weiss' 1933 Cadillac V-16 Convertible sedan, a Trophy winner in Class. Look at the proportions and styling on that car, it is just fabulous.

Look at the bumpers, the 4 curved bars, and the horns with concentric sound diffusers. Only the V-16's that year had these bumpers, and the wheel spinners, and the fender chrome spears. Even the hood ornament was unique to the V-16, with the updated goddess design.

Robert Ahmanson's 1932 Duesenberg model "J" by Willoughby. This is a good looking - and good RUNNING - car, and we were delighted that the Ahmansons could bring it out. You can tell how a Duesenberg runs by the exhaust note - a car that is all properly set up will have a medium pitched sound, with a very even and steady note. All 32 valves have to be adjusted right, otherwise it'll have an uneven exhaust note. This car sounds perfect when it's started!

Here is the Ahmanson's 1937 Cord Convertible coupe.

Dick Law's '33 Auburn V-12 Phaeton Sedan. Impeccably prepared, a beautiful car.

Rod Miller's 1931 Auburn Phaeton Sedan.

A beautiful Packard 180 Darrin, owned by Lloyd Cranford. A wonderful car, with the unusual factory runningboards, there are only a few Darrin's so equipped.

1937 Cord Phaeton, owned by Aaron Weiss, with a First place in Class win!

Elliot Jones' 1940 Lincoln Continental - First in Class, this is a really tough car to beat.

Bill Ahmanson's 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet, a beautiful car in wonderful period correct colors.

Stanley Zimmerman's 1936 Packard Phaeton, beautiful with exposed wire wheels and cormorant hood ornament.

Earl Rubenstein's 1935 Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton, Earl has owned this car since 1962.

Bill Snyder's 1940 Packard by Bohman and Schwartz. This is a one of a kind design, on the long 148 inch chassis for perfect proportions. Note the hood ornament - this was the company logo of the original owner, and so it was re-created for his car. The Bohman & Schwartz official photo of this car clearly shows this ornament.

The Automobile museum of Driving brought this 1915/16 Packard twin six, a lovely car with an extremely pretty and unusual body style.

Frank Miller and his son Rob drove their 1915 Rolls-Royce Silver ghost to the Show. That's right, they DROVE it here from Santa Barbara. You guys totally rock. As Frank said to me " Well, we better be able to drive it, we're going to take it on a 6 week tour through Europe! "

Gerhard Schnuerer's wonderful 1918 Opel

Best in class, Horseless Carriage, the 1904 Pope-Toledo

They didn't call it the brass era for nothin' !

Look at the detail on this car. It won it's class at Pebble Beach in '05, and it won here at the LA concours.

Wes and Susan Buck's beautifully restored 1909 Ford Model T. Impeccable.

Frank Taliaferro's stunning 1913 Rolls-Royce silver ghost, a class trophy winner in horseless carriage.

Here is my favorite European car of all time, the 1939 Bugatti type 57 by Van Vooren. A wedding gift from the French government to the future shah of Iran. The Petersen Automobile museum brought this stunning car. They helped us out in many ways, so a big thanks to them!

John LaBarbera brought this trophy winning 1936 Bugatti type 57 with Paul Nee coachwork.

Look at the detail on Peter and Merle Mullin's 1924 Bugatti - Individual fenders, oval separate runningboards, dual rearmounted spares, Grebel headlamps. Polished brake drums visible behind the wire wheels. Trophy winner in class !

the Nethercutt Musuem's 1931 Bugatti type 51. Note the damascening on the firewall, the scraping detail on the engine. a wonderful piece of machinery!

Here's a type 37 Bugatti in the race car display. the famous restorer Alan Taylor commented to me " you guys got 5 Bugatti's on the field !"

A very rare car, a 1938 MG SA, a full CCCA Classic, owned by Gene Olson. Note the sunroof. Note also that it's open, we never did get the rain predicted for the day.

Barry Briskman's 1937 MG SA. Barry restored this car over 15 years ago, and it still looks fresh. It's on a show tour this year, and it has been accepted to Pebble Beach.

Marc & Marie Forsyth's 1936 Talbot Lago.

Rick Zeiger & Ron Verschoor's 1938 Bentley, another open sunroof participant!

Harris Laskey's 1931 Rolls-Royce Sedanca by Hibbard & Darrin. This car used cast aluminum body panels to reduce noise and vibration, in a technique called "Silentlyte" by the coachbuilder.

Gary Byrd's wonderful Lancia Lambda Airway.

David Goldberg's new 1934 Packard Super 8 club sedan, new to the area from Chicago. the Los Angeles concours was this cars debut showing on the West Coast. A class trophy winner.

