THE HUMMING OF SUMMER LAWNS
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Thu, Sep 9, 2010
By: The LACar Editorial Staff

CLASSIC CARS AT THE DANA POINT CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE
Words and pictures by John Grafman
On the golfing green overlooking the Pacific is a bevy of cars. Not just any cars, these are arguably some of the best in the world. With the overcast and pageantry one instinctively thinks of the Pebble Beach Concours. Having the goods is indeed the point, make that Dana Point.
The field this year has over 20 classes if you count the sub-classes. The Dana Point Concours has something for everyone, regardless of genre. Good planning by the board of directors is clearly evident. The concours is taking the opportunity to toast two important anniversaries. Alfa Romeo, celebrating 100 years of production, has been selected as the 2010 featured marque. Complimenting Alfa Romeo is Pininfarina, which is being recognized for 80 years of incredible design.
While the event is operated primarily as a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Concours, the additional classes showcasing interesting and relevant automobiles keeps this from becoming just another gathering of vintage cars.As a result, the attendees find the St Regis Hotel’s grounds are blanketed by race cars, supercars, one-offs, European cars, woodies, American iron, muscles cars, vintage motorcycles, and hot rods.
Like other concourses, the Dana Point Concours d'Elegance is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. The excess proceeds supporting the Ocean Institute, the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital, and other Southern California youth charities.
This affair nestled in Orange County appears to have little trouble finding excellent, concours-quality cars to compete. In this neck of the woods it really isn’t too surprising to find cars like these on the green actually driving along the coast. However, having a massive grouping of stunning automotive works is almost too much to take in.
Again, this comes down to the Concours Board of Directors, such as John Clinard (Ford - PR), Mike Kunz (Mercedes Benz Classic Center), Barry Meguiar (Meguiar's car wax), Dick Messer (former Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum), Freeman Thomas (Ford - design), and Bill Motta (automotive fine artist). This talent attracts the best.
Additionally, the Honorary Judges are industry powerhouses. Concours chief judge John Clinard cuts to the chase: “We also gather a panel of honorary judges who are unsurpassed in their expertise. No other place in the world enjoys such a wealth of local talent and enthusiasm." Included in the list are many Art Center College of Design graduates, major automotive designers and journalists. This year’s honorary judges include Sue Callaway, Marek Djordjevic, Joni Gray, Ron Hill, Chuck Jordan, Dave Marek, Barry Meguiar, Chuck Pelly, Richard Plavetich, Frank Saucedo, Gerhard Steinle, Jeff Teague, Freeman Thomas, Akino Tsuchiya, and Roger Zrimec.
Indeed, there is great stuff here, from the relatively rare, low slung Lotus race car owned by Mitch McCullough that appears to rest on the grass covered knoll, to the much more common, but beloved red 1960 Corvette owned by Congressman John Campbell. Adding to the wow factor are groupings of fraternal twins that were obviously separated at birth, or at least at the end of assembly line. These clusters of Mustangs, Jaguar XKEs, and Ferrari F40s only makes us wonder why we don’t own one.
Perhaps it’s in the cards that the entries at Dana Point have collected awards at other highly regarded events across the country, One of the favorites on hand is the beautiful 12-cylinder 1934 Packard 1108, Twelve Sport Phaeton with Coachwork by LeBaron. The gorgeous Packard is part of The Nethercutt Collection. At the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, this car won first in class, Classic Car Club Award of the year for Best American Car, Most Elegant Open Car on the field and Reserve Best of Show.
Another standout is the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 owned by the William Lyon Familyrepresents this year’s featured marque is. It has coachwork by Zagato and is only one of 11 built in GT competition configuration. This TZ2 is also one of the factory team Auto Delta cars which competed internationally at Le Mans, Targa Florio' and Sebring. This car won the Gran Turismo Trophy at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
While almost all of the cars gracing the green are contenders, only one can be entitled the Best of Show. This year the honor goes to the 1929 Auburn 8-120 Boattail. This perfectly restored car is the prized possession of Aaron and Valerie Weiss of San Marina, California.
After hours crossing the sea of cars it obvious that the Dana Point Concours is itself a contender. Pebble Beach is no longer the only game around.
The other 2010 award winners are:
Elegance Award, Postwar:
1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe

Time & Patti Tunnelle - Laguna Beach, California
Elegance Award, Prewar:
1939 Bugatti Aravis Type 57 SC 

Peter & Merle Mullin - Los Angeles, California
Featured Marque Award (100 Years of Alfa Romeo):
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spring Speciale

Jack & Margaret Brown - Fullerton, California
Honored Marque Award (80 years of Design from Pininfarina):
1956 Ferrari 250GT Pininfarina Protipo

Roger and Rhonda Groves - Monarch Beach, California
Design Achievement Award - Open:
1953 Austin Healey LeMans 

Marty Hovivian - Yorba Linda, California
Design Achievement Award - Closed:
1963 Ferrari 250 Lusso Berlinetta

Bill & Shirley Boezinger - Anaheim Hills, California
Honorary Judges Choice:
1949 Alfa Romeo Villa d'Este Berlinetta

Timothy Walker - Pasadena, California
Briggs Cunningham Award:
1929 Dupont Model 6 Boattail Speedster

Petersen Automotive Museum - Los Angeles, California
Catherine Thyen Award:
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ 2 GT Coupe

William Lyon Family - Coto de Caza, California
Branch Kerfoot Award:
1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Four Door Saloon

Santos & Yolanda Guerra - Agoura Hills, California
Charles Hester Family Award:
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France

