For the third straight year the Desert Concours has proven itself a real contender as one of the finest Concours de’ Elegance in these United States; if not the world. Paul and Holly Merrigan have again brought together some of the worlds finest automobiles in a setting that one can only describe as - perfect. Whispers of the venue being as good, if not better than Pebble or even Lake Como were heard often. We will have to admit that we have not yet had the good fortune to attend the event in Lake Como, though we have heard of its absolute splendor. It was those who have been, who were making the comparison; pretty darned impressive.
The event had a new location this year as it had been moved from the O’Donnell Golf course to the La Quinta Resort and Spa. The La Quinta Resort is nestled between the mountains just east of Palm Springs, California and is an absolute world class resort. The staff could not have been more friendly and helpful, a truly great place to stay. If you happen to play golf (or in our case, play at golf) even better!
This year’s entry list was simply fantastic and the theme was cars of the fifties. We were fortunate enough to have been able to provide two cars for the event, Marc Zurlinden’s tribute a2z 911 Porsche and a fantastic 1955 Imperial 2 door coupe owned by our good friends John and Christie Lazenby. Some of the other great cars to be brought out of their garages for the weekend were Tom Holfelders fantastic Maserati 450S, Frank Chirats’ unbelievable good and often driven (though it never looks like it) Shelby Mustang and the absolute jaw dropping Ghia bodied series 62 Cadillac once owned by silver screen star Greta Garbo.
Best of show went to a very deserving Cadillac V16 Convertible.
Though the cars are the show….we thought we would do something a bit different here and show you some of the faces of the Concours…
This Concours is simply one of the best anywhere. It is not pretentious or stuffy, like some, it is easy and comfortable, unlike most and the venue and cars are absolutely world class. We can’t wait for next year….you really should go.
O.C.C.E
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Just a gentle reminder that on Thursday November 12, 2009 the Petersen automotive museum will be holding the Trans-Am reunion. If you are or were a racing fan of the late 1960′ and early 70’s THIS IS A MUST ATTEND EVENT!
Please visit the Petersen site for more information.
We will be taking Porsche U27……its gonna be great!
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Over the years we have been to many a Concours d’elegance; more than a few have been very prestigious events. What has always attracted us, are the fantastic automobiles that are displayed in what are normally very attractive settings. Pebble Beach is an event that we have attended more than just a couple of times and one would have to argue a great setting- a golf course we have yet to play, but, an eighteenth fairway that we are very familiar with; more on Pebble later.
What we want to try to describe to you here is the simply fantastic event held just last weekend in Palm Springs; The Desert Concours. Masterminded (brilliantly we might add) by Paul Merrigan, his wife Holly and his amazing, though very tired, band of volunteers. Paul and Holly- listen carefully and you will hear the applause of many-strike that-thousands!
This years Desert Concours was but the second of hopefully many, many more to come. As impressive as the inaugural event was, this year was simply stunning. The cars and their “custodians” were absolutely top drawer. The collection of automotive history gathered in one place, at one time and at a venue that is-well; perfect, is something that those who attended will have very fond memories of for years to come. We most certainly will!
The list of significant cars is long, so long that we just don’t have room here to talk about them all. Some of the most memorable cars to us were (and not in any particular order) a fantastic Ghia bodied Chrysler, If Chrysler were to build anything like it today, they would not need financial assistance from the government; again. An amazing and perhaps the most important post war race car ever built; a 1947 Cisitalia D46. A Maserati “monoposto”….WOW! Another instant favorite was a very, very rare Delahaye….oh my goodness. To imagine driving this perfectly curvaceous roadster somewhere in the south of France- our mind wonder’s back to the real days of motoring; and is perhaps one of the reasons that a Concours event is second only to driving a race track; to us.
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The week of the Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance in Monterey Ca. may just be the largest gathering of automotive junkies in the world.
Having just arrived home after a rather long, tiring, but, incredible week on the beautiful Monterey peninsula; I had to sit down and make an attempt at describing just how much happens there and how grand it really is. There is so much to write about, so many stories to tell, so many events taken part of and great people that I visited with- it is all such an incredible blur.
