New Jersey in the spring can be delightful. With the masses of golden forsythia and blooming daffodils, along with a sea of pale green haze on the trees, the weekend of April 17, 2009 was the perfect setting for the Metro Region’s Grand Classic. The sun shone brightly all weekend, 64 Full Classics® looked fantastic as they sat sparkling in the parking lot and the more than 200 people at the show had a wonderful time.

Bob and I drove our ’40 and ’41 Cadillacs from home to the Hamilton Park Hotel in Morristown, NJ on Friday morning, April 17th. We arrived early to see John and BarbaraAnna Kefalonitis, Katie Robbins, Sally Perkins and Helen Vogel who had all just checked in. Unloading our materials and bags and checking out our room on the 5th floor, we headed to the room assigned for registration. Cheryl Eggert had already arrived and with the help of others we filled the envelopes with programs, produced by Stuart Blond and the name card lanyards. We were now ready for the onslaught of attendees, which started a bit slowly. The registration room was a large area that also had hospitality treats for our guests – cookies, chips and crackers which was overseen by Elaine and Dan Danielson and JoAnn and Sal Saiya. As attendees picked up their registration envelopes and license plates, a goodie bag was given to each. These bags and their contents were generously donated by Hagerty Insurance, Kanter Auto Products, Bill Hirsch and others. A big thank you goes to Donna, Jerry and Gabrielle Immersi and Joan and Sonny Abagnale (a family project) for their tireless effort in collecting and filling the bags. All the attendees were thrilled with their gifts. This evening was the first event for the weekend, a visit to the Morris Museum to see the fabulous Guinness Collection. As the morning drifted to afternoon, many more people arrived and the fun was beginning. It was so good to see so many we hadn’t seen in awhile!

The evening event at the Morris Museum was sponsored and arranged by Bob and Sunny Turnquist. They were, in a large part, responsible for the Museum acquiring the fantastic exhibit, Musical Machines and Living Dolls from the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection. Unfortunately, Bob passed away two weeks prior, but Sunny was there to see the results of their efforts in making the Morris Museum one of the major cultural attractions in New Jersey. Ralph and Adeline Marano donated the open bar which added to the festiveness of the evening. The exhibit, which we wandered through at our leisure, featured over 150 pieces from the world-renowned Guinness Collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata. Like mechanical musical instruments, automata – mechanical figures that mimic human and animal behavior, often accompanied by music – emerged out of the European clock making tradition. Largely dating to the 19th century, these ingenious objects once brought animated musical entertainment to private settings and public places. One of the museum’s curators and an assistant were there to work some of these beautiful and intriguing instruments which were a joy to hear and see. I was fascinated with the fine workmanship and beauty of the many objects. This type of musical instrument is a largely lost chapter in entertainment history. We extend our sincere thanks to the Turnquists and the Maranos for arranging this very special evening.

The next morning, bright and early, John Kefalonitis and Ralph Marano, Jr., the coordinators, were seen handling last minute details, while Frank Wemple, the head judge and Chuck Mitchell, assistant head judge gathered the judges and tabulators together for a breakfast and review of the job at hand. Cheryl and I moved our registration table outside to receive all the new attendees and cars arriving for the day, while Bob and Steve Gluck set up the spot to photograph all the Classics. Tracy, Steve’s wife checked off all the cars as they entered for their picture, while their son, my grandson, Matthew, set the number of the car on the wheel to identify the photo. I guess you might say this was another family project! Everything worked smoothly, the cars came, were photographed and were placed in their parking space in the upper lot of the hotel. People were busily polishing and detailing their cars awaiting the judges’ scrutiny. With so many beautiful cars on display, as well as a wonderful variety, it was a fantastic showing of Classic Cars! The judging teams arrived about 10 AM and were ready with their sheets and clip boards. Metro member, Henry Uiga is to be commended for organizing the very successful Youth Judging Program as well as the Kids Photography contest. With shirts, hats and clip boards, donated by Hagerty Insurance, the kids set about to their appointed task. The adult judges even gave way for our young judges to complete their job on a particular car before continuing with their appraisals. It was great fun watching the kids perform this task which they undertook very seriously. In addition, the young people were given small cameras, if they did not have one of their own, to take pictures of the cars which then were to be sent to Pat Caruso, our webmaster at www.metroccca.org Some of these photos can be seen elsewhere in this magazine. [See the Kids' Photo's here - webmaster]

Every car was outstanding, but to just name a few, there were:

All five of these Classics we were to learn at the Awards Banquet that evening earned 100 points.

We also had a number of wonderful original Classics on the show field. Of special note is that Steve Babinsky brought three from his stable of original cars, one being the 1925 Packard 8, Merrimac Coupe. This car, not only looks great but, as you might imagine, it also runs great. It made the 1,000 mile trek from Washington State to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California a couple of years ago on the Pebble Tour. It was a fantastic day and all the Metro members did an outstanding job in chipping in to make this a terrific event! Many local people who came to view the show remarked that this was a rare event to see so many gorgeous cars in one setting. Not only are the Grand Classics for the benefit of the members, but also to showcase these remarkable cars to the general public from an era that is not familiar to many, but one that is unique in the history of the automobile.

