PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2007) – Amid a sea of the world’s rarest vintage vehicles, and thousands of spectators, classic car owners engaged in a genteel battle of chrome, polish and style on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf course to see whose car would earn the coveted “Best of Show” on Sunday at the 57th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The highly competitive Concours competition, which included judging in 24 classes, finally had a winner when a 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special, owned by Harry Yeaggy from Cincinnati, Ohio, was named “Best of Show.”
“I’m trying to catch my breath,” said Yeaggy on the winner’s ramp. “I knew I had a great car. I love the styling and the art deco look, and it’s a performance car. It’s just elegant from every different direction. For me to get a performance car and a beautiful car is a perfect combination. In my opinion, this is the most significant American car ever built.
“I’d also like to give loads of credit to Chris Charlton, who did the restoration work.”
Yeaggy’s Duesenberg, nicknamed the “Mormon Meteor” after Ab Jenkins, who campaigned the car extensively. He drove it at Le Mans in 1935 and set a world speed record averaging 135 mph and became a local hero when he set a series of land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. This hometown racing celebrity helped to establish Bonneville as the site for land speed records when he convinced Sir Malcolm Campbell to abandon Daytona and come to Utah for his speed trials. This boosterism helped him to become Mayor of Salt Lake City.
Yeaggy purchased the car three years ago at the Pebble Beach auction, paying nearly $5 Million ($4.45 plus bidder's premium) at the Gooding auction. After two years and quite a few more dollars, the Meteor was restored to its 1935 configuration, including the large chrome exhaust pipe so prominently displayed and the head fairings behind the cockpit. The car was a crowd favorite at the Tour d'Elegance on Thursday, where entrants drive a route through the Monterey Peninsula prior to the concours on Sunday. In fact, the car was featured on the Tour program cover.
Yeaggy, who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, keeps a collection he limits to 25 cars, each of which he drives. He had to sell one in order to make room for the Meteor,. He parted with a Corvette.
Competitors from 30 states and 12 countries brought their prized automotive possessions to the California’s Monterey Peninsula for judging. Additionally, proceeds from raffles, auctions, sponsorships and gate receipts helped contribute more than $1 million to charity for the second consecutive year.
“The Pebble Beach Concours has truly become ‘the world’s concours,’” says Concours Chairman Sandra Kasky Button. “In addition to enthusiasts, sponsors and media from around the globe, this year we welcomed exotic, historic vehicles from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and Argentina.”
The featured automotive marques for 2007 were Aston Martin – with four classes, including a special exhibition of historic Astons and three postwar classes – and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg group. (The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and Duesenbergs once owned by Clark Gable and Gary Cooper were among the most well-known vehicles.) Additionally, the historic hot rod class celebrated the 75th anniversary of the iconic ’32 Ford (known as “The Deuce”), and the “10-plus Club” focused on cars with engines displacing 10 liters or more. Overall, nearly 200 classic vehicles, including the event’s oldest competitor – an 1897 Henriod – competed in the annual classic car showcase along the Monterey coastline.
“It happens every year on the third Sunday in August; a blending of automotive design, craftsmanship and history,” says Kasky. “Car aficionados nervously roll their vehicles onto the 18th fairway of one of the world’s most famous golf courses, seeking to win ‘best of show’ honors. For spectators, it’s an automotive time capsule, with the finest artistry and design on display from more than 100 years of the automobile.
