Ferrari Enzo in the Garden; the scenery at the Intermountain Concours is as spectaular as the cars.
By Wallace Wyss
Images by Booker-All Rights Reserved.
A world class Concours in Utah? There’s potential here!
First of all, there’s the cars. While this writer is not familiar with the classic cars in Utah, and rarely hears of Utah entries at events, he saw an incredible wealth of cars come out of the woodwork at the 2012 Intermountain Concours, representing a strong car culture.
Among them were several million dollar and multi-million dollar cars if you want to take value as one criterion (and the marketplace acknowledges this with big auctions adjoining these events, often on the actual grounds of famous Concours like Pebble Beach).
The Bohman Special, a very special exhibit from the movie 'Johnny Dark'.
This Concours was a full on display of strong contenders in every class. But first of all, I have to give an award to the setting, a fabulous 55-acre garden, lush and green with rolling hills, sculptures and a towering 50-foot waterfall in a natural rock setting that is the perfect backdrop for the awards ceremony. Unlike many Concours venues, this one will allow the event to grow year after year with seemingly unlimited and well-manicured space for vendor tents, special exhibits and automobiles.
Your author thought this might be Shelby's old Healey that he crashed in the Carrera Panamericana, but this one was steel with the paintwork reminescent of Shelby's mount.
In sports cars, there were two or three strong Ferrari contenders. I liked the 365 California from the Mallya Collection, giving it points on rarity alone (14 built).
Judging standards were up to par utilizing a system combining points and provenance, handed down from a prominent national Concours circuit judge.
In prewar European classics, a very elegant green 1937 Bentley with matching green top looked great against Utah’s dramatic mountains.
The Bentley had razor edge coachwork on the fenders, was pristine and won Best European car.
In American classics there was a two-tone 1932 Auburn Speedster, which, with its closed rear body (looking like an upturned boat) seemed so impractical a design compared to the Bentley of similar vintage. In the contest of Elegance, the Auburn was awarded Best of Show American, while the 1937 Bentley was garnered Best of Show European honors.
The Auburn Boattail Speedster garnered Best in Show-American award.
This year, the Intermountain Concours honored the life and designs of Carroll Shelby. The specialty display offered some of the rarest Cobras on the planet such as the “Hey Little Cobra” car that inspired the song by the same name, and the Gerber Cobra personally used by Carroll as a promotional car (he was known to change the paint scheme for media promotions to create the appearance of more cars than really existed). Unknown to many, Shelby was a military man and he was given a proper salute-guns and all. This is something I haven’t seen to date at other automotive celebrations.
Miller Motorsports displayed the 'Hey Little Cobra' car in memory of Larry H. MIller who was both a fan and friend of Carroll Shelby.
Another highlight of the event was a tour up the mountain (8000 ft) to the Sundance Institute and Resort owned by actor Robert Redford, who also hosts the Sundance Film Festival. This is a dramatically situated piece of land, and I was hoping, since I was riding in the Ferrari California, for a brisk run, but the police escort was lollygagging and we putted along behind. It was cool when they stopped all traffic to let us parade through. I don’t think California would stop traffic to let a group of classic cars roll through unimpeded.
The Sundance Institute is on 6000 acres of land bought by Robert Redford, whose first wife was from Utah. Each year it holds a film festival.
The visual experience of flowers in bloom accented by beautiful automobiles is powerful, but the aural experience was also a treat. The sound of distant bagpipes could be heard as one approached the Concours, and a powerful baritone opera singer delivered our national anthem.
The entertainer who performed prior to the awards ceremony in the amphitheater was first rate. All of this was done for a great cause: the support of Fisher House Salt Lake City and Chance Phelps Foundation. Both organizations support active military personnel who are between tours or returning home and in need of physical treatment and counseling by helping the soldier’s family to physically be close by.
The Intermountain Concours event team has plans for an expanded weekend of events next year including a welcome dinner with a tour of a noted automotive museum, silent auction, track day and more.
On Sunday, the Motoring Tour meandered the mountain ridge to Robert Redford's Sundance Resort.
