St. James's Concours 2013
The UK's second ever Concours of Elegance event has been judged an even greater success than the first, with visitors given the rare opportunity of seeing a diverse range of classics in motion as well as on display.
The original Concours of Elegance was conceived as a one-off event in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee in 2012. Such was the response to this debut, held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, that it was decided to make the concours an annual event.
A relocation to Marlborough House, St. James's, in central London, saw the 2013 event re-branded as the 'St. James's Concours of Elegance'. The new location made the event more accessible to the general public, but the limited display space sparked discussions around a return to Windsor Castle, which is likely to happen for 2014.
Held from September 5 - 7, the event was once again an elite affair, with only sixty-one cars invited. On the morning of Thursday, September 5, visitors were given a pre-show treat when entrants travelled in convoy to the display gardens at the 300-year-old Marlborough House.
HRH Prince Michael of Kent, a noted motoring enthusiast, had the honour of driving the c1933 Napier Railton record breaker past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to the display gardens, and while he couldn't open it up to its full potential, still enjoyed the experience of piloting the awesome 25-litre 580hp machine.
The event attracted a diverse variety of vehicles, from a 1907 Darracq 18hp (the oldest car on show), through interwar classics, to post war racers and coachbuilt specials, including Eric Clapton's bespoke Ferrari SP 12 EC, with cars coming from the US, Europe, South America and even Australia.
Highlights included a streamlined Figoni et Falaschi-bodied Delahaye 135, Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport with an Aprile body, Le Mans-winning Porsche 917, Rolls-Royce Phantom III from the James Bond movie Goldfinger, McLaren F1 GTR, rare Siata 208 CS Balbo Berlinetta, as well as Zagato and Vignale-bodied Fiat 8Vs.
On the Saturday, visitors enjoyed the Royal Automobile Club's 'Spirit of Motoring" display of 35 cars, together with a line-up of Lamborghinis celebrating the marque's 50th anniversary, with club displays of Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris and others joining the celebrations, too.
The concours display attracted more than 6000 visitors, with thousands more lining The Mall to watch the 'Grand Depart' on the closing day, where the entrants once again travelled in convoy back to the concours assembly area.
Best in Show
As its name suggests, a traditional concours would normally include a judging panel briefed to select a 'winning' car. Not so at the Concours of Elegance, whose organisers - Thorough Events - maintained that if a car had been invited, it was already a winner.
However, the owners of the Concours cars were asked to vote for the car they would 'most like to drive home in'. The winner of the 2013 "Pullman Trophy" for the Best in Show was Bruce McCaw's 1930 Bentley Speed-Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupé.
John Bentley, Chair of the Thorough Events Steering Committee, said: "The Pullman Trophy is chosen by the international owners who had each brought a world-class car, so winning is a real recognition of the Bentley's historic significance and popular appeal."
Originally commissioned by 'Bentley Boy' Woolf Barnato, the Speed Six is the model considered by many to be the peak of Bentley perfection: a driver's car with superb handling, speed and reliability, and looks that perfectly expressed the gentleman sportsman.
"Receiving the Best of Show Award was beyond my wildest expectations," McCaw said. "I am happy the car was so appreciated and well received.
"To depart the Concours with HRH Prince Michael of Kent at the wheel was a thrill and honour. His passion and motoring skills are legendary and I admired witnessing them first-hand."
A major fundraising event.
This year's Concours of Elegance supported charities working in the field of cancer care, research and support. Funds in excess of _250,000 were raised, and split between four UK cancer charities.
For more details, and pre-event info on the 2014 Concours of Elegance, go to www.concoursofelegance.co.uk.
