Dana Point Concours d'Elegance - Concours d'Tour o'Duty
Dana Point CA, Jun 23 2013 - St. Regis Monarch Beach Exclusive clubs often attract the most interesting characters. Chairman of the Board Mark Buehler (while fitting that profile perfectly) makes a good case that the 31st Dana Point Concours d'Elegance is being exclusively inclusive in putting on a good show for everyone. With related activities over three days, it's a destination event - not just an afternoon stroll in the park. The 2013 show was armed with an "honoring the military" theme - suiting the region, local to Camp Pendleton and other military organizations.
Friday gave host to the first Rallye Basilone - a 40 wide classic car tour of Camp Pendleton, including lunch at the School of Infantry. The grounds of the St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel was protected high on the hill by a wall of big artillery from the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum. This year's 3 military charities were the MARSOC Foundation (Marine Special Operations Command), Semper Fi and the Marine Scholarship Fund.
Saturday provided a Rod & Custom Show with a big turnout of the best local yokel cars - something you don't always see at a Concours. The cocktail party reception Saturday night was sponsored in part by Mercedes Benz Classic Center. South Coast Plaza provided the fashion statement - a platform show of multiple vendors' beautiful wares (the clothes were nice too)...
Showtime - over 200 perfect cars and motorcycles lined up on their paint marks on the grass. A warbird flyover provided a major distraction at high noon. Mark offered that "most Concours have the reputation of being stuffy; a bunch of old white guys slinging jugs of grey poop on each other. Now, we may have a food fight, but we're just not that kind of people. We don't care. I mean, yes we care about our cars, yes they're very shiny, some of them are god-awful expensive and god-awful gorgeous; but we're just here to have fun. As much as these cars cost, you'll find those owners just as friendly as the rod and custom guys; just as friendly as the Harley guys. They may not be wearing the same leather but they love their cars. And they like talking about their cars."
Dana Point - the friendly Concours. Manoeuvers are underway for a bigger bang next year.
1959 Daimler SP250
by Randy Berg
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