Barrington, IL, June 25, 2008 — The 2008 Barrington Concours d’Elegance will be held from Oct. 3-5, 2008 in Barrington and at picturesque Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill. The park has made a special exception to allow a magnificent selection of vehicles on the turf course (infield). The 2008 Concours d’Elegance will be hosted by the Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the organizations. “Arlington Park is honored to host the Barrington Concours d’Elegance. It is a premier event showcasing the ‘Legends & Legacies’ of the Midwest featuring more than […]
Barrington, IL, June 25, 2008 — The 2008 Barrington Concours d’Elegance will be held from Oct. 3-5, 2008 in Barrington and at picturesque Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill. The park has made a special exception to allow a magnificent selection of vehicles on the turf course (infield). The 2008 Concours d’Elegance will be hosted by the Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the organizations.
“Arlington Park is honored to host the Barrington Concours d’Elegance. It is a premier event showcasing the ‘Legends & Legacies’ of the Midwest featuring more than 100 classic cars and other world class events,” said Roy Arnold, president of Arlington Park. “We look forward to exhibiting these fabulous cars with beautiful Arlington Park as its backdrop.”
In addition to the new venue for 2008, the Barrington Concours is pleased to announce that 2007 founding exhibitor Malcolm S. Pray has agreed to serve as honorary chairman of the event. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the return of automobile historian and writer Jonathan A. Stein as chief judge. According to Stein, the panel “will include some of the top judges in the country.”
“We are thrilled to have Malcolm Pray as Honorary Chair, and Jonathan Stein returning as Chief Judge,” said Mary Bradford-White, event co-chair and president of the Barrington Area Conservation Trust. “The inaugural Legends & Legacies, which was held in September 2007, was a phenomenal success and featured 94 stunning automobiles with nearly 3,000 people in attendance. We hope to significantly increase our attendance this year at Arlington Park and assemble of field of cars that is just as strong as last year’s.”
Although the Barrington Concours is still months away, the field is filling fast. Early entries include:
1935 Amilcar Pegase Grand Prix
Honorary Chair Malcolm S. Pray Jr. will bring his stunning 1935 Amilcar Pegase Grand Prix Roadster for exhibition. The only surviving example of the “Pegase” series, it was designed by Geo Hamm for coachbuilder Figoni & Falaschi designer Geo Hamm and is powered by one of only eight Delahaye “Grillot”-designed engines.
1902 Oldsmobile Model R Curved Dash Runabout
One of the most important early automobiles ever, the Curved Dash Olds was one of the earliest series produced cars and was made famous in the song, “In My Merry Oldsmobile.” The car has an accessory top, fenders, and a rear dos-á-dos seat. It also has a rare original “never out” carbide headlight. This is the first time this automobile will be shown at a Concours under the ownership of Thomas and Joyce Edfors.
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Trouville Town Car
Bob and Sheila Joynt’s wonderful Rolls-Royce Phantom I Trouville Town Car was once owned by Hollywood starlet Constance Bennett, who starred in the 1916 silent film “The Valley of Desires, What Price Hollywood” (1932), and Madame X (1946). Bodied by Brewster, with the Trouville body, this car was one of the most expensive Phantom I automobiles by the firm (priced at $19,985 in 1926).
1930 Willys Knight Roadster
The 1930 Willys Knight of Gerald Szostak uses a sleeve-valve engine licensed by Knight and a body designed by Amos Northrup. Thanks to a livery more commonly seen on golf trousers, it is known as a “plaidside roadster.”
1931 Pierce-Arrow
Until the very end, Pierce-Arrow built was known for building conservative vehicles of exceptional quality and luxury. A true barn find, Christopher and Delphine Diekman’s 1931 Model 43 was preserved for years under a thick coat of house paint. After discovery in 1998 it was treated to a comprehensive restoration.
1950 Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible
In the rush to produce a stylish new product that would appeal to the American market, Austin created the A90 Atlantic convertible. Although striking from many angles, the overall effect attracted few buyers. When production stopped due to lagging sales, remaining engines and drive train components became the basis for the gorgeous and highly successful Austin-Healy 100/4 models. Jim Rugowski’s 1950 Atlantic is one of just 100 examples imported into the United States.
1954 Standard Triumph TR2 Roadster
Immediately following World War II, British Industry was forced to “Export or Die.” To capitalize on the American sports car boom, Standard-Triumph developed the two-liter TR2. Quick and sturdy, America happily took to it along with the MG TD and new Austin-Healey 100. This 1954 TR2 of Jeff and Nancy Kelly is early enough to retain the original long-door configuration. After owning it for 34 years, Jeff Kelly had it fully restored in 2006.
Legends & Legacies
The Barrington Concours d’Elegance, Legends & Legacies is a result of the collaborative vision of the event’s hosts and beneficiaries, Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, who believe in the strength of partnership and who work diligently to preserve and promote some of the most important legacies of the Barrington area: compassion, conservation, and community involvement. “The success of the inaugural Barrington Concours proved that not only could our organizations host a fabulous celebration of classic automobiles, but that we could also provide an example of how a community can embrace an idea and work together for the benefit of area charities,” added Bradford-White.
Barrington Area Conservation Trust was founded in 2001 to help preserve the open land, the rural character, and the scenic, historic, recreational, and ecologically significant resources of the Barrington area. With tools including conservation easements and land-acquisition programs, BACTrust works with private landowners to protect critical lands in emerging growth areas within the region. Barrington Area Conservation Trust holds the largest private conservation easement in the state of Illinois on the 420-acre Horizon Farms property at Sutton and Algonquin Roads in Barrington Hills.
Hospice of Northeastern Illinois provides end-of-life care for adults and children, bereavement for families, integrative therapies such as massage, art therapy, pet therapy, and community and professional education. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois is also one of a few hospices in Illinois to provide pediatric palliative and hospice services. The organization is rooted in the community, with more than 8,000 donors contributing $2.5 million annually and more than 300 volunteers donating nearly 15,000 hours of time.
For more information, tickets, or to request a Car Nomination Packet, please call (847) 381-4291 or go to www.barringtonconcours.org for an online nomination form.