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COMING: A CONCOURS FIT FOR A QUEEN

Of all the great concours d'elegance held around the world it would be difficult to imagine one more prestigious than the inaugural Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance, which will take place within the inner courtyard inside the walls of Windsor Castle from September 7-9, 2012. Imagine being invited to show your car in the Queen's front lawns! Imagine being there as a spectator! Just imagine.

Securing an invitation would be difficult, indeed, but being there is not impossible, for the Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance will be open to the public on Sunday, September 9, 2012. It is being organised with full permission of Her Majesty The Queen.

Note that the event is being advertised as a Concours of Elegance, not a Concours d'Elegance. I suppose that for an event being organised to celebrate the Queen of England's Golden Jubilee, the French spelling would hardly be appropriate.

At this time we have no idea which cars will be invited but the organisers say it is "a significant new event celebrating the style and glamour of historical automobiles, the like of which this country has never seen. The event will also be a fitting testimonial to the craftsmanship of the UK classic car restoration industry of which the UK is a leading player." Creative Director Jeremy Jackson Sytner at Thorough Events also commented, "taking place in this highly prestigious location, the event is being established as a major charity fund-raising initiative."

If you wonder why the Queen might support an automotive event it's worth remembering that, in spite of being chauffered around in a State Bentley, she is an accomplished driver who put her driving and repair skills to good use as a young Princess during WW2. When Her Majesty is visiting the family estate at Sandringham she can sometimes be found at the wheel of a Rover or other car and if there's a mechanical breakdown can explain the problem quite precisely to the service crew. Yes, the Queen is a car lady.

GREAT PRETENDER OFFERS ADVICE ON CHOOSING A CONCOURS

Perhaps it's just my imagination but I'm getting the impression that more and more concours d'elegance are being added to the calendar each year. Is this a good thing? Yes, in a way, for it means that people all over America, who otherwise might never see a great classic car, are being exposed to these rare and exquisite beauties. Those same folks wouldn't travel halfway across the country to attend a concours but if there happened to be one within a hundred miles and it's properly promoted, they might make the effort.

On the other hand, in spite of the popularity of the collector car hobby and the number of restored survivors from almost any era, we may be reaching a point where concours organisers begin competing against each other for important entrants. Much as car owners enjoy showing their vehicles and seek to win prizes for best in show, there is a limit to how many they can attend without stretching personal schedules and even budgets. And that forces them to make choices which may not be in an organiser's best interest.

What made me think about this was a conversation I had the other day with a fellow enthusiast who owns a 3-year-old Shelby GT500 and pours a considerable amount of money into performance and aesthetic upgrades. Chris' area of interest revolves around this and similar cars and though he's aware of collector cars and likes them, my friend had no exposure to the great classics of the 20's and 30's until he saw one being auctioned during Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale TV coverage. It was, literally, an eye-opener, and led him to ask me about those "concoors" and how he might get to attend one.

We began by discussing Pebble Beach but our conversation soon focused on other locations and he was quickly overwhelmed by the number of possibilities (as was I). In California alone there are, in 2012, at least seventeen concours worth seeing. We live in the Pacific Northwest so California, which has more classic cars than anywhere in America, is an obvious destination. As well, my friend is an avid golfer and several locations have notable courses nearby.

Now here's the funny, or sad, truth about me as an expert on concours d'elegance. When Chris asked how many I'd actually attended I was forced to admit, "just three... Pebble Beach, Kirkland (Washington), and Palm Springs." That's it, folks. Dozens of car shows and other events in Canada, the US, and England but only three concours. Through most of my adult life I was too busy working and when I finally retired to write about classic cars I could no longer afford the journeys.

