Best of Show Concours de Sport: 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet owned by Merle and Peter Mullin of Oxnard, CA.

CLASS WINNERS:
Class AM1 – American Manufactured 1929 – 1945
1st place: 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster, Terry Wagner, Fair Oaks, CA
2nd place: 1934 LaSalle Convertible Coupe, Benjamin Solomon, Incline Village, NV
3rd place: 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Cabriolet, William Rochedieu, Santa Rosa, CA

Class AM2 – American Manufactured 1946 – 1956
1st place: 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 2 Door Sedan, Rick Sanguinetti, Santa Rosa, CA
2nd place: 1950 Mercury Sport Sedan, Vince O’Brien, Greenbrae, CA
3rd place: 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, Stanley Sollid, Santa Rosa, CA

Class AM3 – American Manufactured 1957 – 1970
1st place: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe, Lane Lewis, Livermore, CA
2nd place: 1957 Ford Thunderbird Roadster, Alan Biagi, Rodeo, CA
3rd place: 1964 Lincoln Continental 4 Door Convertible, Michael Sousa, San Francisco, CA

Class C – 50th Anniversary Corvette Sting Ray
1st place: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, Phil White, Atherton, CA
2nd place: 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, Gregory Lawless, Incline Village, NV
3rd place: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, Ed Landman, Petaluma, CA

Class CC – Certified Classics
1st place: 1933 Packard Convertible Coupe, Aaron & Valerie Weiss, San Marino, CA
2nd place: 1934 Cadillac 452D Convertible Limo, James Gately, Sacramento, CA
3rd place: 1929 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Shooting Brake, John B. Carey, San Jose, CA

Class F – 12 Cylinder Ferraris through 1985
1st place: 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Peter Irlenborn, Novato, CA
2nd place: 1966 Ferrari 365 California Spider Convertible, Robert Park, Sausalito, CA
3rd place: 1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, Paul Schaeffer, Tiburon, CA

Class IM – Vintage Italian Motorcycles 1955 – 1976
1st place: 1959 Peripoli Giulietta, Stewart Ingram, San Francisco, CA
2nd place: 1955 Devil Raid 160, Stewart Ingram, San Francisco, CA
3rd place: 1957 Maserati 125 GTS, Stewart Ingram, San Francisco, CA

Class I1 – Imports Under $3,500 1946 – 1962
1st place: 1958 MGA Roadster, Thomas Dunham, San Martin, CA
2nd place: 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster, Chris Roman, San Francisco, CA
3rd place: 1956 Austin-Healey 100 M Le Mans Convertible, Hudson Vitaich, Sacramento, CA

Class I2 – Imports Over $3,500 1946 – 1962
1st place: 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet, Merle and Peter Mullin, Oxnard, CA
2nd place: 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC, Geoffrey Horton, Sonora, CA
3rd place: 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet, Bob Buckter, San Francisco, CA

Class I3 – Imports Under $5,000 1963 – 1979
1st place: 1967 Porsche 912 Coupe, George Vaccaro, Cupertino, CA
2nd place: 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ7 Convertible, Tony Theophilos, Piedmont, CA
3rd place: 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 Convertible, Marty Benck, Sebastopol, CA

Class I4 – Imports Over $5,000 1963 – 1979
1st place: 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster, Wally Buch, Atherton, CA
2nd place: 1965 Iso Grifo GL Prototype, Sandro and Elinor Lee, Burlingame, CA
3rd place: 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo, Mike Burns, Napa, CA

Class J – Japanese Manufacture through 1985
1st place: 1967 Datsun SRL 311 Sport 2000 Convertible, Edward Mason, Aztec, NM
2nd place: 1967 Datsun SRL 311 Sport 2000 Convertible, Mike Young, San Francisco, CA
3rd place: 1978 Datsun 280 Z Coupe, Linda Williams, Santa Clara, CA

Class L – Lamborghini 50th Anniversary through 1990
1st place: 1984 Lamborghini Countach, Bruce Canepa, Scotts Valley, CA
2nd place: 1969 Lamborghini Islero GTS, John Clark, Berkeley, CA
3rd place: none

