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2006 Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance
By: Frank Filipponio
Photos by the author
October 09, 2006

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The 24th Annual Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance was held this past Sunday, October 1 with 13 judged classes of some of the most exquisite classic vehicles, proudly displayed around the driving range at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine, California. As with other concours, the motivation behind holding such an event is to raise money for charity—in this case the Assessment and Treatment Services Center. So far it has been able to provide over $2 million dollars to support the ATSC’s mission to, “provide the highest quality counseling to troubled children and families.”

This year’s featured marque was Mercedes-Benz and the nearby Classic Car Center brought out a few Duesies Benzes for the spectators to enjoy. Everything from their replica of the 1886 Benz Three-Wheeler Patentwagen, the first-ever automobile, all the way up to a 1997 David Coulthard Formula 1 car. But Mercedes wasn’t the only marque well-represented at the show. As usual, the Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, Jaguars, Packards, Lincolns, Delahayes and others were out in force. Not only were there the typical woodies, mid-century Euro cars, postwar coachbuilts and prewar iron, some newer classics turned up as well.

In a line across the front of the grounds, one could see some of the fastest supercars on the planet sitting in the shadow of some of the greatest race cars from every type of racing. Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F50, Vector WX3 prototype roadster AND coupe, Jaguar XJ220, Saleen S7 TT, Superformance Brock Coupe and SPF GT, Mercedes McLaren SLR and CLK DTM, Lamborghini Miura, Lola T70, Ford GT40 Mk. IV, Aston Martin Vanquish S and Vantage, Bentley Flying Spur and Continental GTC, and Shelby GT350, GT500, and Cobra 289s and 427s, were all within about 100 yards of each other. Just amazing. For those who
preferred style over speed, the coachbuilt Delahayes, Mercedes 540K, and Merlin-engined Rolls were quite spectacular. Basically it was the old cliché of something for everyone, but we had a couple of favorites.

Tom Shaugnessy brought out his 1954 Ferrari 375 MM race car that was good for 184 on the Mulsanne at Le Mans. We had the great pleasure of watching this car start up and drive into the show grounds, and were absolutely blown away by the vibration of the earth and the sound belching from that beast. And just when we thought nothing could possibly compare, Claudio Zampolli fired up his 1994 Cizeta V16T so we could hear what the Ferrari might have sounded like with another 4 cylinders. Like two classic American V-8s firing at once, but with the extra mechanical melody of those 64 valves opening and closing as the RPMs built towards a redline no American V-8 would dare approach. Incredible. And what a great guy that Claudio is, graciously signing our poster.

It was a bit humid and the day a long one, but the cars and people made it a wonderful experience.

www.newportbeachconcours.com