Where to start???? It all started last Tuesday with a quick drive to Indian Wells Ca. to have a look at a very nicely restored Jaguar XK120 and to pick up my traveling partner Paul Merrigan, who by-the-way, is the founder of the Desert Classic Concours d’elegance held March 1st. He and his lovely wife Holly invited me into their amazing home so we could get an early [sic] start on Wednesday. We drove up to Paso Robles and were invited to stay at the truly magnificent home of one of Paul and Holly’s friends. There is no adjective for this home; pictures do not tell the full story. Amazing- simply amazing! Thanks Mrs. “J”!!!
An early start on Thursday found us arriving at Laguna Seca Raceway for practice. The first year of the Monterey historic races yielded a field of just 60 cars. This weekend there were more than 400 participants!
A quick drive to Carmel to view the cars that had participated in the tour drive for the Concours; packed, Carmel was packed! I was also to meet up with Rhet and Chet Andrews who had acquired a car from me just a week earlier; they had a spare ticket for Quail Lodge! Rumor had it that Quail tickets were selling for as much as $2,000 a pair. Thanks guys!!!!!. Then a quick gathering at Mike Lynch’s house, a Ferrari 166 Barchetta in the garage-restoration in progress. Nice Folks; and our great friend Tony a2z was there as well. Thanks Mike! A quick clean up and we were off to the Pebble Beach Club having been invited to a Land Rover reception by a truly remarkable fellow; one Doug Lee. Doug is a talent scout and is the president of California models & Talent in Monterey Ca. He is a great deal of fun- most certainly too quick witted for me, but, most of you know me; it don’t take much 
Friday morning came way too early, but, we had to get to Quail before the crowds would make it impossible to photograph the cars. So, up at 5:00 am and out the door by 5:30. Was it worth it? Oh god yes; some of the world’s greatest cars and in an ideal setting. Admission also covers everything that you may want, coffee, (good coffee) great food, wine, cocktails; you name it. Well worth the price! Perhaps the most amazing display at Quail were the 14 Gurney Eagles, yes, fourteen of them. Doug Magnon had brought four of them from his private collection. It was the first time in automotive history that this many Gurney Eagles were at one place and at one time. Then it got better- Dan Gurney showed up; holy smokes! And, our good friend Tony a2z was there as well. Tony won the 1969 F5000 championship driving a Gurney Eagle. The expression on Dan’s face was worth the price of admission alone. I think it was all he could do to contain his absolute joy in seeing his all his babies in one place and at one time. Cars that were driven by racers like; Bobby Unser, James Hunt, Denis Hulme, Jerry Grant, Vern Schuppan-oh my goodness!
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October 27th, 2007, Events
Saturday morning in Orange County just ROCKS for us car folk.
Every Saturday morning at the Ford corporate offices (located at the 5 fwy and Alton, in Irvine) car enthusiasts gather for a short and informal car show. Enthusiasts and their cars start to congregate at about 6:00 am; don’t you just love car people? The show starts at 7:00 and ends at 9:00,- just two hours, but what a glorious two hours they are. Great cars, really great cars, and their respective custodians arrive to simply share in their passion; automobiles.
What started as just a couple of “guys” getting together on Saturday morning for a cup of coffee and talking ”car”, has grown into an incredible event that draws car owners and automotive junkies from hours away.
As attendance grew…….and GREW, the original meeting area simply became inadequate. Ford stepped in and with open arms offered their large Corporate facility in Irvine; pretty smart, those people at Ford.
If you have not had the opportunity to attend just yet, please do. It really is quite extraordinary and since it starts early and ends early- you’ll still have plenty of time to take care of all the stuff you had promised to get done.
Somehow-the day just starts off better!
O.C.C.E
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October 16th, 2007, Events
On this Thursday October 18, 2007 Sterling BMW will present “Art in Motion.” Featuring the sculpture of renowned artist, Richard MacDonald. In addition, BMW will be presenting the all new ”Individual” BMW 6 series.
BMW has added the 6 series to their ”Individual” model line, allowing clients the opportunity to personalize their BMW’s to the “ultimate” level. This is one of the very few times that the car will be available for displayed in Orange County.