Tom Shaughnessy - Oceanside, California
Chairman Dick Waitneight Classic Car Award:
1934 Pierce Arrow

Gordon Wangers - Fallbrook, California
Meguiar's "Finish Fantastique" Award:
1948 Plymouth Custom

DaveMclaughlin - San Juan Capistrano, California
Kent Wilken People's Choice Award:
1934 Packard Sport Phaeton 

The Nethercutt Family - Sylmar, California
Class 1: Antique & Horseless Carriage to 1915:
1912 De Dion Bouton DM Roadster

Jack & Helen Nethercutt - Sylmar, California
Class 2a: American Classics 1925 - 1948 Open:
1934 Packard Sport Phaeton

Nethercutt Collection - Sylmar, California
Class 2b: European Classics 1925 - 1948 Open:
1939 Bugatti Aravis Type 57SC

Peter & Merle Mullin - Los Angeles, California
Class 2c: American Classics 1925 - 1948 Closed:
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spring Speciale

Jack & Margaret Brown - Fullerton, California
Class 2d: European Classics 1925 - 1948 Closed:
1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedan Deville

John Ellison - La Jolla, California
Class 3: Prewar Preservation (including non-classics):
1940 Cadillac 9023 7 Passenger Sedan

Robert& Iris Robin - San Marino, California
Class 4: Luxury Touring (Postwar to 1970):
1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedan Deville

John Ellison - La Jolla, California
Class 5a: Sports Cars under 3 litres (Postwar to 1972):
1964 Morgan Plus 4

Dennis & Pamela Glavis - Valencia, California
Class 5b: Sports Cars, 4 litres and over (Postwar to 1972):
1952 Muntz Jet Convertible

Roth Family Collection - Thousand Oaks, California
Class 6: Woodiesan Wagons to 1960:
1950 Mercury Woody Wagon

Larry Ginsburg - Laguna Beach, California
Class 7: Auburn, Cord &Duesenberg:
1929 Auburn 8-120 Boattail

Aaron & Valerie Weiss - San Marino, California
Class 8: Rolls Royce & Bentley (Postwar to 1979)
1972 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI State Limousine

John Ellison - La Costa, California
Class 9: Mercedes-Benz (Postwar to 1979):
1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Skip Johnson - Irvine, California
Class 10: Porsche (to 1983):
11952 Porsche 356 Coupe

Jim & Tiffany Liberty - Newport Beach, California
Class 11a: Ferrari early through 275 V-12:
1959 Ferrari 250GT Series 1 Cabriolet

Steve Adler - Santa Monica, California
Class 11b: Ferrari 330/365 V-12:
1973 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4

Bill & Linda Feldhorn - Malibu, California
Class 11c: Mid-engine Ferrari (to 1984):
1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Targa

Salvador Manzur - Upland, California
Class 13a: Jaguar E-Type:
1967 Jaguar E-Type

DonMagargee - Villa Park, California
Class 13b: Jaguar XK-120 / XK-140 /XK-150:
1958 Jaguar XK-150 Open Two Seater

Steve & Cindi Kirby - Irvine, California
Class 14a: Shelby Mustang
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500

Frank Shirat - Mission Viejo, California
Class 14b: Shelby Cobra:
1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

Drew Alcazar - Phoenix, Arizona
Class 15a: Race cars- Open Wheel (Prewar to 1979):
1948 Shanebrook Open Wheel Sprint Car

John Adrian - Anaheim, California
Class 15b: Race cars- Sports and GT (to 1979):
1965 Alfa Romeo Jiulia TZ 2 GT Coupe

The William Lyon Family - Coto de Caza, California
Class 15c: Racing Sedans (to 1979)
1999 Ford Taurus NASCAR Racecar


Robinson, Robinson &Waitneight - Newport Beach, California
Class 16a: Alfa Romeo Prewar (Featured Marque)
1931 ALfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport

Lucy Rawlins - Balboa Island, California
Class 16b: Alfa Romeo 1900 - 6C2500 (Featured Marque)
1951 Alfa Romeo 1900 'Fangio' Coupe

Skeets Dunn - Rancho Santa Fe, California
Class 16c: Alfa Romeo Postwar Spiders up to 1600cc (Featured Marque):
1959 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce

Tome & Beate Kearns - Coto de Caza, California
Class 16d: Alfa Romeo Postwar Special Bodied Coupes (Featured Marque)
1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce

Chuck Swartz - Redondo Beach, California
Class 16e: Alfa Romeo Production Sedans and Coupes (Featured Marque):
1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spring Zagato

Don & Carol Murray - Laguna Beach, California
Class 16f: Alfa Romeo Postwar Spiders over 1600cc (Featured Marque):
1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Coupe

Bud Duncan- San Marcos, California
Class 17a: Pininfarina Non-Italian Chassis (Honored Marque):
1956 Nash Ambassador Custom Farina Sedan

Harry Arends Los Angeles, California
Class 17b: Pininfarina Fiat (Honored Marque):
1958 Fait Eden Rock

Bill Cord - Corona Del Mar, California
Class 18: American Pony & Muscle Cars (1960 to 1974):
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Baldwin Motion Phase III

Mark Murphy - Scottsdale, Arizona
Class 19: Corvette (1953 to 1967):
1957 Chevrolet Corvette

Joseph Guthrie - Aliso Viejo, California
Class 20: Hot Rods:
1932 Ford Phaeton Hi Boy

Paul Gommi - San Pedro, California
Class 12: Kustoms:
1930 For Model A Tudor Sedan Hot Rod

ChuckShauwecker - Carson, California