I'm still undecided about which to recommend to Chris as his first concours, although the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance next September 16 (see above, and click on this link) is a serious contender. An outstanding show amid magnificent surroundings and this year featuring "French Curves," those sensuous, curvaceous French beauties of the pre-war era. Think of it as the Moulin Rouge with cars instead of dancers. As for me, I intend to get around more in the future and would love to combine a concours with a special "railfan" event, for I enjoy vintage trains as much as I love classic cars. And two-for-one would be a lot easier on my travel budget.

TOUR OF A LIFETIME FOR ITALIAN CAR ENTHUSIASTS

If you admire Italian sports cars (and who doesn't?) here's one event you won't want to miss. It's the annual Car Guy Tour, which kicks off on the beautiful shores of Lake Como and runs for ten days, beginning May 6th and ending May 16th, 2012. Organised each year by Frank Mandarano and sponsored by Keith Martin's Sports Car Graphic, the Car Guy Tour visits the great styling centers, including Italdesign, Pininfarina, Zagato and Bertone. It will also visit world-class restoration shops and major collections.

As if that were not enough, the Tour will take you to legendary companies such as Maserati, the Maserati Collection, Lamborghini, Borrani, Pagani, Schedoni and the Alfa Romeo Collection. Is Ferrari included? You bet it is. Participants will spend one complete day in Maranello visiting all that is Ferrari: including the Ferrari Galleria, the first official Ferrari Store, a Ferrari F1 warm up, with time for shopping and lunch at the famous Cavallino Ristorante.

According to the Car Guy Tour's car guys "May is one of the most beautiful months to be in Italy; the sidewalk cafes are bustling, the flowers are in full bloom, and the number of tourists are at a lower level." Having been there in May, for an entire month, I couldn't agree more. I would also go along with the suggestion that you come early and enjoy Lake Como. Take the fast boat to Bellagio for lunch or the slow boat for a leisurely tour of the lake, getting off to explore the little villages and coffee bars. And keep an eye for those gorgeous wood-hulled Riva speedboats, the Ferraris of the boating world.

The Tour will officially end in Modena, the "automotive and gastronomic capital of the world." But you might want to allow yourself a little more time and take in the Historic Monaco Grand Prix on the weekend of May 12th and 13th. This will be the perfect time to experience beautiful Monte Carlo and the period European racing cars on the circuit and at speed.

The price may seem a little steep if you don't have deep pockets but to be honest I think it's quite reasonable considering all that's included. Tickets for a person traveling alone are $6,000; for a double they're $8,200 ($4,100 per person). Air fare is extra but if you act now you should be able to find a discount. In fact, if the Car Guy Tour appeals, I'd suggest signing on soon, for seats are limited. More information is available from the Car Guy Tour Website, by e-mailing to frank@carguytour.com, or by calling Frank Mandarano direct at (206) 310-8380.

FLY, FLOAT, OR DRIVE: IT ALL COMES TOGETHER HERE

If, like me, you enjoy all kinds of classic transportation and not just cars, this show is for you. The Fantasy of Flight's 5th annual Roar and Soar, November 12-13, 2011, combines vintage automobiles, boats, and aircraft in an extravaganza that puts the classics in motion. The cars will compete in a Jaguar-sponsored slalom, the boats will do high-speed run-pasts on an oval course, and the vintage aircraft will do what planes are meant to do: fly.

There are, of course, concours where cars and boats are combined and concours that combine cars and aircraft. But shows that feature all three? It's not going to happen unless there's an airport, a lake or ocean, and a very large display area all in the same place. Which makes this locale, in Polk City, halfway between Tampa and Orlando, unique.

The slalom competition will include Jaguars, Austin-Healeys, Ferraris, BMWs, Porsches and other marques whose owners like to have fun while providing entertainment for the spectators. The variety of boats is equally fascinating, including classic racing runabouts "drifting" around the turns, plus the powerful hydroplanes with their long rooster-tails in full Gold Cup regalia. Well, not quite Gold Cup, for you likely won't be seeing any Unlimiteds, but those in the lesser classes are equally exciting. The boats participate in Florida's Classic Race Boat Association vintage race series.

