Palm Springs, CA – A crowd of over 3000 people swarmed the O’Donnell Golf Course in Palm Springs in order to see more than 100 exquisite automobiles competing in the first Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance last weekend.

Taking the big “Best of Show” award was a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition owned by Ken and Ann Smith of La Jolla who received the award from concours organizer Paul Merrigan.  The swoopy French classic with a custom body by Figoni and Falaschi also took home the "People's Choice Award."

The cars were competing for 36 awards judged by automotive authorities, including Senior Judge Bill Krause, legendary sports car driver; Ed Justice Jr., Voice of Road and Track Speed Radio and President of Justice Brothers Inc. served as Co-Master of Ceremonies.

Michael Lynch, author, founder of the Carmel Concours with longtime involvement in the Pebble Beach and The Quail Show, was the other Co-Master of Ceremonies. General Richard Wilmot (US Army ret.) served as Grand Marshall.

Both European and American classics were represented by the finest automobile makers. Interesting thematic Corrals, as well as the first Ferrari ever built, Chassis Number 01C, making its first-ever western United States appearance, were also draws to this year’s event that received international attention. The featured marque of this year’s Concours was Maserati. The event spotlighted sports racing cars including many Ferraris and Maseratis.

In addition to the Concours trophy, the winner of the Best of Show was presented with a limited edition print by noted automobile artist Nicholas Watts of the winning Bugatti Type 35 in the 1930 Monaco Grand Prix, signed by Watts and the late Rene Dreyfus, who won that year.

The crowd strolled through the grounds accompanied by the smooth jazz sounds of Fitz and Wendy Jayne Productions. In the afternoon The Twenty Nine Palms Marine Color Guard led a ceremonial presentation of the National Anthem.

It wasn’t just about grand classics.  There were some quirky cars and offbeat delights like the micro-mini BMW Isetta with the one door in the front as well as hot rods and an Avanti -- a car from the design shop of former Palm Spring resident Raymond Loewy.

The actual concours was part of a weekend of events that started out on Friday, with a 30-mile Tour Classique from Palm Springs to Palm Desert and back coupled with a VIP reception at the Chop House Restaurant, presented by seven Palm Springs restaurants. Major sponsors of this year’s event include, Time Warner Cable and KJJZ, JACK FM, Denise Roberge Jewelry and Art Gallery, Leeds & Son Fine Jewelers, Cuistot Restaurant and Kaiser Restaurant Group.

All the cars on display met the requirements for participating in the Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance, “an automobile must be a well preserved or accurately restored vehicle, and it will almost certainly have some historic value.  Perhaps in its day it served to debut new technology or new styling trends or it has an amazing racing record. Concours cars are rare, but they must be one thing more… above all, they must be elegant,” said the organizers.

Here’s a line up of the “elegant” winners at the inaugural event:

Best of Show: 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition, Ken & Ann Smith
Best Maserati: 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato, John Bookout
Best European Coach Built: 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato, John Bookout
Best American Coach Built: 1936 Packard 120 LeBaron, Crevier Classic Cars
Best Pre-War: 1930 Franklin Speedster, Kendall Rosemeyer
Best Preserved Original: 1968 Maserti Mexico, Doug Magnon
Most Authentic Restoration: Alfa Romeo 6C2500SS Villa D’Este, Symbolic Motor Cars
Best 50s Competition Car: Ferrari 375MM, Tom Shaughnessy
People’s Choice: 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition, Ken & Ann Smith
Longest Distance: 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato, John Bookout from Houston, Texas
C1 – Maserati
    1st Place: 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato, John Bookout
    2nd Place: 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Alamano Body Coupe, Mathew and Jonathan Segal
    3rd Place: 1949 Maserati A6-1500, Bill Noon
C2 – Ferrari
    1st Place: 1961 Ferrari 400 SuperAmerica, Vic Branstetter
    2nd Place: 1964 Ferrari Lusso, Michael Marix
    3rd Place: 1963 Ferrari SuperAmerica, Don Murray
C3 Jaguar
    1st Place: 1958 Jaguar XK150, Steve Kirby
    2nd Place: 1967 Jaguar XK-E Series I, Ken and Ann Smith
    3rd Place: 1955 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster, Robert and Virginia Huntington
C4 American Classic
    1st Place: 1932 Lincoln Waterhouse, Crevier Classic Cars
    2nd Place: 1940 Packard Darrin Body, David D. France
    3rd Place: 1936 Packard 120 LeBaron, Crevier Classic Cars
C5 European Classic, 1925-1941
    1st Place: 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition, Ken & Ann Smith
    2nd Place: 1930 Minerva 3 Position Cabriolet, Paul Empie
    3rd Place: 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental, David Morris
C6 American Classic, 1946-1974
    1st Place: 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury Max Wedge Convertible, Tim Briley
    2nd Place: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, Robert Wood
    3rd Place: 1952 Corvette, Kaveh Daryaie

C7 Rolls Royce/Bentley/Aston Martin
    1st Place: 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Saloon, Mark and Jane Ransome
    2nd Place: 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, Bill Grandey and Kathy Morby
    3rd Place: 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner, Andy Linsky
C8 European Classic, 1946-1974
    1st Place: 1952 Porsche, Mike Marix
    2nd Place: 1964 Amphicar, Anthony Cavelli
    3rd Place: 1963 Porsche 356 Cabriolet, Jim Cameron
C9 European Sports Racing, 1946-1974:
    1st Place: 1955 Jaguar D Type, Theodore E. Gildred
    2nd Place: Deusch Bonnet, Bernard Dervieux
    3rd Place: Edmond’s Midget, Ralph Day

The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance raised money for local non-profit organizations: Lucy Curci Cancer Center, College of the Desert, Animal Samaritans and Angel Light Academy’s Leadership Training Institute.

"We are really happy with the success of this first Desert Classic Concours
d'Elegance. It was a stunning collection of automobiles never before seen in
the Coachella Valley," said Paul Merrigan, founder and organizer.

So happy, he’s already planning round two.  The next Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance is set for Sunday, March 1, 2009.

For more information call (760) 346-1810 or go to www.DesertConcours.com

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