The 58th Pebble Beach Concours, slated for Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, will include a celebration of the centennial of General Motors and the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Class Judging Results
Class A (Antique through 1915)
1st 1913 Chalmers Model 18 Touring owned by the The Nethercutt Collection located in Sylmar
2nd 1910 Pope-Hartford Model T 5 Passenger Touring owned by Gary and Sheryl Hunter from Arcadia
3rd 1910 Mitchell Model S 7 Passenger Touring owned by Ray Gibson from Turlock
Class B (Vintage 1916-1924)
1st 1919 Pierce-Arrow Model 66A-4 Don Lee Touring owned by James C. Schneck from Manitowoc, Wisconsin
2nd 1917 Locomobile Model 48 Healey Gunboat Cabriolet owned by Stephen Dean from Fresno
3rd 1916 Pierce-Arrow Model 66 Runabout owned by William B. Ruger, Jr. from Newport, New Hampshire
Class C-1 (American Classic Open 1925-1941)
1st 1929 duPont G Waterhouse 4 Passenger Speedster owned by Thomas L. duPont from St. Petersburg, Florida
2nd 1930 Ruxton Model C Rauch and Lang Roadster owned by Jim and Evelyn Fasnacht from Houston, Texas
3rd 1933 Chrysler Imperial CL LeBaron Convertible Roadster owned by Ed Rittenhouse from Mercer Island, Washington
Class C-2 (Packard Open 1924-1941)
1st 1934 Packard 1107 Touring owned by Thomas Moretti from Inverness, Illinois
2nd 1937 Packard 1507 Coupe Roadster owned by Nicola Bulgari from Rome, Italy
3rd 1933 Packard 1004 Coupe Roadster owned by Craig and Hanne Ekberg from Rolling Hills
Class C-3 (American Classic Closed 1925-1941)
1st 1930 duPont Merrimac Special Sedan owned by Lammot J. du Pont from McLean, Virginia
2nd 1934 Packard 1107 Coupe owned by David and Linda Kane from Bernardsville, New Jersey
3rd 1934 Packard 1108 Dietrich Sport Sedan owned by Ray and Janet Scherr from Westlake Village
Class E (Auburn & Cord)
1st 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster owned by Ray and Janet Scherr from Westlake Village
2nd 1933 Auburn 12-161A Speedster owned by Joseph and Margie Cassini from West Orange, New Jersey
3rd 1932 Auburn 12-160A Speedster owned by Stan Lucas from Long Beach
Class G (Duesenberg J & SJ)
1st 1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Disappearing Top Torpedo Convertible Coupe owned by the The William Lyon Family located in Newport Beach
2nd 1931 Duesenberg J Murphy Coupe owned by Lee and Joan Herrington from Bow, New Hampshire
3rd 1935 Duesenberg J Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Coupe owned by Sam and Emily Mann from Englewood, New Jersey
Class H (Rolls-Royce Prewar)
1st 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Barker Roi des Belges owned by DeNean Stafford, III from Tifton, Georgia
2nd 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall owned by John M. O'Quinn from Houston, Texas
3rd 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Brewster Savoy owned by Aaron and Valerie Weiss from San Marino
Class J-1 (European Classic 1925-1931)
1st 1930 Minerva AL Van Den Plas Cabriolet owned by Paul Emple from Rancho Santa Fe
2nd 1928 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS LeBaron Convertible Coupe owned by Peter T. Boyle from Oil City, Pennsylvania
3rd 1938 Delage D8-120 Van Vooren Cabriolet owned by Thomas R. Kowalski from Centennial, Colorado
Class J-2 (European Classic Open 1932-1939)
1st 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Touring Superleggera Coupé owned by David B. Smith from Medina, Washington
2nd 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Gangloff Coupé owned by Michael D. Kadoorie from Hong Kong
3rd 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupé owned by Oscar Davis from Elizabeth, New Jersey
Class K (Prewar Sports and Racing)
1st 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster owned by Harry Yeaggy from Cincinnati, Ohio
2nd 1923 Mercedes 28/95 Targa Florio Roadster owned by the The Petersen Automotive Museum located in Los Angeles
3rd 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster owned by Storie and Jaiden Lynch from Pebble Beach
Class L-1 (Prewar Preservation)
1st 1928 Stutz BB Coupe owned by Jim Callahan from Oakland
2nd 1923 Locomobile Model 48 Sportif owned by Wayne Herstad from Tacoma, Washington
3rd 1914 Haynes Model 27 Touring owned by Mark I. Hyman from St. Louis, Missouri
Class L-2 (Postwar Preservation through 1967)
1st 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta owned by Manny and Juanita Del Arroz from Diablo
2nd 1955 OSCA Vignale Berlinetta owned by Jack E. Thomas, Jr. from St. Louis, Missouri
3rd 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe owned by William R. Grimsley from Sausalito
Class M-1 (Ferrari Grand Touring)
1st 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series I owned by Peter S. Kalikow from New York, New York
