- ALWAYS A HEADWIND RADNOR HUNT CONCOURS d’ ELEGANCE Blue Bloods, Red Coats and Silver Spoons Text & Photos by Robert H. Miller, www.backroadbob.com
This year’s Radnor Hunt Concours d’ Elegance will take place September 8-10th, 2017. It will feature the cars of Abarth, Auburn, Cord, Dusenberg, the Race Cars of Roger Penske, Victorian HighWheel bicycles, a century (1907-1917) of motorcycles, and post-war European sport bikes. Radnor Hunt club is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, just outside the western suburbs of Philadelphia. The event’s website is <www.radnorsconcours.org>.
California has Pebble Beach, Florida has Amelia Island, and Pennsylvania has Radnor Hunt. The Radnor Hunt Club isn’t in the uncivilized business of killing animals, but it is in the business of civilized fox hunting. On Hunt Day you’ll find six-figure thoroughbreds mounted by seven figure riders resplendent in shiny riding boots, black riding hats, and long red coats in the best traditions of Edwardian England. Membership is, oh well, if you have to ask you can’t afford it, but needless to say, only the bluest of bloods need apply. In this part of colonial America, where an acre of land can cost well over a million dollars, the Radnor Hunt Club owns 100 of them and is surrounded by 6000 more that are preserved from development. That’s because it’s founding in 1883 makes it the oldest active hunt club in the country and first come are first served. This weekend event includes a Friday night barbeque, a road rally (for the non-trailer queens), a luncheon, and Black Tie Gala on Saturday, and a juried concours and VIP luncheon on Sunday. Their clubhouse is unlike any clubhouse most motorcyclists have been to. It’s appointed with a very large stone fireplace, big, comfy, leather wing back chairs, Oriental rugs, wide-planked oak floors and twostory mahogany paneling. Their dining room is different too. It has large circular oak tables covered in white linens and appointed with genuine china plates, real silver ware, and leaded crystal glasses. Glancing at the bar, there was no Bud Light on tap, but you could see rows of champagne flutes. It’s the kind of place where you have to remind yourself to be on your best behavior. This year is the 21st rendition of the event that benefits Thorncroft - the non-profit therapeutic riding organization that benefits those with disabilities. That pretty much explains the $50 entrance fee. It’s not much different than motorcycle rides where they charge you a $35 “donation” for some worthy cause. Recent feature marques were Classic Chryslers, Powered by Ford, Formula One Grid, HRD Vincent, and Brough Superior. Like any good car/motorcycle show it had more than one vehicle that you’d never seen before and numerous American motoring history tidbits you’d never known before either. All of the motorcycles recently on display were stellar examples, but some were more stellar than others like Maurice Tandy’s 1938 Vincent Series A Comet. It hadn’t been seen in public for more than forty years. David Dunfey’s 1950 Series C Grey Flash, the only one in the United States, was a treat to see. September/October 2017
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