And then there are the planes. As Roar and Soar is being held at the Fantasy of Flight aerodrome, it provides an opportunity to not only enjoy the museum collection but to watch some very rare aircraft in flight. Fantasy of Flight is described as the world's largest collection of restored vintage aircraft and after perusing the astounding list of planes on show I can believe the claim. It's no idle boast. Indeed, I watched the collection's Short Sunderland 4-engine flying boat take off from Toronto harbour after a stopover en route from England to its new home in Florida.

In this blog I've only featured the main events but there are other activities worth watching, more than enough to keep you and your family happy over the two days. Though I can't be in Florida that weekend, I'm encouraging my brother Alan, who lives not so far away in Sarasota, to attend as my representative. Are you listening, Alan? As for the rest of my viewers, if you live in the area or are vacationing in the Sunshine State, Roar and Soar could easily become the highlight of your trip.

AT LAST, F1 WEST AND F1 EAST IN USA!

Not since the great road races at Watkins Glen has Formula One had a permanent home in the United States. By 2013 it will have two, one in the east and one in the west. The announcement today of the New Jersey F1 race is great news for fans in New York and New Jersey, and even for enthusiasts living hundreds of miles away.

I'll admit that when I first heard of the possibility months ago I was skeptical. With a mildly prejudiced view of New Jersey, nurtured when I lived across the Hudson in New York, it seemed an unlikely place for a race. Manhattan would have been a better choice, I thought, though the chances of blocking off the streets for a motor race were between nil and none. But after learning of the circuit layout and its location I've done a complete turnabout. This New Jersey F1 event could be a huge success.

The locale is just fine with me, for the view on TV should be spectacular. New Jersey governor Chris Christie confirmed that the race would be run on a street circuit around the Port Imperial area in Weehawken and West New York, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. She went on to say that "it will be a 3.2 mile road race, run on existing roads through Port Imperial and at the top of the Palisades in Weehawken and West New York... people from the whole world will come to New Jersey to see this unique and exciting course."

No doubt they will, but I can also see fans coming from Toronto, Buffalo, and Boston, who might otherwise go to the Montreal F1 race. And I can imagine tens of thousands pouring in from New York City, possibly even arriving by ferry or other forms of public transit. I'll even go so far as to suggest that if you like the Monaco and Valencia GPs because of their spectacular seaside setting you'll find this one attractive for the same reason.

The mayors of Weehawken and West New York, both of whom are enthusiastic about the event, are eager to point out that the intention is not to use public funding as it would be deeply unpopular in the present financial climate. Weehawken mayor Richard Turner and Felix Roque, his counterpart in West New York, believe the race could kick-start a stagnant local economy. "In these uncertain economic times when every direct and indirect revenue source is vital, our own Formula One race could be a very positive boost to our citizens," they said in a joint statement.

I noted that the course has been laid out by none other than the same Hermann Tilke engineering group that drew up the plans for Austin's F1 race, as well as the new Indian GP circuit, and new or recently-built tracks in the Mid-East, such as Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. A positive step, for Tilke is an experienced race driver who knows what makes racing exciting for both competitors and spectators.

June, 2013, seems a long way off, by which time we'll learn much more about the New Jersey race. And by then the first Austin, Texas F1 race will have been run and won. I'm looking forward to both races and, God willing, I may be able to attend at least one of these events. Having covered, as a race reporter, the Watkins Glen and Mosport GPs back in the 1960s, it might be appropriate, don't you think?

[Photo Credit: The Telegraph]

LEGENDARY NASSAU SPEED WEEK RETURNS TO THE BAHAMAS

Nothing could be nicer, in the midst of a frigid winter, than to fly south to Nassau, enjoy a welcoming planters punch, then watch several days of great road racing. That's the way it was, from 1954 to 1966. And hopefully that's the way it will be as the Nassau Speed Week (renamed Bahamas Speed Week) is being revived in 2011: November 30 to December 04.