Class U1 – Unrestored – 1961
1st place: 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, Robert La Mar, Half Moon Bay, CA
2nd place: 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan, Domenic Bavaro, Fresno, CA
3rd place: 1960 Buick LeSabre 4 Door Sedan, William Peachee, Walnut Creek, CA

Class U2 – Unrestored 1962 – 1970
1st place: 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, James Barron, Redwood City, CA
2nd place: 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet, Greg Hubit, Santa Rosa, CA
3rd place: 1969 BMW 2800CS 2 Door Coupe, Karra Canum, San Jose, CA

Class VR – Vintage Race through 1979
1st place: 1919 Ford Racer Speedster, Gary Lucas, Tiburon, CA
2nd place: 1968 Lotus 51A Formula Ford, Dann Shively, Folsom, CA
3rd place: 1966 Lotus 35 Formula 2, Michael Plitkins, Berkeley, CA

Special Award Winners
Chubb Collector Car Insurance: Car We’d Most Like to Insure Award: 
1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster, Wally Buch, Atherton, CA
KCBS All News Radio: Car We’d Most Like to Drive Award:
1971 Lamborghini Miura S, Michael McGinnis, San Rafael, CA
Junior Judges: 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Touring, Theo and Gordon Johnson, Alamo, CA
Spirit of Mille Miglia: 1956 Austin-Healey 100 M Le Mans Convertible, Hudson Vitaich, Sacramento, CA
Hospice By The Bay Spirit of Caring Award:
1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, Stanley Sollid, Santa Rosa, CA
Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties Appreciation Award: 
1947 Cadillac 6207 Club Coupe, Allan McCrary, Vacaville, CA
People’s Choice Award: 1934 LaSalle Convertible Coupe, Benjamin Soloman, Incline Village, NV
Forgotten Treasure: 1964 Daimler SP250 Roadster, Steve Plath, San Anselmo, CA
Charles Goodman Award: 1960 Chrysler 300F, Richard Palmer, Richmond, CA

Also set to appear on the Concours Green at the Marin Civic Center, Sunday, May 19 from 10 am – 4 pm are a 1960 Rolls-Royce Cloud ll Drophead Coupe owned by Elizabeth Taylor; a 1934 Duesenberg J-370 owned by Mae West; Jean Harlow’s 1932 Packard 903 Sport Phaeton and Gloria DeHaven’s 1953 Muntz Jet of which fewer than 400 were built between 1951 and 1954, many of which were purchased by celebrities.

The 2013 Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance will also focus on modern bespoke automobiles from local avant-garde designer Steve Moal; Corvette Sting Ray in celebration of the 50th Anniversary; Lamborghini in celebration of the 50th Anniversary; Japanese Manufacture and vintage Italian motorcycles.

Classic wood cars and station wagons will round out the display of amazing vintage automobiles on the Concours Green.

New this year is the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance partnership with Sonoma Raceway’s Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. Christening the weekend as “The Wine Country Classics,” the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival and the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance have created the Wine Country Classics Flex Pass, which allows attendees to attend both events for just $45. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the power of historic racing machines on track, plus the incomparable beauty of some of the finest vintage automobiles in the country.

Fashion will once again play an important role with the Second Annual Concours Couture Awards given during the Concours on Sunday. Awards for “Best Hat,” “Best Ensemble,” “Best Dressed Couple” and “Best Period Ensemble” will be presented during the event.

For more information regarding the Concours please visit the website at www.Marinsonomaconcours.org. The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is dedicated to advancing the interest of vintage automobile culture and promoting the education of its heritage to the community. Charitable beneficiaries for the 2013 Marin Sonoma Concours include Hospice By The Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties.

Press contact: Stephanie Dunn: 707.738.6145
Additional photos available upon request.
Attached: Steve McQueen racing his 1961 Cooper T56 Mark ll Formula Junior.

The Historics, which will honor Corvette as its featured marquee, will host nearly 400 historic machines on the twisting road course both Saturday and Sunday, as well as the popular Wine Country Pavilion, with samples of fine food and wine from the Sonoma and Napa valleys. Fans will also enjoy car club displays and an open garage area to get an up-close look at the historic machines. For more information, visit www.racesonoma.com/historics orwww.generalracing.com.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance held at the Marin Civic Center, just 15 miles from Sonoma Raceway, will feature vintage automobiles owned by Hollywood Legends, including Jean Harlow’s 1932 Packard Phaeton. The Concours will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini and will also feature vintage Italian motorcycles, Woodie station wagons and a vintage camper and trailer display. For more information on the Concours on Sunday, May 19, please visit www.marinsonomaconcours.org.

