Kirkland Concours Now in Tacoma, Sun. Sep 9

The best part of the Kirkland Concours was the location. In it last years there it was rather obvious it had run its course. Now in Tacoma its just another car show. I would rather go to the RTC................

Just sayin'

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1994 348 Spider
1988 lotus Turbo Esprit

 

I agree, RTC is better than today's show in Tacoma!

 

It was fun to see the Le May museum. The Kirkland Concours seemed pretty good. The location is no where near as good as the previous one in Kirkland (IMHO). The attendance in cars and spectators seemed less too. Still a decent show though...

 

The museum needs to fix its parking stall sizes. Its unbelievable to me that they made them so small.

 

As a Judge at the Kirkland Concours this year, I can tell you all that the quality of cars was spectacular. I've judged plenty of shows where we have to struggle to justify which cars deserve awards, but yesterday in the class I judged (British Invasion), we actually had a big debate over the rankings of awards from about six cars we thought very deserving (except for 1st in class, the AC Bristol, which was simply perfect in all aspects and won all of our hearts and minds.)

I can understand why the F-Chat community might have been let down, as the only vintage F-car was Spider Corsa 004. (Note to Jim G., still claiming to be the oldest surviving F-car.) Still, how can you complain when there was the only survivng FIAT 60HP (August Anheuser Busch, Jr's car), Gregg Whitten's Alfa P3, and a plethora of awesome vintage cars like the Delahaye, Bruce McCaw's Bugatti, Marmon Sixteen, Frazer-Nash BMW 328???

LeMay is simply trying to get a handle on how to do big shows. They are learning and growing. The Kirkland Concours group (that still handles Judging and getting the cars) did a really great job, in my opinion. The layout and form and details will get better every year.

 

Well said, Sam. I was there with the Countach in the Lamborghini display.

I for one really appreciated the tough job you judges had!!! There were some spectacular cars in attendance. My personal favorite was last years winner at the Kirkland Concours, the 1911 Simplex. WOW!!!!!

I never attended the event when it was at Carillon Point, so I have no reference, but some of the past attendee's told me that they really liked the layout at LeMay this year since the cars were spread out and you didn't have 6 people deep trying to get a look at a car like it was in Kirkland. I think with any event that relocates, there are some growing pains on how best to handle the placement, arrivals, etc.. I believe they had 200 vehicles in attendance since the plaque I got said 147 of 200 on the back. Not sure how many attended past events.... Sam, maybe you know.

By the way, speaking of British cars, I LOVED that 1961 Triumph 2000 Italia GT!

Mike
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I just pulled the 2010 car list from my shelf and there were 144 judged cars (so that doesn't include the Porsche paddock.) Quite honestly, I'll take a true show field of grass over a parking lot any day, but that's just my personal opinion. And what Mike said about being able to move around is so true, especially for journalists like me who need to shoot photos -- and want people in the shot, but not so many that it obscures the car.

Interestingly, that Italia wasn't in the British Invasion group, rather the special display group, so I didn't judge it. As a Triumph guy (I've owned three TR3s, a TR-250, 7 and 8) I've been very familiar with Italias for a long time, but I always get a huge smile seeing one. The Italian body on the British platform is just breathtaking. I actually sold my TR-250 years ago to a guy who was restoring an Italia and wanted something to drive while the car was in pieces.

There were five or six cars there that you'll see once or twice in your life. The level of restoration quality on some versus the amazing originality of others (I was helping to present the 1905 Fiat, so I got to ride across the awards stage in the back with my butt on 107 year old leather and feet on 107 year old mohair carpet) was simply awesome.

There were some kinks and some organizational issues, but again, a show takes a full year to plan and the LeMay Museum has only been open since June. Next year the kinks will be ironed out and it will have the feel to match the world-class cars (and judges -- the teams included the chief judge for Canada, chief judge for CCCA, seasoned Pebble Beach guys, etc... And I can tell you that the Chief Judge for Kirkland, Jerry Greenfield, is one of the most knowledgeable, honest, greatest car guys in the world, so it's nice to feel confident as a judge, spectator and assistant to a guy displaying his cars, that the awards are earned by the cars, not the owner's name )

 

That FIAT was incredible!!!!! What a treat to see that come across the awards stage!!! My wife and I were in awe just thinking that it was 108 years old!!!!! WOW!!!!
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And that even in 1905 it had a price of $US 17,500, an aluminum body and could run at around 80MPH. My friend's mechanic who fixed the carb, magneto and clutch (all which helped take it off the road and keep it so preserved) got the car to 55mph, but even 55 was too slow to get it into 4th gear! (Yes, in 1905 it has a 4speed!)

 

For those who are interested, here are a few more shots of the 1904 FIAT that my wife took. Including the plaque giving all the details.
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And just some corrections to the information on the card for those who care: the car is a 1905, not a 1904. All 14 60HP cars made in '04 had a wood chassis. For 1905 Fiat introduced its new steel chassis. No '04 cars survive and only this one '05.

Also, the body maker is Quinby (with an "n"), not Quimby, of New Jersey. Quinby was a high-end coachbuilder dating back to stagecoach era. They spent around six years developing and pioneering a method of building aluminum bodies without seams.

By the way -- helping to start this monster made me say more than once "thank god for Kettering and Cadillac!!!"

 

That's funny!

I know on my Countach card they had my city as "Bellevue" (we live in Auburn). My wife was asking me: "is that where you and your 2nd wife live?". Hahahaha...

Thanks for the clairification!

Mike

 

Thanks to those above for the nice comments about my 1961 Triumph Italia, and for posting the picture. The car is just emerging from a 12-year restoration, and seemed to get a great receptiion all day.

I never got a great explanation for why it was in the Special Disply class rather than British Invasion. Owners in the SD Class compared notes, and only common thread we could find was cars with very limited production (my Italia, Porsche RSR), nearly one off (Ferrari Corsa Spyder), or contemporary tribute cars built to period car specs.

It was a fun group anyway.

 

Here are my photos from the show and the museum - http://www.apexrally.com/2012/09/kirkland-concours-delegance-2012.html . Cheers.

 

Loved seeing your car!!! Thanks for bringing it out!

Mike

 

Yeah the Italia is a beautiful car!

 

Wondered if there's any regular or monthly congregation of exotic and vintage Italian cars in the Seattle area. Or something like Cars and Coffee ?

I know there used to be an annual event adjacent ot the Seattle Ferrari loaction, but I think that's no more.

Scott

 

http://www.exoticsat.com/

Special event this weekend with the FCA 50th Aniv 599 on display.

 

Fantastic video by the folks over at Sinematiks of the Kirkland Concours.

Great shots of my Countach as well as Roy's, John's, Tom's, Richard's and Larry's cars too.

http://vimeo.com/49744586

Mike

 

^^ Excellent! Thanks for the post Mike.

 

Kirkland Concours d'Elegance - official info 2013

Kirkland Concours d’Elegance – 2013
September 8, 2013
Location: LeMay - America's Car Museum
2702 East D St.
Tacoma, WA 98421