Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance – 2022 Report

By George Dyke…..

The 8th annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance made its return this year after a 2-year hiatus due to Covid. The overall event ran between Sept. 16 – 18 and featured a variety of events, including “Cars, Planes and Coffee” at the Wiarton Keppel International Airport, an automotive seminar at the Roxy Theatre on Owen Sound, a 90 km tour of Grey Bruce County and surrounding area and a Concours d’Lemons show that took place on Saturday in the downtown River District of Owen Sound..

The Concours d’Elegance portion on Sunday showcased 125 cars that made their way to Cobble Beach Golf Resort along with a few classic motorcycles and boats — all displayed on the 18th fairway. The location on the Georgian Bay bluffs just north of Owen Sound, Ontario was the ideal setting to display a century of automotive design and engineering at this world-class automotive event.

View a full photo gallery of the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA8VS1

Porsche was once again the official sponsor and the company displayed their sporting heritage with an impressive showing of classic and current models.

General Motors reached into their museum vault and brought out 2 Corvette concept cars; the Astro II and the Aerovette – both able to impress the crowd by actually driving across the awards platform in the afternoon.

With just a bit of drizzle during set up, the rain gave way to ‘perfect defused lighting for car photography’ overcast skies for the balance of the morning. By mid-afternoon, the clouds had thinned to provide afternoon sunlight for the awards portion of the program.

The Most Outstanding Post-war award went to Vernon Smith, for a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham which cost a whopping $13,000 US when new — the most expensive North American car sold in its model year. General Motors, is reported to have lost $10,000 on each of the 400 Eldorado Brougham cars sold in 1957, styled with rear-opening doors, a stainless steel roof, and lead-weighted cocktail glasses.

The Most Outstanding Pre-war award went to William Wybenga, for a 1932 Lincoln KB Coupe bodied by Judkins.

The Best in Show award went to Peter Boyle, for a 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A Super Sprinto trim, built to be shown at the 1928 New York Auto Show. The LeBaron-bodied boat-tail cabriolet built on an Italian chassis featured an ostrich-leather interior and other luxury appointments. It was originally purchased for $20,000 US by a wealthy aviation pioneer and his silent-film-star wife.

In our article covering Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance back in 2019 we mentioned that encouragement from CEO Rob McLeese may mean that Citroëns will be featured next year.

This year a 1974 Citroën SM restored by David Hume in Kentucky, and now owned by Citroënvie member Tony Burgess in Toronto, made it to show field. Meticulously prepped by Tony for Cobble Beach, the SM made quite an impression with the admiring crowd and the Concours judges who voted to give it the Technical Innovation Award.

This is the same SM that David first showed at the 40th Anniversary of the SM meet in Buffalo in 2010, the precursor gathering of SMs that traveled onto the annual Citroën Rendezvous at Saratoga Springs NY where the SM’s 40th anniversary was also celebrated. David won Best SM and Favorite of Show that year at Rendezvous.

Rob McLeese, who is fascinated with Citroëns, made mention once again that he would like see a number of Citroëns featured at next year’s Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Aside from a stunning SM, another Citroënvie member, Bob Van de Vrande had his classic car on display at the event. Though it wasn’t his 2CV but rather his 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.

As we have said before — the setting and atmosphere of Cobble Beach makes for a very sociable event with lots of interaction among all auto enthusiasts that attend.  Everyone is approachable. The cars are not cordoned off so you can get up close and see the interiors and engine bays.  From a photography standpoint, they wisely chose to have the car details on license plate-sized stands just off to the side at the front of each one.  And there are none of those annoying ID stickers affixed to headlights that ruin pictures taken of the vehicles.

In addition to bringing together car owners from across Canada and the United States, the event also raises money for charity.

McLeese noted; “over the last seven Concours, we have raised over $600,000 for two deserving charities: The Sunnybrook Foundation, Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre and the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation (OSRHF). The Sciences Brain Centre will allow brain science experts to embed cutting-edge research in clinical care decision, focusing on all age groups from youth to the elderly. Funds also help the OSFHF and this year money raised will support a new ultrasound unit.”

McLeese is pleased that for this year’s event, they were able to reach his minimum goal of raising over $100,000 and bringing the total amount they have donated to charity, to over $800,000.

2022 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance Award Winners

Class 1 — Horseless Carriage pre 1916

1st Place      1912 Tudhope (4-36), John Smith, Oro-Medonte, ON 

2nd Place      1906 Russell Model B, Hugo Vermeulen, Whitby, ON 

3rd Place      1911 Pierce Arrow Model 36 Runabout, Peter Fawcett, Oshawa, ON          

Class 2 — Early American Production 1915 – 1948

1st Place       1931 McLaughlin-Buick Model 64 Roadster, Rob McLeese, Toronto, ON
2nd Place      1928 Buick Master Sport Roadster Model 54, Kyle Ecclestone, Queensville, ON
3rd Place       1932 Desoto SC Roadster, Robert Sinclair, Buckhorn, ON

Class 3 — American Full-Classic 1915 – 1948

1st Place       1932 Lincoln KB Coupe by Judkins, Bill Wybenga, Picton, ON 

2nd Place      1930 Cadillac V-16 Series 4235 Convertible Coupe, Brent Merrill, Toronto, ON 

3rd Place       1933 Pierce Arrow 1242 Twelve Convertible Coupe, Tony Lang, Hanover, ON          

Class 4 — European Full-Classic 1915 – 1948 

1st Place       1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS, Peter Boyle, Oil City, PA 