To celebrate the inaugural year of this partnership, the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival and the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance have created the Wine Country Classics Flex Pass, which allows attendees to attend both events for just $45. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy the power of historic racing machines on track, plus the incomparable beauty of some of the finest vintage automobiles in the country.

For more information on these events or to purchase your Wine Country Classics Flex Pass, visit www.racesonoma.com/historics or call 800-870-RACE (7223).

San Rafael, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Elegant. Stylish. High-design – all adjectives used to define the exquisite vintage automobiles hand-chosen to compete on the green at the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Held at the iconic Marin County Civic Center, this year’s event celebrates the gorgeous craftsmanship of French coachbuilders such as Figoni & Falaschi, Saoutchik, and Chapron and Italian designers such as Bertone, Zagato and Vignale. Extraordinary Cord automobiles will also be featured in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the last year these cars were produced as well as closed wheel sports racing cars.

A 1938 Talbot-Lago T 150 C SS “Goutte d’Eau” will be just one of the extraordinary automobiles featured from coachbuilder Figoni & Falaschi. Entered by the Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation, this car was originally ordered by Woolf Barnato, a well-known 1930s playboy, race car driver and financier. Also on hand will be the vintage 1947 Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet once owned by Argentinian first lady Eva Peron and her husband Juan. Currently part of the Classic Car Collection at the Academy of Art University, chassis number ‘021’ was the first 202 cabriolet produced by Cisitalia and the only one whose coachwork was designed and manufactured by famed Italian designer and coachbuilder Battista “Pinin” Farina.

Many new features have been added this year to Concours Sunday including three judged classes of vintage British motorcycles and a vintage military vehicle display. In connection with the focus on French and Italian design, fashion will also play a new role with the introduction of suggested dress attire for the Concours green including hats and gloves for women; madras and khakis slacks and blazers for men. Awards for “Best Hat,” “Best Ensemble,” “Best Dressed Couple” and “Best Period Ensemble” will be presented during the event.

Following is an outline of the events comprising the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance Weekend. For more information regarding the weekend’s activities please visit the Web site at marinsonomaconcours.org. Dedicated to advancing the interest of vintage automobile culture and promoting the education of its heritage to the community through events celebrating the automobile, the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance has been able to raise close to half a million dollars for local charities serving Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco counties.

Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance Weekend Festivities:

The Chairman’s Dinner • Friday, May 18, 2012
Ram’s Gate Winery • Sonoma

Join Concours Chairman John Nirenstein as he hosts this exclusive dinner and auction at the new Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma, Calif. Billed as “bringing together the best in wine, architecture, interior design, food and unprecedented guest experience,” Ram’s Gate Winery and executive chef Jason Rose will present a culinary event of distinction for Chairman’s Dinner guests. A Bugatti Veyron, the automobile that set the land speed record for production cars will be on display as will a 1938 Talbot-Lago T 150 C SS “Goutte d’Eau” from the Mullin Automotive Museum collection. Guests will have the unique opportunity to bid on a tour of Jay Leno’s car collection in his “Big Dog Garage” complete with two tickets to attend the Tonight Show. Also up for bid will be a “ride and drive” in a Bugatti Veyron and a private back lot tour of Pixar Studios. An extraordinary evening is planned for all – definitely this year’s don’t miss ticket.

The Marin Sonoma Concours Tour d’Elegance • Sat. May 19, 2012
Begins in Larkspur • Ends at Keller Estate Winery • Petaluma

The Marin Sonoma Concours presents its fourth annual Tour d’Elegance, Saturday, May 19 – a 90-mile driving tour through the scenic valleys of Marin and Sonoma counties. A delight for participant and spectator alike, the Tour begins with a gathering in charming downtown Larkspur replete with coffee, pastries and ample time to view the collection of participating exceptional automobiles. This year we are pleased to announce our destination as the spectacular Keller Estate Winery where participants will enjoy a catered gourmet lunch, winery tour and wines from the Keller Estate collection. The highlight of the day will be a private docent-led tour of Arturo Keller’s world-renowned automobile collection focusing on French and Italian designers.