For the racing fraternity, the original Speed Week combined a vacation with a chance to have fun. There were no championships involved, no fight for points, just a chance to duel it out on an airport circuit. Cars and drivers came from Europe, from the US, and from Canada. The parties, it was said, were as good as the races. If you couldn't beat the guy into the first corner, well, heck, you could always toss him into the pool. And nobody cared.

Decades have passed since those halcyon years but the combined efforts of racing enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic plus the willing Nassau tourist folks are turning back the clock, then giving it a special twist. These will not be vintage track races. The now-international airport can't be closed and there are no Bahamas race tracks. Instead, a temporary street circuit has been set up for timed sprints by vintage sports racers. Each contestant will be allowed three laps, in an effort to set best time. Running next to the sea, the track nicely combines a fast straight with several turns, assuring that a combination of skill and power is needed to win.

You, as a spectator, might miss the fender-to-fender racing that comes with vintage events but that shouldn't deter you from attending. There's something special about watching vintage cars being driven at speed, including the sounds of once-great engines. For the drivers it's an opportunity to test the cars and themselves without taking unnecessary risks. Nobody really cares who wins, except the winner. The same applies to hillclimbs and amazingly (to me at least) Bahamas Speed Week includes a hillclimb! I'd worked on Grand Bahama Island as a young guy, attended the 1963 Nassau Speed Week, and visited Nassau since, but never saw anything taller than an anthill. But apparently the Fort Charlotte road is vertical enough and long enough for challenging timed runs.

In some respects the Bahamas Speed Week is aimed more at owner/drivers than we humble spectators. They'll be feted and entertained, and led on a tour to an island paradise owned by Sir Sean Connery. Considering all the great cars that James Bond drove it would seem appropriate that he might be in attendance, but the organisers have made no promises.

For an amusing aside to our trip to the original Nassau Speed Week, click onto this Constellation airliner blog.

VANCOUVER JOINS UK AND MONTEREY WITH SUPERCAR AND CLASSICS SHOW

Vancouver, BC has always been a beautiful city, located, as it is, next to the ocean and the mountains and with clement Pacific Northwest weather: little snow, rarely too hot. That's what drew me here decades ago when I'd become tired of Toronto's bland architecture and freezing winters. Over the years I went back and forth, never able to make a satisfactory living in BC yet always keen to get away from the old home town. There was also a lengthy period when my family and I lived in New York and then in London, and those were wonderful times but for entirely different reasons.

During the period when I first arrived and today, the city of Vancouver changed enormously. Impelled by the success of Expo 86, by its celebrated World Fair and by the recent winter Olympics, enriched by the bankrolls of a wave of Hong Kong immigrants, Vancouver has become one of North America's most modern cities. It also employs the continent's most advanced transportation system. All of which makes Vancouver an appropriate location for a relatively new kind of automobile show combining spectacular "supercars" with elegant classics. It is being developed in the same fashion as England's Salon Privé, and Monterey car week's The Quail.

Officially titled "The Shaughnessy Concours d'Elegance (subtitled Luxury+Supercar Weekend)" it takes place on the lawns of Van Dusen Botanical Gardens on Sep 10-11, an elegant setting, though without the background of Syon House, the London home of The Duke of Northumberland, or California's Quail Lodge. No, Vancouver doesn't have it all but never mind, the Gardens are quite lovely. The Shaughnessy Concours d'Elégance will commemorate both the 125th Anniversary of the invention of the Automobile and Vancouver's 125th Birthday. New models will include the spectacular CLS 63 AMG from Mercedes-Benz, the stunning LFA supercar from Lexus, the latest Porsche GT3 ALMS race cars, and the all-new electric Fisker Karma. Marque1 contributor Nigel Matthews says the new McLaren MP4-12C, having just been unveiled at Pebble Beach, will be there.

