Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance – 2023 Report

by George Dyke…..

Driving 2–1/2 hours from Toronto to the Cobble Beach Golf Club north of Owen Sound, you inevitably begin to wonder why Canada’s Premier Concours d’elegance isn’t located at one of the many golf courses closer to Ontario’s capital city? But then you arrive, and within 10 minutes of taking in the venue, you realize that the gorgeous location overlooking Georgian Bay on Lake Huron plays a vital part in the event’s success.

This year was the 9th annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance and although I was only there on Sunday, September 17, it features a wide range of events over the course of 3 days, including a Participants’ Tour of 100 kms to Meaford by way of beautiful Grey County roads, educational Seminars, a Cars & Coffee event and Concours d’Lemon’s — the latter 2 staged on Saturday in downtown Owen Sound’s River District. There is a genuine hospitality that companies it all, and unlike many Concours d’Elegance participants and spectators interact as “car guys” should.

The main event, the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance was presented by Porsche, with an array of vintage and contemporary offerings of the marque. General Motors was also a sponsor choosing to highlight their Buick and Cadillac brands showing the 1951 LeSabre Concept and the 1956 Buick Century X. Cadillac meanwhile staged the Canadian unveiling of their Celestiq ultra-luxury EV and the 2025 Escalade IQ.

The show field paid homage to the Canadian roots of Buick, showcasing a 1908 McLaughlin Model F.

One particular curiosity was a 1967 Ferguson Super Sport a bespoke sports car produced in Markham ON. Made by Ross Ferguson with design input from his wife Blanche. Both had worked for Orenda Engines in Downsview, Ross as a machinist and Blanche in the front office, but when the Avro Arrow project was cancelled in 1959 both were rendered jobless. Ross went on to teach machine shop at Northern Secondary School, and in his spare time applied his skills to building this Le Mans-inspired fibreglass bodied roadster. Mechanically it has a 289 Ford engine from a 1967 Mustang sitting in a tubular frame and sending power to a rear mounted transmission. It has 4-wheel inboard brakes and the “F” rims are custom made from magnesium. Chris Atkins of Courtice, ON acquired the Super Sport from the Ferguson family in 2020 after Ross’s passing in late 2019.

And of course, there were impressive automobiles in various categories as well as a selection of antique two-wheel transportation.

View a full photo gallery of the event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAVnRX

The top award winners in the show were:

Outstanding Pre-War: 1935 SS Cars Ltd. SS Airline Saloon

Outstanding Post-War: 1958 Buick Limited Convertible

Best in Show: 1929 Cord L-29

The People’s Choice award, and my personal favourite of the show, was a stunning 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sports Roadster, named for the owner of the largest Peugeot dealership in France. It placed first in class in the 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and is owned by Mary and Ted Stahl of Chesterfield, MI. One of it’s cool features is a retractable windshield designed not to detract from the overall fluidity of the body lines while on display, but allow it to be raised as a windshield was a requirement for competing at Le Mans.

Here is a full listing of the 2019 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance winners:

Class 1 Horseless Carriage pre 1916
1st Place 1909 Buick Model 10, Tim & Betsy Turvey, Oakland, MI
2nd Place 1908 McLaughlin Model F, General Motors Canada and Canadian Automotive Museum, Oshawa,ON
3rd Place 1910 McLaughlin Model 8, Mark Farrow, Ancaster, ON

Class 2 Early American Production Pre-war 1916 to 1948
1st Place 1934 Dodge DR Rumble Seat Coupe, Danny Klacko, Oakville, ON
2nd Place 1935 Buick 46C Roadster Convertible with Rumble Seat, John (Jack) and Cheryl (Cher) Gallagher, Bethesda, MD
3rd Place 1923 McLaughlin Buick 23/45 Tourer, Roger Hadfield, Milton, ON