Tour details:
8 – 9 a.m: Vehicles and owners gather at Emporio Rulli in Larkspur.
9:30 a.m: Tour departs.
11:30 – noon: Tour arrives at Keller Estate Winery.
Noon – 3 p.m: Guests are treated to a catered lunch and tour of Arturo Keller’s
World-renowned automobile collection.*
3 p.m: Tour departs for home.

Tour participation is $75 per person and participation is limited to pre-1979 vintage vehicles.

Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance • Sunday, May 20, 2012
Marin Civic Center • San Rafael

Where art meets function; beauty meets power; fantasy meets actuality – this is the timeless appeal of the automobile. Join us at the fourth annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance and revisit history as we celebrate singular vintage automobiles, the likes of which your path may never cross again. Stroll the green and admire the craftsmanship of the great French coachbuilders and Italian design studios. Be transported to the battlefield by our exhibit of military vehicles or to an historic London alley racing one of the vintage British motorcycles on display. From classic wooden boats to closed wheel race cars there is a vehicle to spark every imagination.

Take a moment from perusing the automobiles to visit our ‘Market on the Green’ where you can enjoy fine food and wine offerings from local purveyors, shop for singular accessories and fashions from international to local designers and admire the women and men modeling the season’s latest ensembles as they meander leisurely amongst the crowd.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance – a history lesson in a day; a memory for a lifetime.

Event details:
Dawn: Field open to entrants.
9:30 a.m: Judging commences.
10 a.m.: Field open to spectators; VIP Pavilion open to VIP guests.
1 p.m: Antique aircraft flyover.
1:30 p.m: Class awards ceremony commences.
2:30 p.m: Concours Couture Awards and ‘Styled to a Tea’ recognition gathering.
3 p.m: Special awards ceremony commences.

Featured vehicles for 2012:
French coachbuilders through 1950
Ferraris through 1974
Italian designers 1946 – 1979
Vintage British motorcycles
Cord automobiles Antique military vehicles
Closed wheel sports racing cars
Classic wooden boats

A full list of automobile classes is available online at marinsonomaconcours.org.

General Admission: $20, children under 16 years of age are free.
VIP Admission: $100, includes VIP Pavilion access with French- inspired catered lunch, wine, VIP parking with private entrance.

San Rafael, Calif.  (January 25, 2012) -  The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance announced today that Hospice By The Bay and Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties will be beneficiaries of the 2012 Marin Sonoma Concours to be held the weekend of May 19 through 20.

According to Concours Chairman, John Nirenstein, “We are very excited to be working with two outstanding charity partners, both of which offer the highest quality of service in their respective fields.  The length of time Hospice By The Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties have been serving their communities is a testament to each organization’s viability and importance.  Our selection committee was attracted to the idea of supporting a spectrum of ages, ranging from helping youth develop their potential as citizens to helping adults face end of life needs and decisions. Both organizations are an excellent fit.”

Hospice By The Bay, a non-profit, community-based program is the second oldest hospice provider in the United States and the first on the West Coast. According to HBTB CEO Sandra Lew, “Hospice By The Bay is proud to be a beneficiary of the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance again this year.  It’s a spectacular event for our community to enjoy. We appreciate the Concours Committee’s generous support for our caring programs and services for terminally ill patients and their families.”

David Solo, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties, which serves an average of 766 children in need on a daily basis shared, “We are proud and honored to be associated with the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance event and we are blessed to be a beneficiary. It is a unique opportunity to partner with an organization that truly cares about making a difference in the lives of the young people we serve.”