They plan to celebrate Italian cars and observe multiple anniversaries including Lamborghini and Corvette. The dates are September 20-22, 2013 and you can’t pick a more scenic time of the year to visit Utah. More at Intermountain Concours.
Intermountain Concours Winners
Allard J2R was also brought by Malcolm Page, representing the Mallya Collection.
American Best in Show – 1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster – DeWayne Ashmead
European Best of show – 1937 Bentley DHC – Stephen Field
Peoples Choice – 1953 Bohman Special Roadster – Tom Sawyer
Spirit of Elegance – 1955 Allard J2R – Malcolm Page/Mallya Collection
Essence of Concours – 1941 Packard Lebaron Sport Brougham – David Pearson
Best Sports Car – 1966 Ferrari 365 California spider – Malcolm Page/Mallya Colection
Garden Award – 1959 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe – Steve Green
Most Unique – 1944 Ford GPW Jeep & Trailor – Gerald Larson
2012 Concours Class Winners
AC – American Classic
Best in Class – 1933 Packard 659 Coupe Roadster – John Mason
APA – American Production – 20s – 30s
Best in Class – 1930 Ford A Deluxe Coupe – John Lee
Class Award – 1928 Ford a Sport Coupe – Steve Garrett
APB – American Production – 40s
Best in Class – 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible – Dennis Dominguez
Best in Class – 1952 Hudson Hornet – Jon Andersen
Class Award – 1957 Lincoln Prmiere – Anton Kodra
Class Award – 1956 Ford Club Sedan – Joy Jex
APE – American Production – 60s
Best in Class – 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan – Marty Smith
Class Award – 1967 Cadillac Deville – Kyle Reed
ASCA – American Sports Car – A
Best in Class – 1963 Corvette Split Window – Dan Reeve
ASCB – American Sports Car – B
Best in Class – 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible – Stephan Field
Class Award – 1955 Ford thunderbird – Dave & Carolyn Hedderly – Smith
CSC – Contemporary Super Car
Best in Class – 2003 Ferrari Enzo Berlinetta – Richard losee
Class Award – 2011 Lotus Evora GP Coupe – Charlie Beeder
ESCA – European Sports Car – A
Best in Class – 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark l BN7 Roadster – Jim revel
Class Award – 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Open – Kevin Cowan
ESCB – European Sports Car – B
Best in Class – 1959 Triumph TR3A Roadster – Shelby Stastny
Class Award – 1968 Triumph TR-250 – Richard Weyland
FE – Ferrari – Early
Best in Class – 1972 Ferrari 312 P(B) – Michael Call
FL – Ferrari – Late
Best in Class – 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Berlinetta – Jennifer Lanzetti
Class Award – 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe – Ed Davenport
GP – German Production
Best in Class – 1967 Volkswagen Type l Sunroof Sedan – Robert Green
Class Award – 1963 Volkswagen Sedan Rag-Top – Ron Perry
GSC – German Sports Car
Best in Class – 1968 Porsche 912 Coupe – Clark Parkinson
Class Award – 1964 Porsche 356 Coupe – David Hobson
MC – Muscle Car
Best in Class – 1969 Ford Fairlane – Cobra – Mike Forbush
Class Award – 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible – Darnell Kowallis
SAE – Shelby American – Early
Best in show 1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible – Floyd Huxford
Class Award – 1966 Shelby GT350 – Alan Long
SAR – Shelby American – Race
Best in Class – 1965 Shelby GT-350R – Greg Miller
SC – Shelby Cobra
Best in class – 1964 Shelby Cobra Roadster – Greg Miller
Class Award – 1963 Shelby Cobra Roadster – Greg Miller
SIA – Shelby Influenced – A
Best in Class – 1965 Sunbeam tiger Roadster – Clyde Aston
Class Award – 1967 Sunbeam Tiger MK 1A – Lynn Wall
SIB – Shelby Influenced – B
Best in Class – 1953 Allard J2-X Open – Richard Losee
SIC – Shelby Influenced – C
Best in Class – 2010 Shelby Series 4 Cobra – Ardell Brown
SID – Shelby Influenced – D
Best in Class – 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe – Lon Myers