2nd Place      1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Franay, The Guild of Automotive Restorers, Bradford, ON 

3rd Place       1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost by Barker, Robert Thompson, Port Elgin, ON          

Class 5 — European Sports Cars pre 1975

1st Place       1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, Wicker Francis, Malvern, PA 

2nd Place      1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, Travis Agresti, Toronto, ON 

3rd Place       1958 AC Aceca, Brad Marsland, Waterloo, ON          

Class 6 — Classic Porsche pre 1983

1st Place       1955 Porsche 550 Spyder 1500, Kai Riebetz, Black Point, NS 

2nd Place      1964 Porsche 356c, Dave & Lisa Whittick, Oshawa, ON 

3rd Place       1964 Porsche 356 SC, Dee Becker, Mount Forest, ON          

Class 7 — Classic C1 Corvettes 1953 – 1962

1st Place       1957 Chevrolet Corvette, Deb Read, Caledon, ON 

2nd Place      1957 Chevrolet Corvette, Wally Horodnyk, Toronto, ON          

Class 8 — Classic C2 Corvettes 1963 – 1967

1st Place       1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window, Lennie Slipacoff, Sarnia, ON 

2nd Place     1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Coupe, Geoffrey McLeese, Kemble, ON 

3rd Place      1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, Scott Sinclair, Caledon, ON

   
Class 9 — American Production Post-War pre 1974

1st Place       1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, Vernon Smith, Swift Current, NFLD 

2nd Place     1963 Shelby Cobra MK1, Lewis Pollard, Warrenton, VA 

3rd Place      1949 Cadillac Woody Limo “MGM Studios”, London, ON

Class 10 — American Muscle Cars pre 1974

1st Place       1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, Alan Boughton, Caledon, ON 

2nd Place      1961 Pontiac Ventura 425A, Gary & Peggy Doty, Bath, ON 

3rd Place       1967 Shelby GT500, Ken Borg, Oakville, ON          

Class 11 — Rad Rides of the 1980’s (1980 – 1989)

1st Place       1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Slantnose (930), William Halkiw, Toronto, ON 

2nd Place      1987 Buick Grand National, Danny Brackett, Orangeville, ON 

3rd Place      1983 Delorean DMC-12, Bob Van de Vrande, Burlington, ON          

Class 12 — Supercars 1990 – present

1st Place         2022 Ferrari Ferrari SF90 Assetto Fiorano, Travis Agresti, Toronto, ON 

2nd Place       2021 Ford GT Carbon Series, Denis Bigioni, Pickering, ON 

3rd Place        2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, Joe Maira, Clarence Center, NY          

Class 13 — 75 Years of Ferrari

1st Place        1964 Ferrari 330 America, Hugh Welsford, Burlington, ON 

2nd Place       2002 Ferrari 575M, Silvio Ferri, Markham, ON 

3rd Place       1977 Ferrari 308 GTB, Jeffrey Siegel, Concord, ON          

Class 14 — Vintage Race Cars pre 1993  

1st Place       1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (SCCA Trans/Am Sunoco Car), William Wallace, Milton, ON
2nd Place       1966 Lola T70 Mark II, Mike Bigioni, Aurora, ON 

3rd Place       1984 Porsche 911SC “Rothman’s”, Adrian Plante, London, ON          

Class 15 — Vintage Pickups pre 1975

1st Place       1965 Ford F100 pickup, Jim & Beth Burchill, Mitchell, ON 

2nd Place      1953 Mercury M-100, Rob Douglas, Toronto, ON 

3rd Place       1929 Ford CAA Brantford Grain Truck, Everett Hessels, Blyth, ON          

Class 16 — Italian Motorcycles pre 1990   

1st Place      1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport, Rick Fuhry, Milwaukee, US 

2nd Place      1978 MV Agusta 750 Sport America, Rick Fuhry, Pewaukee, WI 

3rd Place       1956 Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport, James Francis, Malvern, PA          

National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Hobbyist of the Year Award

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, Vernon Smith

Chairman’s Award

1933 Pierce Arrow 1242 Twelve Convertible Coupe, Elaine & Tony Lang          

Chief Judge’s Choice

1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro, Tim Schell          

National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Rolling Sculpture Award

1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible, Elaine & Tony Lang           

National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Rolling Historical Significance

1963 Shelby Cobra MK1, Lewis Pollard

Debut Award

1963 Plymouth Savoy “426 Max Wedge”, Richard Udell   

Margaret Dunning Spirit of Driving Award

2022 Porsche GT3 Touring “Pesto”, Lucas Scarfone          

Bruce Grey Simcoe Award

1931 Bugatti T-40A, Jim Stranberg                

Most Elegant Pre-war

1930 Cadillac V-16 Series 4235 Convertible Coupe, Brent Merrill            

Most Elegant Post-war

1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Franay, The Guild of Automotive Restorers 

McLaughlin Legacy Award

1928 McLaughlin-Buick Royal Car, Elaine & Tony Lang             

Tom Thomson Art Gallery Timeless Design

1934 LaSalle Series 350 2-Door Convertible, Al Webster            

Ingenuity Award

1974 Citroën SM, Tony Burgess            

Poetry in Motion

1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost by Barker, Robert Thompson               

People’s Choice

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder 1500, Kai Riebetz           

Outstanding Pre-war

1932 Lincoln KB Coupe by Judkins, Bill Wybenga              

Outstanding Post-war

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, Vernon Smith          

Best of Show

1928 Isotta Fraschini 8a SS, Peter Boyle