Dates for this year’s Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance and Tour d’Elegance are Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, 2012.  The Tour, a scenic drive through Marin and Sonoma counties, will be held on Saturday, May 19.  The Concours will be held on Sunday, May 20 at the Marin Civic Center, and will focus on exceptional automobiles from French coachbuilders through 1950; Italian automobile designers from 1946 through 1975; and Cord in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the last year these extraordinary automobiles were produced.  New to the Concours this year is a judged display of vintage British motorcycles, covering all years through 1979.  Applications for consideration for both Tour and Concours entry are available online at marinsonomaconcours.org.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is dedicated to advancing the interest of vintage automobile culture and promoting the education of its heritage to the community.  Through events celebrating the automobile, the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance has been able to raise close to half a million dollars for local charities serving Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco counties.

For more information regarding MSC and its partners please visit the Web site at marinsonomaconcours.org or contact the organization at 415.479.7727.

Press Contact:
Stephanie Dunn  •  Director of Communications
707.738.6145  •  SDunn@dotinkmgmt.com

Announces Dates for 2012 Event

San Rafael, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2011) – Tiburon resident John Nirenstein has been named the new chairman of the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance.  Nirenstein, who has been with the concours since its inception, most recently held the position of vice chairman and was hand-picked by founder and chairman Charles Goodman to assume his previous role.  According to Mr. Goodman “John was a natural choice to takeover as chairman. His experience in successfully growing start-up companies, high level of integrity, attachment to the hobby and dedication to helping charitable causes will work to insure the continued success of the concours.”  Goodman retains the title of Chairman Emeritus and will play a less active role with the organization, freeing himself to spend more time with family.

Nirenstein brings a wealth of business acumen to his role as chairman, most notably being involved in a number of successful Silicon Valley start-up companies including 3Com and Cisco Systems.   Already under his leadership the concours has become incorporated and is waiting on final government approval regarding their pending 501(c)(3) status. According to Nirenstein, many more changes are in store. “This year we will be focusing on moving the event to the next level, from adding an exclusive “Chairman’s Dinner,” to an even more luxurious “Concours VIP” experience. Of course our laser focus will continue to be on bringing world-class automobiles, classic wooden boats and motorcycles for display. This year promises to be a breakthrough year for us.”

Dates for next year’s Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance and The Tour d’Elegance are Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, 2012.  The Tour, a scenic drive through Marin and Sonoma counties will occur Saturday, May 19.  The main event occurs Sunday, May 20 at the Marin Civic Center and will focus on exceptional automobiles from French coachbuilders through 1950; Italian automobile designers from 1946 – 1975 and extraordinary Cord automobiles in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the last year these automobiles were produced.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is dedicated to advancing the interest of vintage car culture and promoting the education of its heritage to the community.  Through events celebrating the automobile, the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance has been able to raise close to half a million dollars for local charities serving Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco counties.  For more information regarding MSC and its partners please visit the Web site at marinsonomaconcours.org or contact the organization at 415.479.7727.

Press Contact:
Stephanie Dunn  •  Director of Communications
707.738.6145  •  SDunn@dotinkmgmt.com

How would one judge a class of fine motor cars arrayed for showing at an exquisite gathering like the 3rd Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance?  And with more than 175 vintage, classic and significant vehicles on the greens of the Marin Civic Center Fairground Sunday, May 15, the challenge would seem almost insurmountable.

There is a skill and art to the process of judging and according to Marin Sonoma Concours chief judge, Alan Spencer, one important quality – elegance – will shine through.

“Condition, authenticity and presentation are, of course, important and we will look to all cars to be assessed by these criteria,” says Spencer, 60, of San Anselmo. “But what we seek at this event is a review based on elegance – the combined elements of proportion, color and visual appeal.”

Spencer and his team of 50 men and women, three judges per class, review the entries within 19 classes on display. For feature marque entries, like the Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars shown at Marin, he will call in special judges to review the vehicles to their own class standards.

Judgement on judges?

“Well, it’s based on who you trust.” Spencer says.

“Our model here is based on Amelia Island (the prestigious annual and just-concluded show in Florida). We do not use a points-deduction system like those used by SCCA or CCCA in which the entered vehicle begins with 100 points and has points deducted for flaws that could include, for instance, a non-functioning gauge or a dirty undercarriage. However, for a car to do well at our show, it must meet a high level of originality and condition in the eyes of our class judges before it can be considered on the basis of elegance. Elegance is the final criterion when assessing cars against each other in a specific class.”

Spencer was born in Portsmouth, England, and went with his father to see Formula One races at legendary tracks like Silverstone, Goodwood and Brands Hatch .

