A Competion in Elegance

continued

Hidden Valley
The site of the concours for the past two years has been Hidden Valley in Irvine. This is a quiet, grassy area nestled behind the Raging Waters aquatic park which is next to the Verizon Amphitheater. It is so situated that you neither see nor hear either of these other attractions and is aptly named Hidden Valley.
As you approach the entrance you walk by collections of Ferraris, Porches, Jaguars, and other exotic cars from the various car clubs parked outside. These are quite a spectacle in themselves and one can't help wondering if this is what is on the outside, what must the inside be like?

What is inside is even more impressive. There are around 200 classic cars (more than 30 years old) with a few antique or vintage cars (built before 1925).

What is a classic? It takes more than age to make a classic. The car has to have been exceptional when it was built—there are no standard Fords or Chevrolets for example (though there were 14 corvettes from 1953 to 2003 celebrating the 50th anniversary of this classic American marque.)
In addition to entries in European classics (pre-war and post war) and American classics (pre and post war) there are three classes and 17 entries for Ferrari, two classes and 13 entries for Jaguar, two classes and 14 entries for Mercedes, and a class each for Lamborghini, Porsche and Aston Martin.
In fact, Aston Martin was the featured marque in 2002. The 26 cars in four classes displayed is probably the greatest collection and variety of classic Aston Martins the average attendee will ever see in his lifetime.
Judgement Day

Judging is an important element in the Concours (it is, after all, a competition). The better and more knowledgeable the judges, the better the entries will be. Last year there were more than 70 judges for 200 automobiles.

Given the number and quality of judges, one suspects that only the most meticulously polished and maintained cars would even try to compete. That was certainly the impression of this non-expert.
If the dazzling automobiles weren't enough of an indication, one could tell the stature and importance of the Newport Coast Concours by the Honorary Special Guest Judge—Sir Stirling Moss.
Even many of us who were not into grand prix racing know of this legend. Over 15 years (his career was cut short by a near fatal accident) Mr. Moss was British national champion ten times and won over forty percent of the more than 500 races he entered. Though his last race was forty years ago, he was knighted in 2000 by a queen and country which still remembered and honored him.