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2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
By: Fritz Kloepfel
Photos by the author
March 24, 2006

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Stanley Steamers? What, you may be wondering, do Stanley Steamers have to do with Fast Autos? Well, the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance answered that question quite nicely. This year’s featured Marque was Stanley Steamer, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of a Steamer setting the land-speed record (on nearby Ormond Beach) at 127.659 mph. It was a record that lasted 4 years. Yes sir, that’s right, a Stanley Steamer was the fastest car in the world for 4 years.

While the original Stanley Steamer “Rocket” was destroyed in a horrible crash during an attempt to better the record the following year, there is a working replica of the car which lives at the Daytona USA Museum. That car was not only in attendance, but was driven up to accept an award at the Concours on Sunday. Looking somewhat like a canoe on wheels, the car was incredibly aerodynamic for its day. But the thought of running 127 mph in the sand on those narrow wheels, with a complete absence of any safety equipment, gave me shivers. And, in fact, Fred Marriot was nearly killed in 1907 after announcing that he thought 200 mph could be attained in the little wooden bodied car, which made just 30 horsepower. Yep, 30 horsepower.

OK, need a bit more horsepower in your Fast Autos? Then how about Can-Am racers? In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Can-Am series Amelia Island invited a powerful collection of those ground pounding, big-bore winged wonders from the 60’s to grace the field at the Ritz-Carlton. Chaparrels, Lolas, McLarens, Porsches and Shadows assembled to create one of the most incredible displays of raw horsepower and innovative race car design in history. Remember, there were almost no restrictions on these cars at that time. No limit on engine size, tire width or (in the early days) aerodynamic appendages. Designers and builders were limited only by their imaginations, and in looking at the cars it’s clear that their imaginations were indeed active.

To help us understand these Fast Autos, the event organizers placed four of the cars in the Grand Ballroom on Saturday and assembled a table full of participants from the era. For two hours Brian Redman, Hurley Haywood, Sam Posey and many others told stories and recited facts for a fascinated audience. There were two big screens delivering “period” photos, and there was a Chaparrel, McLaren, Porsche and Shadow on display to reinforce the legends these guys handed down. For someone who was just beginning to fall in love with cars at the time these treasures were being raced, it was like walking into a childhood candy store with a pocket full of money.

But even these two extremes can’t begin to represent the diversity of the Amelia Island weekend. On Friday there were tours, test drives, and a restoration seminar. Saturday’s main event was the RM auction, with the cars being auctioned all parked on the ocean side of the resort for inspection prior to bidding. The stars of that show were a red 1960 Ferrari 250 SWB Belinetta Competition Coupe hammered at $2,5000,000, and a 1938 Talbot-Lago T23 Teardrop Coupe in blue which sold for $1,950,000. (Plus 10% buyer’s premium on each.) Inside the resort was a display of incredible photos of Fast Autos from some of the greatest automotive photographers in history. There was a Cocktail Reception, a Gala Dinner, and even a room with slot car racing set up with prizes for fastest times. The front drive of the Ritz-Carlton was filled with new cars that ranged from the new Saturn Sky to a pair of Bugatti Veyrons. If you were a car lover there was no shortage of things to hold your interest.

But Sunday was the real reason to be there. Fast Autos and rare autos was what it was all about. Of course, you can’t have Fast Autos without fast drivers, and this year the event honored Johnny Rutherford. A three-time Indy 500 winner and a master of stock cars, sprints, and all manner of other open wheel varieties, Johnny is also noted for being one of the most genuinely likable guys in motorsports. He was visible throughout the day, and there was a nice collection of cars he had driven in attendance. One of the high points of the event for many spectators was seeing Johnny drive his 1974 Indy 500 winning McLaren M16 around the entire field. From young to old, everybody in the crowd with a camera recognized that it was a special event.

There was also a large collection of Micro Cars for the first time at Amelia, and that included a 1957 King Midget Roadster which had been restored by 13 year-old Joy Russolillo. Built by Midget Motors of Athens, Ohio, the nine-horsepower car was a Christmas gift from her father to drive around their Connecticut farm. Joy decided the car needed some work, and before she was done she had completed an award winning restoration. This type of car became popular in Europe after the Second World War when fuel supplies were short, and the narrow streets and shortage of parking presented unique problems. At that time these Micro Cars were the answer to many of those problems. One of these cars, the BMW Isetta, is credited with saving the BMW car company from bankruptcy. So, while these cars are small, they play an big role in our automotive history and it was great to see them there.

During the course of the afternoon, all manner of cars, from micro to mighty paraded to the judge’s stand. Exceptional cars from Rolls Royce and DuPont, the perfectly restored “Steve McQueen Ferrari” of Michael Regalia, a one-off Porsche that looked nothing like any Porsche you’ve ever seen, and a turbine powered Indy car that sounded just like a private jet preparing for take-off, all drove the field in front of an enthusiastic crowd under a brilliant Florida sun. Each and every one of them was spectacular and unique. However, at the end of the day two cars stood out. A 1931 DuPont Model “H” Sport Phaeton won Best in Show: Concours d'Elegance, and a 1961 Ferrari 250 TRI/61 won Best in Show: Concours de Sport.

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is an invitation-only show, and based on the Fast Autos in attendance this year I can tell you they’re inviting the right cars.