Space is limited, so RSVP please: 888-318-9603
O.C.C.E
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October 4th, 2007, Events
We were fortunate enough to have been invited to the preview of the Orange County Auto Show this year by our good friend Michael Caudill. This is Michaels “baby” as he is the spokesperson for the show and we thank him for his gracious invitation. Mr. Caudill is also the president and CEO of Driven Media.
Viewing this years Orange County Auto Show on early Thursday morning was sensational; camera and coffee in hand, no crowds and some great cars. This year’s show was nicely presented, just as always. We still have a difficult time understanding why this is not the premier Auto Show on the west coast, it ought to be, the demographics are certainly right.
Along with the usual displays of current model year cars, there were some fantastic specialty and concept cars as well.
Ford displayed the Shelby GR1, a rather old school Cobra/Daytona looker, as well as the Turbo Diesel/hybrid Reflex; a surprisingly good looking car externally, the interior…well; let us just say it is not our taste.
General motors presented the new Camaro. According to the GM representative at the show, the body design is final and will go into production in the first quarter of 2009, initially in coupe form and then convertible guise as well. The car will be made available with both 6 and 8 cylinder engines and a real transmission option will be offered as well. Great news!
Europe was also well represented, Mercedes-Benz displaying their new C class and a terrific old 300SL that belongs to the company museum. This was the same car that John Fitch had driven to a class victory; nice touch.
Saab brought along their Aero X concept car. Interestingly, the car is sans a windshield “A” pillar, giving the car a very stylish and clean look, the car screams Sweden.
Audi has performed brilliantly in the last few years and the R8 is just magnificent. One can see the racing heritage of the amazing R8 and R10 racecars that it emulates so very well indeed. The car is simply stunning. We have not yet had the good fortune to drive this car just yet, but cannot wait to do so. If it performs anything like it looks, the car will give some of the more recognized exotics a big run for the money and deservingly so; the lines of the car are about as perfect as one could want, they are simply spot-on. This car has presence.
Mazda had a great looking concept car on display as well, the “Kabura”.
Surprising to us, is what we have considered being the star of the show. Chrysler brought out the heavy metal, quite literally, in the Imperial concept car. The car is a massive 4 door sedan, rear doors suicide, neat. The Imperial concept car is stately, well proportioned (for a huge car) and perhaps what Mercedes-Benz should have considered doing with the Maybach. The car has Rolls-Royce like dimensions and looks of absolute opulence. Though a show car, the fit and finished looked surprisingly good and the interior is gorgeous. “If you build it, they will come”.
All in all, a great show and we again want to thank Michael for allowing us the opportunity to view it in comfort.
O.C.C.E
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October 1st, 2007, Events
After being laid up for a while with an ankle injury (long story) and having had just about enough of Gun Smoke re-runs, I started surfing the net to find something interesting to read involving my life’s passion; automobiles and motor sport.I had what I believe to have been, an epiphanie, if you will. Orange County is one of the largest automotive enthusiast markets on the planet. There are great cars, interesting car personalities and so many wonderful “car” things to do here; that while contemplating my naval, I figured, “why not a website where everyone can enjoy this same passion” hence O.C.C.E.I do not profess to be a writer. In fact, without this computer, spelling “writer” would have looked somehow different. Many of you know me and know that I speak the truth here.What I do want to share with all of you, is my enthusiasm for great cars, my experience in the retail car industry and how that may help you, my racing experience and how my teaching high performance driving; may help you to improve your own driving skills.
I do not profess to know everything about anything; I just have a few years of experience under my belt. The old adage of “the more I learn, the less I know” most certainly holds true with me. Righting, sorry, WRITING should be easy. Hell, I have been doing it for nearly 45 years; it isn’t.
So that you might better understand where I came from; I have spent 3 decades in the high-line automotive business as a service advisor, sales person, sales trainer and sales manager. I served as a Concours De’ Elegance judge for nearly 6 years. I am the 2003 SCCA regional class champion (thanks MINI). I teach high performance driving skills to owners of great cars and I am therefore afforded the opportunity to drive really great cars; never having to pay for them…good work if you can get it. Along with my partner Judy Ray of The Driving Concepts Foundation, I get to teach young drivers life saving accident avoidance skills, without question, THE most rewarding thing I have ever done!
I am looking forward to doing this; I hope that it is fun for all of us!
O.C.C.E
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