Class 3 American Full-Classic 1915 to 1948
1st Place 1929 Cord L-29, Greg Ornazian, Troy, MI
2nd Place 1929 Duesenberg Model J Roadster, Dwight Schaubach, Carrollton, VI
3rd Place 1931 Buick Model 94 Sport Roadster, Gallery 260, Toronto, ON

Class 4 European Full-Classic 1915 to 1948
1st Place 1935 SS Cars Limited SS One Airline Saloon, Jim and Lisa Hendrix, Chesterfield, MO
2nd Place 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sports Roadster, Mary and Ted Stahl, Chesterfield, MI
3rd Place 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Park Ward Saloon, Bob Thompson, Port Elgin, ON

Class 5 European Sports Cars pre 1975
1st Place 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT, George Henne, Toronto, ON
2nd Place 1956 Jaguar XK140 MC OTS, Brad Marsland, Waterloo, ON
3rd Place 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, Wicker Francis, Malvern, PA

Class 6 Classic Porsche pre 1984
1st Place 1959 Porsche 356 Carrera, Jerry Barth, Toronto, ON
2nd Place 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster, Raffi Nalbandian, Toronto, ON
3rd Place 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A, Marc Honsberger, Vineland, ON

Class 7 Classic C1 Corvette 1953-1962
1st Place 1959 Chevrolet Corvette, Christopher Dool, Lockport, NY
2nd Place 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, Bradley Bean, Hayesville, NC
3rd Place 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, Elaine and Tony Lang, Hanover, ON

Class 8 Classic C2 Corvette 1963-1967
1st Place 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray L-79, Glen McMullen, Belleville, ON
2nd Place 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Fuelie, Don Hart, Napanee, ON
3rd Place 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray L-71, Tim Schell, Queensville, ON

Class 9 Classic C3 Corvette 1968-1973
1st Place 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray L-88, Bill Wallace, Milton, ON
2nd Place 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray L-71, Kai Riebetz, Black Point, NS
3rd Place 1969 CHEVROLET Corvette Stingray L-36, Corbell Kendel, Sarnia, ON

Class 10 American Production pre 1976
1st Place 1958 Buick Roadmaster Limited Convertible, Vernon Smith, Swift Current, NL
2nd Place 1963 Buick Wildcat Hardtop, Colonel Andy Starr, Waterford,VI
3rd Place 1956 Meteor Crown Victoria, George Bester, Cargill, ON

Class 11 American Post-War Performance
1st Place 1970 Plymouth Cuda 440-6, Donato Ciaccia, Burlington, ON
2nd Place 1970 American Motors Corporation AMX, Jeff Spratt, Port Perry, ON
3rd Place 1970 Buick GSX, Randy Lutz, Stittsville, ON

Class 12 American Rad Rides of the 1980’s
1st Place 1986 Ford RS200S, Anthony Polito, Lindsay, ON
2nd Place 1990 Buick Reatta Select-Sixty, Nicholas Branoff, Fenton, MI
3rd Place 1987 Buick GNX, James Plain , Sarnia, ON

Class 13 Exotic Cars pre 2000
1st Place 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT, David Piangerelli, Feeding Hills, MA
2nd Place 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP400S “Lowbody”, William Halkiw, Toronto, ON
3rd Place 1974 Detomaso Pantera, Dave Gorelle, Belfountain, ON

Class 14 Custom Steet Rods pre 1972
1st Place 1963 Buick Villa Riviera (George Barris Kustom), Jeffrey Goldstein, Warwick, RI
2nd Place 1956 Mercury Monterey 64C, John St Germain, Goodwood, ON
3rd Place 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline, Jason Handsor, London, ON

Class 15 Traditional Hot Rods pre 1951
1st Place 1932 Ford Roadster, Larry Hill, Oro-Medonte, ON
2nd Place 1930 Ford Model A Coupe, Alan Wood, Ilderton, ON
3rd Place 1932 Ford 5-Window Coupe, Rob Morrison , Dunnville, ON