Dave and Linda Kane’s 2009 Warshawsky winner, 1934 Cadillac, 16, 452D, Convertible Sedan, Fleetwood, Senior #2874

Joseph and Margie Cassini, 1927 Isotta Fraschini, 8, 8A, Roadster, Fleetwood

Charlie and Cheryl Eggert, 1931 Cadillac, 16, 452A, Cabriolet, Fleetwood

Marshal Tycher, 1931 Pierce Arrow, 8, 41, Convertible Sedan, Le Baron

1933 Lincoln, 12, KA, Victoria Coupe, Senior #2848S - Glenn P. Davis, South Paris, ME

1938 Packard, 12, 1607, Club Sedan, Senior #2267S - Frank W. Goodhart, Mendham,NJ

1937 Packard, 12, 1508, Convertible Victoria, Rollston, Senior #858S - Richard E. Haeberle, Summit, NJ

1940 Cadillac, 8, 62, Victoria, Bohman & Schwartz, Senior #2720S - Ralph Marano, Westfield, NJ

1941 Lincoln Continental, 12, Cabriolet, Senior #2590S - Jerry Beard, Massapequa, NY

1947 Packard, 8, 2106, Club Sedan, Senior #2135 - Ralph Marano, Jr., Westfield, NJ

1926 Cadillac, 8, 314, Phaeton, Senior #2721 - Gene Feyl, Denville, NJ

1923 Kissel, 6, 6-55, Speedster, Senior #2534 - Albert D. Nippert, Schoharie, NY

1931 Franklin, 6, 151, Convertible Coupe, Senior #2685 - Robert Cornman, Pen Argyl, PA

1932 Packard, 8, 903, Sport Phaeton, Senior #2872 - Frank Buck, Gettysburg, PA

1937 Packard, 12, 1507, Coupe, Senior #2887 - Zach Brinkerhoff, Denver, CO

1937 Packard, 12, 1507, Convertible Coupe, Senior #2849 - James E. Murphy, Walpole, NH

1941 Packard, 8, 1907, Sedan, Senior #2844  - Robert E. Turnquist, Morristown, NJ

1947 Lincoln Continental, 12, Coupe, Senior #2813 - Richard Covey, Lake Ariel, PA

1934 Cadillac, 16, 452D, Convertible Sedan, Fleetwood, Senior #2874 - David Kane, Bernardsville, NJ

1936 Cadillac, 12, 85, Convertible Sedan, Fleetwood, Senior #2807 - Byron L. Alsop, Oak Hill, VA

1929 Cadillac, 8, 341B, Convertible Coupe - Philip Capozzoli, Nesconset, NY

1928 Franklin, 6, 12-B, Sedan - Arthur E. Lloyd, Union, NJ

1934 Packard, 12, 1107, Convertible Victoria - Charles J. Noto, Hauppauge, NY

1935 Packard, 8, 1201, Convertible Victoria - Robert K. Shaw, Boonton, NJ

1934 Packard, 12, 1107, Coupe - Michael H. Hoplamazian, Glen Mills, PA

1931 Cadillac, 16, 452A, Cabriolet, Fleetwood - C. A. Eggert, Morristown, NJ

1931 Pierce Arrow, 8, 41, Convertible Sedan, Le Baron - Marshall B. Tycher, Weehawken, NJ

1930 Cadillac, 8, 353, Sport Sedan, Fleetwood - Gerard Immersi, Caldwell, NJ

1935 Delage, 8, D8-85, Convertible Coupe, Henri Chapron - Emil Abagnale, Cedar Grove, NJ

1939 Rolls-Royce, 12, PIII, D H Coupe, Labourdette - J. W. Rich, Pottsville, PA

1934 Packard, 12, 1107, Victoria, Senior #1162 - Robert C. Rooke, Morristown, NJ

1941 Cadillac, 8, 62, Convertible Sedan, Senior #2337S - Grace E. Gluck, Long Valley, NJ

1940 Cadillac, 8, 75, Convertible Sedan, Fleetwood, Senior #1345SP - Robert L. Gluck, Long Valley, NJ

1930 Cadillac, 16, 452, Coupe, Fleetwood, Senior #577 - Thomas C. Kidd, Zionsville, PA

1930 Packard, 8, 745, Phaeton, Senior #421 - William S. Hirsch, Newark, NJ

1934 Packard, 8, 1100, Sedan, Senior #1009 - James Kidd, Green Valley, NJ

1934 Packard, 8, 1100, Sedan - David L. Czirr, Cresskill, NJ

1921 Rolls-Royce, 6, Silver Ghost, Tourer, Parker - John D. Parker, North Stonington, CT

1934 Packard, 8, 1104, 2-4 Coupe - Frank Wemple, Mansfield Center, CT

1942 Packard, 8, 2-23, Convertible Coupe - Charles S. Mitchell, Poughkeepsie, NY

1941 Packard, 8, 1907, Sedan - Sal Saiya, Franklin Lakes, NJ

1937 Packard, 8, 1502, Sedan - Paul E. Memi, Brooklyn, NY

1933 Packard, 8, 1001, Coupe Roadster - Thomas M. Gallo, Bernardsville, NJ

1931 Chrysler, 8, CL Imp., Phaeton, Le Baron - Joseph Morgan, Hampton Falls, NH

1933 Packard, 8, 1002, Convertible Sedan - Thomas M. Gallo, Bernardsville, NJ

1931 Buick, 8, 90, Roadster - Jean-Paul Noens, Brooklyn, NY

1931 Packard, 8, 833, Roadster - P.J. Ehmann, Pottersville, NJ

1925 Packard, 8, 236, Coupe, Merrimac - Stephen J. Babinsky, Lebanon, NJ

1930 Cadillac, 8, 353, Club Coupe - Stephen J. Babinsky, Lebanon, NJ

1933 Auburn, 12, 12-165, Brougham - Stephen J. Babinsky, Lebanon, NJ