The legendary cars of Briggs Cunningham, an appearance by former race driver and TV commentator David Hobbs, and the “World’s Fastest Indian” will be among the highlights of the Greenwich, Connecticut, Concours d’Elegance held June 1-3 at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park overlooking the harbor on Long Island Sound.
The 23rd year of the premiere event, the concours will mount a “display of iconic vehicles that embrace style, function and beauty,” according to a concours news release, while showcasing a colorful selection of vintage cars, competition machines and motorcycles.
Cunningham’s sports and racing cars headline the 23rd year of the event, with a special Tribute to Briggs Cunningham held Friday, June 1, at the Greenwich Library, with video presentations and panel discussions of his influential life.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3, Hobbs will be available for signings of his new book, Hobbo: Motor Racer, Motor Mouth, at the pavilion of Road&Track magazine, which is the concours’ media partner.
The theme for the motorcycle class is “A Century of Competition Motorcycles,” which will include Burt Munro’s Bonneville Indian streamliner, with which the New Zealand motorcycle racer set a speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats and inspired the film World’s Fastest Indian.
“This year’s show field should be the best ever,” Mary Wennerstrom, concours chairman, said in the news release. “It’s turning out to be an historic event, with the stunning collection of Cunningham Cars, plus rare Ferraris, coach-built cars and unique motorcycles.”
For more information, visit the event website.
The flaming Beast of Turin
Eighty of the world’s fastest cars and motorcycles of their eras, ranging from the early days of motoring to the latest supercars, will be assembled for the first time during The London Concours 2018 held June 7-8 at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, England.
Among those road and racing legends will be the notorious Best of Turin, the earned nickname of a huge 1911 Fiat S76 speed-record car powered by a massive 28.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 300 horsepower and spews roaring flames from its short, open exhaust. The sole remaining example of Fiat’s early speed runs, the ungainly Beast set an official record of 116 miles per hour and an unofficial run of 135 mph.
Other pre-war speed rarities will include a 1924 Bentley 4.5-litre, 1932 Bugatti Type 55 and 1935 Lagonda M35R. More-recent performance icons will include a 2013 Lamborghini Aventador roadster, the latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the McLaren F1, Mercedes 300SL “Gullwing,” a Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo and a display of some modern and legendary Ferraris.
Known as “the UK’s finest automotive garden party,” the event also emphasizes such luxury products as fine watches, designer clothing and, of course, exclusive automobiles.
For more information, visit the event website.
Rare Lotus blossoms
A lovingly restored 1963 Lotus Elan, which just two years ago was a rusted and battered “field find” left to rot 40 years ago, will be featured during the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals held this Friday through Sunday at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fairgrounds.
Discovered along with a Mk1 Lotus Cortina that was also abandoned to the elements, the Elan was hauled out of the muck and brought back to life by Classic Motorsports publisher Tim Suddard and his team. The Elan is now a bright-blue beauty that in March appeared at the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida.
The resurrected Lotus Elan will be among a host of cars from England, Europe and Japan, along with some American sport/performance classics, displayed this weekend at the Carlisle event.
For more information, visit the event website.
More concours and events
The Elegance at Hershey concours, set for June 8-10 at Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania, has announced that its honorary chairman will be Nicola Bulgari, vice chairman of the Bulgari Group and the owner of the largest private collection of vintage Buicks, and that the grand marshal will be Wayne Carini, the well-known car collector and restorer who hosts Chasing Classic Cars on Velocity TV.
The three-day event includes a vintage race car hill climb, a public Cars & Coffee gathering on Saturday morning and the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, featuring a display of exquisite collector cars in a grand garden setting. For more information, visit the event website.
The Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, to be held September 29 and 30 at the Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Georgia, has added non-profit status going into its third year, with the Atlanta Concours d’Elegance Foundation raising funds to restore mobility to the lives of the disabled and expanding its efforts to benefit the Shepherd Center for disabled veterans and to support the McPherson College Automotive Restoration program. For more information, visit the event website.
The Goodguys’ Rod and Custom Association hosts its 25th annual Summer Get-Together on June 2-3 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California, featuring hundreds of local and national street rods and custom cars on display. For more information, visit the event website.
Thanks for mentioning The Elegance at Hershey, Bob!
The Atlanta Concours d’Elegance is almost here, September 29th and 30th. Always a lot of fun with great people. I had my 1955 Corvette there in 2016 and again in 2017. I will have my 1954 Corvette and my 1956 yellow thunderbird, aka "Tweety" there this year. Ya’ll come and prepare for a fun time.