In addition the "2011 Shaughnessy Concours d'Elégance at VanDusen Botanical Garden" will present a collection of priceless classics, competing for the Best of Show award. Nigel (just returned from judging at Pebble Beach), is in charge of choosing both the supercars and the concours entrants. Assigned by classes they include Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings, Coupes and Roadsters; Rolls-Royce – the 100th Anniversary of the Spirit of Ecstasy; Ferrari Front-Engine Sports and Racing Cars; the 50th Anniversary of the E-Type Jaguar. Germany and Italy will be equally well represented

The organisers assure us that this event will be "the city’s most stylish garden party by day, where you can enjoy lunch al-fresco while sipping on fine wines and modern cocktails while the evenings will heat up with a series of gourmet dinners at Le Crocodile, Hawksworth, and II Giardino, along with access to late night parties at Republic and Bar None."

Hmmm... quite an adventurous schedule for a first try but there's little reason to believe it won't succeed, even in today's economic climate. If I could offer just one suggestion to the organisers it would be this: "Shaughnessy Concours d'Elégance at VanDusen Botanical Garden" is far too long and awkward to spell. Next year make it shorter. Salon Privé is short, even if most North Americans don't know how to position the accent. The Quail is delightfully short and memorable. Try "The Van Dusen Supercar and Classics Weekend." Sooner or later, probably sooner if the event succeeds, it will become known as "The Van Dusen." You could hardly ask for more.

WE ATTEND THE LARGEST JAG GATHERING IN NORTH AMERICA

On a beautiful sunny day in Victoria, BC, more than 150 Jaguar cars arrived for the annual Jaguars on the Island gathering. They came from all over British Columbia, from Washington, from Oregon, and from Alberta in what has been billed as one of the largest of its kind in North America. Jaguar is my favorite make and yet, until now, I had failed to attend this event, even though the locale is a mere 25 miles from where I live. My feeble excuse is that I have no friends in Sidney to accompany me and I hate being a loner.

I'll make no excuses for being a Jaguar fan, though. In all its 75-year history the company has never made an ugly car. Some models were less attractive than others but every one can be described as beautiful. No other manufacturer of mass-produced automobiles can match that claim. And the extraordinary thing is that some are pure sports cars, some are grand tourers, some are compact sedans, some are large luxury  sedans, a few are station wagons, and quite a few are world champion racers.

Even the engines were a work of art (I say "were" because the contemporary V-8s, like engines from all manufacturers these days, are hidden under stylised covers). The original double-overhead-cam six, in my opinion, is aesthetically perfect, right up there with the best from Bugatti and Duesenberg. Some might argue that the Jaguar V-12 engine is just as handsome but the effect is spoiled by its complexity. The DOHC six would not look out of place in the Museum of Modern Art.

Seeing so many Jaguars in one place is a bit overwhelming. With row upon row of E-Types, row upon row of XJ sedans, how do the judges decide which is worthy of a trophy? I would have great difficulty making a choice, but then I was equally laissez faire about the many gorgeous women in my life, thus explaining why I no longer have one. Nevertheless I did spot a couple of favorites in the crowd, including the Mark V Drophead, a holdover from Jaguar's pre-war years.

In future, stimulated by an upcoming move to Victoria, I've promised myself to attend future Jaguars on the Island events and who knows, maybe one of those pretty ladies who smiled at me today (though I can't imagine why) will be there to offer a petit fours with champagne at lunchtime. So much the better if she's single and drives a Jaguar. Thanks to the Jaguar Car Club of Victoria for organising the event and for tolerating this bit of whimsy from a fan.

