A day that started with June gloom and evolved into brilliant sunshine mirrored the general mood which began with a near-disaster and ended with string of LCOC successes. More than 200 vehicles in all decorated the show field ranging from a tiny 2-seater to some elegant Rolls-Royces. Of course, LCOC members were there for the fun.
Lincoln row featured a tour de force of Marks, including Mark IIIs, IVs and Vs and culminating with JIm Ayres Mak VII. Two Wisconsin-registered Marks added their sparkle to the field and one received a first place award. Other prizes were won by Mike Klyde’s lovely red low mileage Mark V, Don Torrence’s Mark III, Terry Turner’s Mark III and Elayne Bendel’s 1964 convertible, the lone slab side entry in the concours.
A rare Black Label MKZ hybrid decked out in Cabernet metallic with a Merlot interior that was registered in a different class also made it to the concours.
While not quite as impressive as a commute from Wisconsin, Halsey Posadas’s Mark IV still trundled in all the way from San Diego, braving the 405 Freeway in the dark to arrive in time for the early morning load in. Yea Halsey! However, the true heroine of the day was Elayne’s friend Janice, who made a special trip to the show just to deliver Elayne’s cell phone that had been left at her home following an overnight stay, without which this Web coverage of the event wouldn’t have happened. Thanks Janice for grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat!
As usual, this show provided its share of other surprises. A pair of car owners ably modeled some noteworthy mid-century duds. Notice her yellow vinyl car-shaped handbag and Cadillac parasol. Click the image for a closer look. He brought a shirt straight out of the Jetsons and a popular 1970s model Bricklin to the concours, while she was showing her 1958 Eldorado.
Our pre-show description that this event offered something for everyone was truly borne out by the displays. Vintage Corvettes bought back visions of Route 66 and Buzz and Tood on the Mother Road. BMWs and Alpha Romeos also were there in force. Classic and modern motorcycles were crowd pleasers, as were some tricked out bicycles, one of which was inspired by Lakers legend Koby Bryant. A Shelby corner featured both Mustangs and Cobras and some beloved trucks and pre-1950 vehicles shared a prominent area near the awards stage, along with ever-popular show cars such as a Ford Skyliner and a Studebaker Avanti.
Elegant Rolls-Royces and other British cars shared the lower display field along with our Lincolns, Thunderbirds, Chevys and even a Mercury and Packard limo. My personal favorite was a gorgeous Bentley red and yellow roadster.
Although participants and spectators alike where treated to some wonderful eye candy, no doubt the children of Huntington Beach were the biggest winners, as the proceeds from this show have been donated to the children’s wing of the Huntington Beach Central Library, raising thousands of dollars over the years. Our thanks to Bart McGrath and his team of organizers as well as Mothers’ car care products for sponsoring this annual and most enjoyable concours.
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