Class 16 American Vintage Motorcycles pre 1980
1st Place (Engine did not start)
2nd Place 1901 E R Thomas Auto-BI, Adam Bari, Tillsonburg, ON
3rd Place 1942 Indian 442, Don Hart, Napanee, ON

Class 17 Vintage Race Cars pre 1994
1st Place 1923 Ford “T” Altered , Scot Haviland, Wilsonville, ON
2nd Place 1973 Rondel Motul F2/Can-Am, Seann Burgess, Markdale, ON

Class 18 Prototype and Concept Vehicles
1st Place 1951 GM LeSabre Concept, General Motors Grand Blanc, MI, Grand Blanc, MI
2nd Place 1956 Buick Century X, Steve Plunkett, ON, London, ON
3rd Place 1967 Ferguson Super Sport, Chris Courtice, ON, Courtice, ON

Class 19 Celebration Class: 60 Years of Lamborghini
– Exhibition

Class 20 Porsche Classic Restoration Competition
– Exhibition

Marketing Award
1976 Porsche 911S Targa, Porsche Centre Winnipeg , Winnipeg, MB

Popular Vote Award
1958 Porsche 356A, Porsche Centre Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, SK

Outstanding West
1958 Porsche 356A, Porsche Centre Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, SK

Outstanding East
1981 Porsche 911SC, Porsche Centre Lauzon , Laval, QC

Best in Show
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera, Porsche Centre Edmonton , Edmonton, AB Exhibition Only Classes

Recognition of Hagerty Youth Judging Winner
1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 Super Convertible D, Vic Rivera, Franklin, MI

Chairman’s Award
1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sports Roadster, Mary and Ted Stahl, Chesterfield, MI

Chief Judge’s Choice
1959 Chevrolet Corvette, Christopher Dool, Lockport, NY

National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Rolling Sculpture Award
4E-1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Fixed Head Coupe by Hooper & Co, Gallery 260, Toronto, ON

National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Historical Significance
3H-1936 Cord 810 Phaeton, Greig & Carlene Charlton, Campbellville, ON

AACA- Spirit of the Hobby Award
1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 “906-128”, Private Collection, Ontario

Most Elegant Porsche
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A, Marc Honsberger, Vineland, ON

Concours Debut Award
1954 Meteor Rideau Skyliner, Ron and Brenda Passer, Tottenham, ON

Margaret Dunning Spirit of Driving Award
1958 Buick Roadmaster Limited Convertible, Vernon Smith, Swift Current, NL

Bruce Grey Simcoe Award
1908 McLaughlin Model F, General Motors Canada and Canadian Automotive Museum, Oshawa, ON

Most Elegant Pre-war
1936 Packard Twelve All-Weather Town Car by LeBaron, William Halpenny, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Most Elegant Post-war
1965 Lamborghini 350 GT, David Piangerelli, Feeding Hills, MA

McLaughlin Legacy Award
1964 Buick Riviera, Richard Harvey, Cornwall, NY

Tom Thomson Art Gallery Timeless Design
1972 Lancia Stratos, Denis Bigioni, Pickering, ON

Ingenuity Award presented by Templeton Marsh
1993 Jaguar XJ220S, Tony Burgess, North York, ON

Poetry in Motion
1930 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton, Dwight Schaubach, Carrollton, VI

Fashion Award – Participant
1910 McLaughlin Model 8, Mark Farrow, Ancaster, ON

Fashion Award

Mark Farrow & Cynthia Lambert

People’s Choice
1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Sports Roadster, Mary and Ted Stahl, Chesterfield, MI

Outstanding Pre-war
1935 SS Cars Limited SS One Airline Saloon, Jim and Lisa Hendrix, Chesterfield, MO

Outstanding Post-war
1958 Buick Roadmaster Limited Convertible, Vernon Smith, Swift Current, NL

Best of Show
1929 Cord L-29, Greg Ornazian, Troy, MI