The day dawned bright and clear, the sweet smell of old (and new) money wafting in the gentle breeze, and a forecast of plentiful sunshine and temps in the ‘80s. As I left the hotel lobby I was greeted by a row of stately Rolls Royce and Bentley automobiles parked just outside the entrance. As you may have surmised by now, I wasn’t in New England, nor was I attending a local show. This event was the prestigious 5th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance held on the beautiful grounds of the Boca Raton Club and Resort in the Florida city of that name on February 27th. As luck would have it, the date coincided perfectly with my annual February vacation and week-long stay with my sister, Cheryl, who resides in St. Cloud, Florida. I invited her and her fiancé to go with me, and we proceeded to book a night at the magnificent Waldorf Astoria, built in 1926, and adjacent to the plush golf course where the show is held.
This year’s show had special significance for me, as I learned that a 1949 Cadillac convertible, named The Contessa, which I finished a ground-up restoration on in 2008, had been invited by the Concours Selection Committee to participate. (See photo next page.) This car is owned by ‘49ers Randy and Susan Denchfield from Chevy Chase, Maryland. Though the car didn’t win and award, it was an honor simply to be invited to a show of this caliber, and The Contessa certainly garnered her fair share of admirers and compliments!
Also in attendance was Jay Leno, comedian and host of the Tonight Show. Jay happens to be an aficionado of old cars and motorcycles, and possesses an impressive collection of Duesenbergs and Stanley Steamers, amongst other things. He was spotted throughout the day traversing the grounds in his own golf cart complete with chauffeur, followed by his entourage, viewing the 200+ vehicles on display. At the awards ceremony that afternoon, Jay presented his own award, “The Big Dog Garage Award” to the vehicle he most liked personally. Fittingly, the award went to a stunning 1957 Eldorado Brougham, the nut-and-bolt restoration of which was completely done by the owner.
There was something for everyone at this show, including a separate display of over 40 vintage motorcycles. The European makes were well represented by several Rolls Royce, Bentleys, MGs, Triumphs, Maseratis, Aston Martins an extremely rare and unusual 1930 Minerva with custom coachwork, made in Belgium and one of only seven known to exist. In addition, there were classes for Muscle Cars, Model Ts and As, classics such as Auburn, Cord Duesenberg, Packard and, of course, Cadillac.
We all had an absolutely wonderful time, and I highly recommend this event to anyone who can attend it. As we reluctantly left the premises and boarded our Honda Pilot for the 3-hour drive back to St. Cloud, we were abruptly and harshly jolted back to reality, but appreciative of our opportunity to hob-nob with the “rich and famous”.