He was drawn to SCCA activities in Northern California by friends and first judged an SCCA gathering 20 years ago in Ben Lomond, CA. In the San Francisco Bay Area he’s also been a judge at concours d’elegance events at Palo Alto, Hillsborough, San Francisco’s Presidio, Vallejo’s Mare Island and in Lafayette.

What are some of the glaring errors he’s seen on certain cars for showing? “They can be pretty severe – rust bubbling through, shoddy paint, reupholstered in the wrong material. Even had one chap try to register a grey market 1990s Mini Cooper into a class for 1958-75 British small sedans.”

He also operates Wheels, an agency providing picture vehicles for everything from print advertising and TV commercials to corporate gatherings.

The Marin event will include a display of vehicles honoring a century of two American icons – Chevrolet motor cars and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Among six Indy cars on view is the #17 rear-engined Cooper-Climax driven to 9th place in the 1961 race at the Brickyard by now-Sir Jack Brabham. The light and lithe little racer began a revolution at Indy and signaled the coming end of the classic front-engined Kurtis-Offy roadster. There are vintage wooden runabouts on view in the Civic Center lagoon and there will be a special gathering of British car club vehicles in the car club corral.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is a non-profit fundraiser for Hospice By The Bay and also features “The Drive” a separate motoring event to benefit Hospice on Saturday, May 14.

General admission is $20 adults, free for children under 16. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, phone (415) 479-7727.

Featuring more than 175 classic and historic motor cars – as well as vintage trailers, motorhomes and travel trailers – the 3rd annual Marin gathering will be held Sunday, May 15, on the greens of the Marin Civic Center Fairgrounds in San Rafael, CA. There will be a showing of classic wooden boats in the center’s lagoon.

Augmenting the early entry of the Andy Granatelli 1953 Kurtis-Offy Grancor Elgin Piston PinSpecial, which will be shown in its yellow 1955 D – A Lubricant Spl. racing configuration, the five newcars from the Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame Museum also include a 1919 Sunbeam, 1922 Bentley, the 1972 Sugaripe Prune Special Gurney Eagle four cyclinder turbo Offy racer and 1979Norton Spirit Penske Cosworth, driven by three-time Indy winner Bobby Unser.

The appearance and final 9th place finish of the light, lithe and fast little British racinggreenCooper Climax was a watershed moment in Brickyard history, and doomed forever the once-dominant front-engined Offenhauser Kurtis roadsters. Entered by Kleenex paper heir, Jim Kimberly, the car was powered by the 2.5 liter DOHC Coventry Climax motor. Brabham was then the reigning world Formula One champion. Indy legend A. J. Foyt won the 1961 race.

The huge Sunbeam was one of two Sunbeams that did not qualify for the1919 race but was very similar to a 1916 4.9 liter model that finished fourth in the 1916 race with Belgian daredevil Josef Christiaiens driving.

The 1922 Bentley 4.5 liter supercharged finished 13th, last running car in that year’s event, and with experienced British driver Douglas Hawkes at the wheel.

Indy car evolution is apparent in the Sugaripe Prune Special, a Gurney Eagle driven by Billy Vukovich. While the car did not finish in 1972, it finished second in 1973 and third in 1974.

The Norton Spirit roadster finished fifth in 1979 and Bobby Unser won the event in the same car in 1981. Unser is only one of two drivers to win the 500 in three separate decades – the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Featured marque at the Marin gathering is Rolls-Royce and, along with a showing of Stutz vehicles, there will be a century celebration of Chevrolet autos, a showing of steel-bodied American station wagons and a special gathering of British motor cars.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is a non-profit fundraiser to benefit Hospice By The Bay and will also feature “The Drive,” a separate motoring event to benefit Hospice and to be held Saturday, May 14.

Maharajah Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur’s 1925 Rolls-Royce Torpedo Tourer to Headline Stately Rolls-Royce Collection

Easily one of the most opulent motor cars ever built – and this in 1925 for India’s Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharajah of Kotah — a brilliant red and chrome Rolls-Royce Torpedo Tourer headlines a collection of stately Rolls-Royce motor cars at the 3rd Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, May 15, at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, CA.

