THE HUMMING OF SUMMER LAWNS

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