For the second year, the 18^th Annual Concours d’Elegance of the Eastern United States was held on the lovely campus of Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  It is more commonly called the Burn Foundation Concours because the money that is raised from the this event directly goes to the education of burn prevention and the treatment of burn victims in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania.  This year the theme of the show was “The Romance of the Open Car” and the honored marques were Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg.

Bob and I left home on Friday, June 8^th, arrived at Northampton Community College in the early afternoon, unhooked the trailer and drove over to the hotel, a few miles away.  That evening, we attended a welcome cocktail party where we enjoyed talking with many people we knew, and then had dinner with John and BarbaraAnna Kefalonitis.  We invited them to join us on the Bethlehem tour and Brunch the next morning as we had plenty of room in our 1940 Cadillac Convertible Sedan. 

Early the next morning we all met at the college and joined perhaps 40 other show cars for the tour of the area.  It was great to see Metro members, Dennis and Ann Marie Nash, on the tour with their 1947 MG TC Roadster (NC).  We drove through some lovely residential areas and ended up on the main street in Bethlehem, which was closed to traffic so that we could park and provide a car show for the many spectators.  We enjoyed a delicious brunch at the historic Hotel Bethlehem, which has been beautifully restored, after which we visited the shops in the area that were specially opened for us.  So, of course, we had to patronize them.  My grandson received several books as a result of this patronage.  The afternoon was spent cleaning the car and generally kibitzing with the other owners.

Saturday evening, the Concours Gala dinner was held under a tent at the college with a Hawaiian theme.  All the men wore Hawaiian- type shirts – bright flowers, assorted car marques and wild designs were the order of the day.  A few women wore Muumuus and all received brightly colored leis to enhance their attire.  I chose to wear my Navajo squash blossom necklace that Bob bought me in Santa Fe on our way to the Arizona CARavan.  I figured that something from New Mexico was a lot closer to Hawaii than my other choices from New Jersey.  The evening was great fun with a wonderful silent auction followed by a live auction.  It was beautiful evening and a terrific way to set the mood for the big event the next day.

On Sunday morning we arrived at the college and drove the car to our place on the show field, which was in a circle surrounding a tree – nice shade.  We were in the company of some extraordinary cars from Metro – Dave and Linda Kane’s 1933 Cadillac, 16, 452C Convertible Coupe – Sonny and Joan Abagnale’s 1930 Duesenberg J 150 Convertible Coupe – and  Frank and Milli Ricciardelli’s 1935 Duesenberg 8 J-537 Dual Cowl Phaeton La Grande.  We were the poor cousins to these outstanding automobiles.  It was wonderful seeing so many friends and particularly our members from the Metro Region.  It was a gorgeous day which culminated in their traditional drive-by with commentary.  It was at this time we were in for a surprise – we were given a beautiful crystal trophy in recognition for the Most Elegant Interior Award.  With so many fantastic automobiles present, it was indeed a true honor.

One of the highlights of the car show season for many Metro members is attending the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.  This year, celebrating its Twelfth Anniversary, Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom, the co-founders and chairmen for the event, as well as great supporters of the Metro Region, produced another marvelous show.

Winner – Best in Show

Mario Iasparo 1928 Packard 443 Limousine	Sonny & Joan Abagnale 1930 Duesenberg J-150 Convertible Coupe ~ Winner – Best Open American Car 1930
Joseph & Maureen Caputo 1931 Cadillac 370A Roadster ~ Winner – Best Open American Car 1931-1932	Joseph & Maureen Morgan 1932 Chrysler Imperial CL Roadster

William Brigiani ~ 1933 Cadillac 355C Phaeton

Gerry & Donna Immersi ~ 1930 Cadillac Sedanet Cabriolet

Frank & Loni Buck ~ 1931 Packard DeLuxe Eight 8-40 Roadster

Bill King ~ 1939 Delage D-6 Cabriolet

Louis & Angela Freda 1941 Cadillac 60S Sedan ~ Winner – Best American Closed Car 1935 – 1942	Charles & Mary Jane Mitchell 1942 Packard 160 Convertible Victoria ~ Winner – Best American Open Car 1941 – 1942

Nick & Angie Paganelli ~ 1946 Packard Custom Super Clipper 2106 Series Sedan

Dan & Elaine Danielson 1947 Cadillac Model 62 Sedan

Bob Stark ~ 1947 Cadillac Model 62 Convertible

Ed & Patricia Falkenberg ~ 1947 Lincoln Continental Coupe ~ Winner – Best American Closed Car 1946 – 1948

Sal & Sue Anicito ~ 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville Hardtop Coupe (nc) ~ Winner – Best American Closed Car 1949 – 1952

Horace & Barbara DiTecco ~ 1949 Cadillac Model 62 Convertible Coupe (nc)

Kelly and Ralph Marano at the Christies Cocktail Party.	The Bergen County Boyz!

Kelly Marano ~ 1952 Packard Pan American Concept Convertible (nc) ~ Winner – Most Outstanding Prototype

Ralph Marano, Jr. ~ 1954 Packard Panther Concept Car Two-Seat Convertible (nc) ~ Winner – Timeless Elegance ~ Presented by Chronos Magazine

Dennis & Ann Marie Nash ~ 1947 MG-TC Roadster (nc)

The Classic Car Club of America Museum has sponsored The Grand Experience Concours at the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan since 1987.  Each year the Concours has featured a special marque or type of Full Classic®.  This year, in its 21^st year, the Concours honored the Cadillac and LaSalle automobiles beginning with a 1903 one cylinder Rear Entry Tonneau through a 1970 DeVille Convertible as well as all Full Classic® vehicles.

Having recently been asked to join the Board of Trustees of the CCCA Museum, this year’s Grand Experience became a special one for me.  After arriving at the Museum on Thursday, May 31^st, John and I began working on putting registration packets together and planning and measuring the show field as to where each of the cars would be placed for judging.  What an experience!  The day was beautiful, yet the heat was high and cold water was in demand.

The events began on the evening of Friday, June 1^st with a “come as you are” get acquainted cocktail hour followed by a delicious barbeque dinner held on the museum grounds.  Saturday morning began with a driving tour through the lovely Michigan countryside with a stop for lunch along the way.  In the afternoon, a swap meet, a car corral and an automotive art show were held.  Eleven wonderful automotive artists had their work displayed for the weekend with noted artist, Tom Hale, giving a lecture on this exciting facet of the hobby.  In the evening, the “Experience Banquet” was held in Kalamazoo honoring John and Dora McMullen, along with a fantastic auction of automotive art and memorabilia presided over by Bill Parfet as auctioneer and Chuck Conrad as master of ceremonies.

At 7:00 the following morning, Sunday, the cars started arriving on the field, with judging commencing at 9:30.  The weather this day was not very cooperative, as it rained so hard that the awards presentation had to be moved inside to Barn C, and due to the storm, the drive-by had to be cancelled.  Everyone looked as if they had just gotten out of the shower with their clothes on, yet the spirit of the Grand Experience could not be dampened.

The Metro Region was well represented as participants and winners.  Those present were:  Bill Davis, Dan Gernatt and Roseann Morgano, Phil Guilhem, Fred Guyton, Bob and Sheila Joynt, Dave Kane, John and BarbaraAnna Kefalonitis, Ralph and Adeline Marano and last, but certainly not least, Bobbie’dine Rodda.

The Coastal Living Award For The Most Elegant Closed Car

If any club members should be on this list, please excuse the oversight, and notify the webmaster.  Pictures of the event are featured on Conceptcarz.com, Motor Trend Magazine, and AutoWeek.