The Rolls-Royce Tourer was recently sold to the Faulknor family of the San Francisco Bay Area and was previously owned and shown by  Rubin Jurman, 83, Los Gatos, CA.

For its final construction, the Rolls-Royce chassis was sent to Barker & Company, Ltd., for final coachwork and then shipped to Bombay as a dedicated hunting car for the Maharajah.

Umed Singh II was Maharaja of Kotah from 1889 to 1940 and was an avid hunter.

The immense Rolls-Royce literally bristles with firepower.

In an earlier tour of the vehicle Jurman noted, “This was his main hunting car,” he says, pointing to an unattached Gatling-type machine gun carriage that is towed. “And that was used for the Bengal Tigers.”

Reaching into the rear seating compartment, he noted, ”This is the Howdah gun, which was a large-caliber, short-range firearm  designed to repel any beasts likely to breach the interior. There’s a cannon on the rear bumper for elephants.  Rifles are locked in vertical cases here in front of the rear compartment. There are bird guns and shotguns.”

Among unique styling cues in the rich coachwork, the Torpedo model integrated nautical themes, including gently rounded body sides, a pointed bow motif on the hood and the working nautical ventilators on the cowl. The vehicle is loaded with lights, including a single powerful central searchlight that swings side to side – and two front headlamps that move up and down. There is a similar setup in the rear. When the Maharajah was aboard an exterior red light was lit, when the Maharani was aboard, the blue light was lit and both were lit when both were aboard.

The 8-liter, six cylinder engine (horsepower in Rolls-Royce parlance then was “adequate”) has dual spark ignition. Tall tires are designed to cross rough terrain and the low gearing ratio allows the huge vehicle to creep through mud and brush.

In addition to the featured Rolls-Royce marque, the Marin event will showcase a lineup of cars celebrating two century anniversaries – the 100th year each for America’s Chevrolet and the celebrated Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rare and rakish Stutz motor cars will be featured along with vintage motor homes and trailers, a special British car gathering and a showing of classic wooden runabouts in the site’s lagoon.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is a non-profit fundraiser to benefit Hospice By the Bay and will also include “The Drive,” a separate motoring event, also to benefit Hospice, on Saturday, May 14.

General admission to the Concourse d’Elegance is $20 adults, free for kids under 16. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For information, phone (415)479-7727 or view the event website,www.marinsonomaconcours.org

Created for Marin County collector and sports car enthusiast Bill Grimsley, the steel blue Gatto is powered by a rare Ferrari V-12 3.0 liter 300 hp GTO engine and has been hand-fabricated and assembled over a near three year period in the classic European carrozzeria – or coachbuilding — method. From its Borrani wire wheels to Zagato-like double bubble roof, braking vents and Maserati-like grille, the Gatto fulfills its appellation as the Italian cat.

Utilizing Moal’s unique touch with aluminum bodywork, which is affixed to a semi-monocoque chassis in an early 20th Century technology known superleggera  — or super light – the coupe weighs only 2300 lbs.

Moal, whose family has perfected custom automobile styling and craftsmanship for a century in Oakland, is renowned for his ability to unite motifs and motoring themes from various disciplines – everything from early American hot rods to mud-tossing Midwest sprint cars and Grand Epoch European classics.

More than 175 vehicles and a flotilla of classic wooden speedboats (on display in the fairgrounds lagoon) will be shown at the Marin event. The featured marque is Rolls-Royce and is headlined by one of the world’s most opulent motorcars, the 1925 Rolls-Royce Torpedo Tourer built for Indian Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.

Honoring a century of two American motoring institutions – that of Chevrolet motor cars and racing at the Indianapolis Speedway – there will be a display of Chevy vehicles and rare Indy roadsters that graced the starting grid at the fabled Brickyard.

Vintage motorhomes and trailers will be on display along with a rare collection of metal-bodied American station wagons and micro cars. The event will play host to a special British car club gathering.

The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance is a non-profit fundraiser to benefit Hospice By The Bay and will also include “The Drive,” a separate motoring event on Saturday, May 14.

General admission to the Concours d’Elegance is $20 adults, free for kids under 16. Hours are 10 a.m.  – 4 p.m. For information, phone (415) 479-7727.