2nd 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta owned by Jaime Muldoon from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
3rd 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Spyder California owned by Michael Marix from Rancho Mirage
Class M-2 (Ferrari Competition)
1st 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta owned by Brian and Kim Ross from Cortland, Ohio
2nd 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta owned by Joseph M. Barone from Honesdale, Pennsylvania
3rd 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Interim Berlinetta owned by Lorenzo Zambrano from Monterrey, Mexico
Class N-1 (Aston Martin Historical Display)
1st 1924 Aston Martin Side Valve Tourer owned by Christopher J. Lendrum from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom
2nd 1936 Aston Martin 2 Litre Type A Speed Model owned by Angus Graham from Glasgow, Scotland, UK
3rd 1923 Aston Martin Side Valve Open Wheel Race Car owned by Roger and Priscilla Higgins from Santa Ynez
Class N-2 (Aston Martin Postwar Race Cars)
1st 1956 Aston Martin DB3S owned by Peter G. Livanos from Cobham, United Kingdom
2nd 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupé owned by J. Roberto Quiroz from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
3rd 1953 Aston Martin DB3 owned by John Sinders from Huntington Station, New York
Class N-3 (Aston Martin Postwar Road Cars)
1st 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Drop Head Coupé owned by Peter G. Livanos from Cobham, United Kingdom
2nd 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Drop Head Coupé owned by Scott and Joan Kriens from Sarasota
3rd 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III Drop Head Coupé owned by Larry and Jane Solomon from Woodside
Class N-4 (Aston Martin Postwar Coachbuilt Cars)
1st 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Berlinetta owned by Peter Read from Berkeley
2nd 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Cabriolet owned by Michael Schudroff from Pound Ridge, New York
3rd 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Spyder owned by Bob and Ellen Cole from Danville
Class O (Postwar Custom Coachwork Sports)
1st 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta owned by Bruce M. Male from Swampscott, Massachusetts
2nd 1952 Packard Macauley Speedster owned by Ralph and Adeline Marano from Westfield, New Jersey
3rd 1966 Lamborghini 400 GT Touring Berlinetta owned by Paul J. Roesler from Mill Valley
Class P (Historic Hot Rods: 1932 Ford 75th Anniversary)
1st 1932 Ford Lloyd Bakan 3-Window Coupe owned by Donald B. Orosco from Pebble Beach
2nd 1932 Ford Walker Morrison Roadster owned by Jack Stirnemann from St. Louis, Missouri
3rd 1932 Ford Tom McMullen Roadster owned by Jorge Zaragoza from South San Francisco
Class R (The 10+ Club: Cars with Engines Displacing 10 Liters or more)
1st 1911 Fiat S74 Race Car owned by George F. Wingard from Eugene, Oregon
2nd 1908 Napier 65R Race Car owned by Daniel Sielecki from Acassuso, Argentina
3rd 1905 Panhard et Levassor Type Q Labourdette Double Phaeton owned by J. Peter Ministrelli from Troy, Michigan
Class S (Postwar Sports and Racing)
1st 1951 Alfa 1900 Touring Berlinetta owned by C. A. "Skeets" Dunn from Rancho Santa Fe
2nd 1953 Siata 208S Spyder owned by Robert W. Owens from Haverford, Pennsylvania
3rd 1954 Stanguellini 750 Sport Internazionale Racer owned by Howard and Diane Banaszak from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Class T (Brooklands Centennial Celebration)
1st 1930 Bentley Speed Six "Old #2" owned by the Bentley Motors located in Crewe, Cheshire, United Kingdom
2nd 1909 Benz & Cie "Blitzen Benz" World Land Speed Record owned by Bill Evans from San Diego
3rd 1921 Mercedes "Chitty Bang Bang II" Bligh Brothers Tourer owned by Gary Bahre
This is a jam packed week and there are more events than any one person can ever attend but a little preplanning can help you focus your quest for ultimate auto pleasure. Here are some sites that will get you started.
Automobilia Monterey: www.automobiliamonterey.com
Blackhawk Collection Exposition: http://www.blackhawkcollection.com
Carmel Vintage Car Parade and Display: www.carmelcalifornia.com
Concours Auto Rally & Celebration: www.pacificgrove.org
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction: www.pebblebeach.com
Khaki's Ferrari Event: www.thebarnyard.com
Kruse Select Car Auction at Concorso Italiano: www.kruse.com
Monterey Historic Automobilie Races at Laguna Seca: www.laguna-seca.com
Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance: www.pebblebeachconcours.net
RM Classic's Monterey Sports Car Auction: www.rmauctions.com
Russo & Steele Monterey Muscle Car Auction at the Marriott: www.russoandsteele.com/monterey_auction.html
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