[Photos: Philip Powell]

KARMANN-GHIA 2ND GENERATION COUPE CELEBRATES 50TH

Every year in late summer my brother Alan and his wife Claudette leave overheated Florida to spend at least a month in Europe. Because they formerly worked for the US Army hospital in Frankfurt (where they met) the couple have never stopped admiring the European lifestyle, consequently the trip usually begins somewhere in Germany. I'm hoping they might find time to attend what is certain to be one of the most spectacular automotive events of the season, the Volkswagen T34 50th Anniversary celebration in Georgsmarienhütte on 11-14 August. Admittedly it's a long way north of their current base in the Black Forest but take the train, guys! You may never see anything like this again. I'd be there in a heartbeat if I could afford the journey.

What's so significant about the Volkswagen T34? For the benefit of viewers who don't dig code numbers, the T34 replaced the original Beetle-based Karmann-Ghia coupe. It was built on the more advanced VW 1500 platform and not only enjoyed considerable more performance than the original Ghia but improved braking and handling. Arguably it was even better looking and came close to being a "poor man's" Porsche, at least when compared to the 356B. Some of its styling details later appeared on the second-generation Chevrolet Corvair and on the BMW 2002.

You'd think such a car would become a marketing sensation but that never happened, though sales were reasonable during the period from its introduction in 1962 through to 1969.

I'm aware of the T34 during a previous life as assistant public relations manager for Volkswagen Canada. It was my job to help launch the VW 1500 sedan and wagon along with this exquisite coupe. But what I remember most is the mysterious appearance of a prototype cabriolet. There one day, it seemed to be gone the next, whisked away by a VW management that either wasn't convinced of the marketing possibilities or wouldn't spend the money required to stiffen the body with the top chopped off. Estimates on the number of prototypes built vary but there were at least ten fully-functional models. Amazingly five still survive in Germany. I'd be willing to bet they'll all make the journey to Georgsmarienhütte.

There are still a number of T34 coupes to be seen at shows in Europe, the UK, and North America, yet in spite of my close relationship with the car those many years ago I can't recall ever seeing one on the road. But if I do I will salute what is surely one of the collector car world's most under-rated and overlooked production coupes. Meanwhile, brother Alan, have fun wherever you are.

PORSCHE 911T RESTORATION COMPLETE, READY FOR RAFFLE

Back in December of 2010 I posted a blog about a 1973 Porsche 911T that had been delivered to Porsche Classic in Stuttgart, Germany for a total restoration. The work was being done on behalf of the Porsche Club of America, which would raffle the car to its members. The winner is to be announced at the club's annual Porsche Parade, held between July 31 and August 7th at Savannah, Georgia.

I'm happy to inform you that the restoration is now complete and as you might expect from a job performed by Porsche craftsmen, some of whom have been with the company since the car was originally built, the result is sheer perfection. It may not be stretching a point to say it is even better than new. Needless to say, every last detail has been examined and rebuilt where necessary, from body to engine to upholstery. Many a Porsche enthusiast, including myself, will be more than a little envious of the winner.

Porsche’s media site explains: “We regularly reported about the progress of the full restoration on our website, supplemented with numerous pictures and film material of the individual work steps,” says Barbara Böckenhoff, who is responsible for project coordination at Porsche Classic. PCA members also received updates through the club’s online newsletter. In this way, Porsche Classic was able to demonstrate its outstanding expertise and its ideal factory restoration facilities to customers in the USA in particular – with more than 100,000 members, the PCA is the largest Porsche Club in the world. In the Porsche Classic workshop close to Stuttgart, work is carried out only with original tools, original parts (or parts reproduced on the basis of original drawings) and using original data and dimensions. Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Classic: “Every year we service and restore around 250 Porsche classic cars from all over the world, from the 356 through to the last air-cooled 911 model, the Type 993.”

I've always been fascinated by the idea that a vintage automobile can be sent back to the factory for repair and restoration. It's not a service offered by every car manufacturer but the Europeans believe that maintaining the image is good business. Another example is the BMW 2002 that was built virtually from scratch by BMW Heritage when the factory discovered it still had 95% of the parts in stock. As a former 2002 owner, that's one classic I'd love to own.