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Third concours continues to gain prestige, interest

Photos: 2009 Concours d'Elegance

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By By Amy Rollins, Wheels Editor Updated 3:25 PM Monday, September 28, 2009

Last year’s Concours d’Elegance at Carillon Park in  Dayton ended with the freakish windstorm/hurricane. Thankfully, only minor injuries and damage occurred at the park, and this year’s third annual concours came off without a hitch, except for a little rain.

Thank goodness! This celebration of classic, antique and special-interest vehicles, both two- and four-wheeled, is a feast for the eyes. Thousands of car and motorcycle lovers came to the 65-acre park to enjoy almost 200 vehicles, each other and museum exhibits — including the museum’s own significant collection of permanently exhibited  vehicles — and demonstrations. All proceeds from the event benefit Dayton History, Montgomery County’s official historical organization.

Skip Peterson, concours chairman, said, “The gathering of Marmons, a car that hasn’t been built since 1933 (and there aren’t that many of them around), is really pretty amazing. Marmons came from Iowa, New York, Alabama, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut and Ontario, Canada.

“There were 28 Marmons, counting the Marmon Wasp from Indianapolis. It may have been the largest gathering of Marmons since the factory closed in 1933. It gave the concours a different level of significance.

“Overall, we’re very happy, and we’re going to start planning the 2010 concours in two weeks.”

Indeed, the Marmon Wasp was the most significant vehicle. It’s rare, and as Peterson reported, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum has let it leave its walls only about six times in the last 10 years.

The concour’s featured marques were Marmons,  Morgans (celebrating their 100th anniversary) and Minis (celebrating the marque’s 50th anniversary).

Visitors were treated to a free glossy show program; a live jazz combo, David Greer and the Classic Jazz Stompers; hospitality from presenting sponsor AAA Miami Valley; and plenty of food and beverages available for purchase.

The Carillon Park Rail and Steam Society provided free rides on its miniature steam-powered trains.

At 3:15 p.m., noted Porsche collector John Dixon presented his Taj Ma Garaj Award to Mary Malone of Dayton for her 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. The award is based on the vehicle Dixon would most like to have in his collection.

Dixon turned into an award winner himself with the Kids’ Choice award going to his 1956 Volkswagen Beetle Cockroach, nicknamed, “Death.”

The Col. Edward Deeds Judges’ Choice, picked by the 42 concours judges, went to George and John Bradley of Cuba, N.Y., for their 1932 Marmon Sixteen.

The Jeffrey Siler Spirit Award was awarded to Dr. Ted Bernstein of Dayton. The award was created to honor the individual that best exemplified the spirit of the late automotive enthusiast.

A 1916 Marmon 34A Speedster, owned by Chic and Arlene Kleptz of Union, drove away with the Charles F. Kettering People’s Choice Award.

The eagerly awaited R.H. Grant Best of Show Award went to Gene Flaugher of New Lebanon, for his 1956 Pontiac Safari.

“We showed vehicles from 1910 to 2009,” Peterson said. “We really accomplished the goal of providing significant cars and motorcycles. We don’t show the same cars every year. You cannot grow an event like this with the same cars each year. You have to mix it up.

“I think this year’s show was so diverse in terms of the kind of cars — old elegant machines, sporty cars, and then the racecar class had a variety that was so broad. All of the classes were well-represented. There was truly something for any car and motorcycle lover,” he said.

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