Amelia Island 2020 Spotlight

AMELIA ISLAND

2020

Last under the wire, first out of the gate.

JUST THINK HOW OFTEN

going forward we will use the cliché, “If hindsight were 20/20...” and it will take on a double meaning? The year 2020 will be “one for the record books,” and for most of us, “best seen in the rearview mirror.” Ok, enough cliches! To Bill Warner, chairman and founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 2020 has perhaps more significance than most. The Concours, traditionally held the second weekend in March at the Ritz-Carlton resort, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020. words by Bill Rothermel

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images by Josh Sweeney/SFD

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Last year, the Players Championship was scheduled for the second weekend, necessitating the concours’ move to the first weekend. For Warner, it proved a blessing as the Amelia Island Concours took place; essentially the last major “car” event to escape the COVID-19 crisis of 2020. “Had it been the second weekend it would most likely have been cancelled,” says Warner, as COVID-19 warnings caused the postponement of most events moving forward. Warner quips, “God likes car guys better than golfers.”

Amelia Island is like other concours in that all the events are in place to com82

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prise a first-class weekend—a road tour, new car display along with ride and drives, various auctions from the major players, seminars, autograph sessions, vendors and artists, a Saturday Cars & Coffee, and the all-important golf course venue. There is even the requisite banquet on Saturday night prior to the Sunday concours. Yet, the Amelia Island Concours is somehow different.

The difference is Warner. The affable chairman has a Rolodex (millennials, please Google) unlike any other in the hobby. Bill’s years as a collector, racer, photographer, and journalist put him

at the right place at the right time. He has somehow crossed paths with everyone and anyone important in the racing world, and eventually they appear at Amelia Island. Last year, Roger Penske was the Concours honoree. Says Bill, “I met Roger in 1960 and we have maintained a friendship ever since. My dream was to have him as our honoree, and he was just marvelous.” Laughing, Bill adds, “Roger’s wife asked me how I managed to get him for three days when she says she can’t get him for three hours!”

A great concours features great antique, classic, sports, and race cars and CLASSICS

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Warner uses his connections to get them. He is the kind of guy you want to please and for whom you want to do things when asked. Admittedly, he uses that to his utmost advantage. If you are going to honor Roger Penske, you need the right vehicles in order to properly tell the story of Penske’s unparalleled success in SCCA, NASCAR, IndyCar, Trans Am, and the American LeMans series. And, for 2020, the show field encompassed more than 30 different Penske cars displayed among four different classes—those that Penske raced himself, Team Penske, Team Penske Sunoco, WWW.THECHASEMAGAZINE.COM

and Penske Indy Winners.

Amelia’s judging team reads like a “Who’s Who” in the car hobby—designers, writers, museum directors, auto execs, race car drivers, and marque and history experts. And Warner knows each and every one personally. He introduces them—name, hometown, and a brief bio—all 118 of them, one-by-one, without notes or prompting, at Sunday’s awards ceremony.

Give Warner credit for thinking outside the box, too. He’s had some crazy classes over the years that both entertain and amaze—Yellow Cars, Etceter-

ini, Hunting Cars, Cowboy Cars, Beach Cars, Cars of the Rock Stars, and “What Were They Thinking?” in 2013—a mix of the most bizarre wheeled contraptions EVER to take the road—to name a few.

Warner has amassed a dedicated staff who share his take-charge, can-do attitude. They also manage and coordinate the countless volunteers (over 650 in 2020). Imagine what it takes to choreograph an event of this magnitude?

In both 2017 and 2018, with a two-day notice of a rain-out, Warner’s team managed to shift Sunday’s concours to Saturday. Says Chris Brewer, Amelia’s SPRING 2021

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director of communications, “In 2017, when Bill announced that we’d be moving the show from Sunday to Saturday because of rain, my initial reaction was sheer panic. Fight or flight set in. Minutes later, I was drafting a press release and an email to the more than 600 volunteers. Amazingly, one hour and fifteen minutes later, everyone had been notified and the wheels were in place to begin the monumental task of changing the show from Sunday to Saturday.”

The lobby of the Ritz-Carlton serves as ground zero for the weekend. Automotive celebrities and race car drivers mix with corporate execs, adoring fans, and your average, everyday car hobbyist and collector. A quick stop to say hello to friends or acquaintances (invariably meeting new ones along the way) can easily turn into a half hour (or longer) discussion. Warner is quick to say, “It’s not about the cars, it’s about the people.” And that friendly, approachable attitude sums up the Amelia Island Concours experience.

Since 2005, the Concours has given two Best in Show trophies. This past year, Best in Show Concours d’Elegance was presented to a stunning 1929 Duesenberg J-218 Town Limousine, from the Lehrman Collection of Palm Beach, Florida.

It is credited as the first vehicle to have doors that curved upward into the roofline of the car. The aluminum-bodied car is finished in black and white; the colors are separated by a polished aluminum beltline. The cowl and windshield are cast of one piece. They feature a myriad of compound curves and angles along with vent doors to match those on the hood, which combine to visually lengthen the already massive car.

The car was initially owned by George Whittell, Jr., a bon vivant and heir to a California gold rush and real estate fortune. Whittell, who loved things that went fast, claimed ownership of seven Duesenbergs, the most owned by any individual. In addition to his escapades with women and his ownership of exotic animals, Whittell is best known for 84

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cashing in his $50 million stock portfolio just weeks before the Wall Street crash in 1929.