Nelson Jones' 1934 Packard Twelve club sedan, Impeccably restored. First in class.

Mike Porto brought this beautiful 1941 Cadillac 62 Series.

Jerry Kill brought this 1931 Packard 833 Limousine, a class trophy winner.

Rod Miller's 1931 Pierce Arrow club sedan.

Eric Voigt brought his 1933 Cadillac V-8, with only 6,600 original miles. It is ALL original, with only belts, hoses and tires changed over the years. It's like a new car, just as close to a time warp as you can get.

We had a pre-war american class, to spotlight the unusual and significant cars of the 30's. first in class went to this 1934 Chysler Airflow of Bill Rothenbuhler.

This 1937 Buick Century was shown by Jack McMillan.

here is Bill Allbright's 1941 Hudson Commodore. Bill is a Hudson Guru.

Dave Lopes' 1928 Ford Coupe, this car has won more trophies than can be counted, and, it got another one today at the LA concours.

Brad & Herman Desser's 1948 Cadillac Convertible, a first place winner.

the first year for the famous Cadillac tailfin!

Steve Rostam's fabulous 1955 Buick Century, a trophy winner in class.

Harris Laskey's beautiful 1960 Lincoln convertible.

Art Rosen's 1955 Packard Caribbean, in it's factory color scheme.

Note the color matched shirt Art is wearing, he's a very secure person!

One of my favorites, Crosby Doe's Facel II, a Class trophy winner.

Emerson Glazer's Iso Grifo.

Ron Spindler's First place trophy winning 1967 Bizzarini.

Brad Groom's trophy winning Pantera.

The famous old yeller race car.

3 wheeler Morgan

Pancho Kohner's Cooper/MG T10 Racer. Note the supercharger!

Here's a famous car, the maverick lightweight SS/A 63 Dodge. Those are aluminum fenders and front bumpers! they drove it in on open headers, it really sounded good. Owned by Gary Cerveny

1937 Austin 7 Special, owned by Richard Cupp, and a veteran of the Monterey Historic races

1920 Falls eight - Carla and Steven Marvin. this is a favorite from the Monterey Historics.

1941 Dreyer Offy sprint car, George Chilberg

Lynn Park's 1966 Don Long Dragster. Note the supercharged Chrysler Hemi engine. Also note the simplicity of this car in comparison with the current NHRA top fuelers.

1963 Aston Martin DB4C, Dan Rhodes.

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, owned by Akram Awad

1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster, Jay Mcdonald.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL , Mike & Barbara Malamut

We had a musclecar class, for stock and authentic restored cars. here, Juan Samartin fires up his Boss 302 for the judges.

Mark Melvin's 390 AMX !

Robert Bistange's '66 Shelby GT 350 with weber carburetors, a class trophy winner.

Sean Brosmith's first place trophy winning '70 Challenger T/A.

1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Gary Hiltunen, Alta Loma.

Note the knock off Halibrand wheels on this Corvette

1970 Chevelle SS396, Tyler Lee

1964 Porsche 356 C, Brad Reaume

Barry & Susan Konier's Porsche Carrera 2 , with 4 cam high output engine, trophy winner in class!

1960 Porsche 356 B , Steve Hoskins

1973 Porsche 911 Carerra, Jay Barnhardt. Trophy winner.

1963 Porsche 356 B Bob & Judy Savic

1948 MG TC, Brian Vine

1952 Allard J2X, Brian Dietz

A pre-war 3 wheeler Morgan, the 1939 Morgan F4 of John Benton.

A Ferrari Daytona - the last of the front engine V-12 Ferrari's.

Best of show Postwar, the 1949 Alfa 6C 2500, Tim Walker.

Earl Rubenstein, of the Museum of Automobile Driving, gives a demonstration on how to start a Twin-six Packard.

1970 Lancia Fulvia, Adan Figueroa

There might be room for one more foglamp just below the Lancia Emblem !

1975 Lamborghini Urraco, Gene Ondrusek.

1941 Chrysler Town & Country Barrelback, Mike Malamut, class trophy winner

1947 Chevrolet, Junior's house of color, first in Class

1955 Rolls-Royce, G. Brad Klein. Note the Sedanca body style.

This Fire truck made a great opening display by the entry gates, and was a big crowd pleaser.

this restored Peterbilt truck was amazing - a concours quality truck, I've never seen an old truck as well done.

Look at the detail on the undercarriage and chassis!

A '63 Avanti, in the Luxury Touring Post-war category.

A very unusual body style, a 2 door sedanca, a 1953 Bentley owned by G. Brad Klein.

And we close with a view of the Shah's Bugatti on the way to winning another trophy!