The 2020 Best in Show Concours de Sport honored Rob Kauffman of Charlotte, North Carolina and his 1973 917/30 CanAm Spyder. Finished in Team Penske Sunoco livery, Kauffman’s 917/30 is a

pristine example of what is considered the most powerful circuit racing car ever produced. The car dominated the CanAm series during the 1973 season and, along with driver Mark Donohue, took six checkered flags in eight races.

Powered by a 5.0-liter twin turbo flat 12, the 917/30 was capable of speeds in excess

image below right by Deremer Studios LLC

Roger Penske

Brooks Stevens’ Scimitar

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he 1946 Willys Jeep Station Wagon (considered to be the first all-steel car-size station wagon), the 1962-64 Studebaker Hawk GT, the 1963-66 Studebaker Wagonaire, and the neo-classic Excalibur: all are the work of legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens. Much less familiar to most folks is the Scimitar concept he designed and built for Olin Aluminum to showcase the functional and stylistic use of aluminum in automobiles.

The Scimitar shares its underpinnings with a Chrysler New Yorker, including its 413cid V-8 and TorqueFlite automatic transmission.

Three cars were constructed by Karosseriewerk Reuter in Stuttgart, Germany, including a Town Car Phaeton, Hardtop Convertible, and All-Purpose Sedan (station wagon).

They were first shown at the 1959 Geneva International Motor Show.

Jerry and Cathy Gauche own the Town Car Phaeton, which is believed to be the only sedan built

with a sold roof panel that fully retracts into the trunk. The three-position top can be configured as an enclosed sedan, open convertible, or an open-front town car.

The Scimitar EX All-Purpose Sedan is in the possession of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. It debuted the sliding steel roof panel over the cargo compartment which Stevens later used on the Studebaker Wagonaire.

The hardtop convertible with its retractable roof is part of the National Automotive Museum (formerly the Harrah Collection) in Reno, Nevada. According to automotive historian Dr. Paul Sable, the name Scimitar was chosen because the side panels and design conform to the shape of a Turkish Scimitar sword. The unique cars utilized removable aluminum anodized quarter panels as well as anodized and brushed aluminum interior and exterior trim and aluminum grille, bumpers, and wheel discs.

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Nicknamed “The Captain” by one of his early pit crews, Roger Penske was noted for his calm demeanor regardless of what was happening on the chaotic and fast-paced racetrack. Today, Team Penske is credited with a record 18 Indianapolis 500 wins, three Trans Am championships, a successful NASCAR team, and wins in both the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. In all, his drivers are credited with more than 500 wins, 591 pole positions, and 34 championships.

Penske won his first championship in SCCA D Modified in 1961 racing a Maserati T61 and Cooper Monaco. Sports Car Illustrated named him “Driver of the Year.” He retired from racing with 51 victories in 130 races and 60 top-five finishes.

Today, Penske presides over his namesake Penske Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar enterprise involved in real estate, transportation and, of course, auto racing.

the facts

Amelia Island Concours Founder and Chairman: Bill Warner Staff: 11 employees Volunteers: 650+ in 2020 Number of cars on the Show field: 300 (reduced to 230 for 2021) Donated to charity since inception: $3.75 million Years Old: 25 in 2020 On the Calendar: May 20-23, 2021 www.ameliaconcours.org

The 2020 Best in Show Concours de Sport honored Rob Kauffman of Charlotte, North Carolina and his 1973 917/30 Can-Am Spyder.

of 200 mph, though its top speed was never recorded. The 917/30 set a closed course speed record of 221.16 mph at Talladega in 1975, a record which stands today on the steeply banked Alabama superspeedway. Amelia Island special classes for 2020 included Lozier Automobiles, the Cars of Harley Earl, and a class of mid- and rear-engine Corvette prototypes to celebrate the 2020 launch of Chevrolet’s long-awaited mid-engine Corvette.

Loziers were the luxury elite among automobiles when new. Production began in 1900 and ended in 1915 when the 86

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company declared bankruptcy. Loziers were at one time America’s most expensive automobiles with 1910 prices ranging upwards of $7,750. Seven of these rare automobiles encompassed the Lozier class at Sunday’s concours.

The Cars of Harley Earl showcased the design icon’s role as chief of styling at General Motors. Among 14 vehicles, most significant was an appearance of the LeSabre from the GM Heritage Collection. Considered to be one of the first concept cars, it previewed many design and engineering features later used on production cars.

One rear-engine and nine mid-engine Corvette concept cars offered an amazing retrospective to the introduction of the new C8 mid-engine Corvette introduced for 2020. CERVs I, II, and III, the 1968 Astro II, 1972 Reynolds Aluminum Corvette, 1973 Aerovette, and 1986 Corvette Indy were among those displayed. In a surprise move, Warner accepted delivery of his own 2020 Corvette with the keys given to him by GM Design Chief Michael Simcoe and GM President Mark Reuss, who both served as judges earlier in the day.

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sented at Sunday’s awards ceremony.

Automotive Historian Beverly Rae Kimes once said, “Every car has a story.” You’ll see amazing cars, each with its own unique story that you never knew existed both on and off the show field during the Amelia weekend. If you’ve been to the Amelia Island Concours, you’ll be back. If you haven’t yet been there, you owe it to yourself to experience one of the automotive hobby’s greatest events.

The 26th Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for May 20-23, 2021.

For more information and a list of winners, go to www.ameliaconcours.org.

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Best in Show Concours d’Elegance was presented to a stunning 1929 Duesenberg J-218 Town Limousine from the Lehrman Collection of Palm Beach, Florida.