The Masterpiece – Style & Speed Showcase took place at Milwaukee’s Veteran’s Park on the shores of Lake Michigan on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2009. The event raises funds for the programs and services of Jewish Family Services (JFS).
Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance was a gathering of rare and premium vintage automobiles selected for their beauty or historic importance. Nearly 200 vehicles, including a dozen vintage motorcycles dating back to 1904, were on display at the Concours d’Elegance.
Ferrari was the featured marque, with eighteen one-of-a-kind or custom built versions exhibited. Heinrich & Magdalena Kämpfer from Switzerland brought their 1953 375 America Vignale Coupe. The yellow coupe is the show car built by Ferrari for the 1954 Turin Auto Show. Rescued from a California junk yard and completely restored to its turntable appearance, the Kämpfer’s Ferrari had just won the Ferrari Class at the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California the weekend before The Masterpiece. The Kämpfers repeated their first in class success in Milwaukee before returning to Switzerland. Other Ferrari Class winners included Admiral Robert Philips of Arlington, Virginia for his 1955 Mondial Racing Spyder and Brian Ross of Cortland, Ohio for his 1955 410 Sport Spyder.
British nameplate Bentley was the other featured marque. A 1925 3 litre Tourer whose owners hail from South Africa won the Chairman’s Choice award. The eighty-four year old car in British Racing Green was driven by owners’ Philip and Anne Johnson from their current home in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Accompanying the Johnsons in the open car on the trip was Mrs. Johnson’s mother, Mary Tingle. Mrs. Tingle is the car’s previous owner and flew from South Africa to participate in the event.
The event includes the best Milwaukee has to offer as well. Lee and Karen Pagel with their 1909 Brush Runabout, Ralph LaMacchia with an original 1969 Mustang Mach I, Michael Chuka with his 1970 Mustang Boss 302 and Bill Treffert with his 1960 Jaguar XK 150S Roadster.
Best of Show at the Concours d’Elegance was awarded to another class winner fresh from The Pebble Beach Concours, the 1928 Daimler Double Six V-Windshield Limousine owned by Robert Lorkowski of Bruce, Wisconsin. The impressive vehicle is over twenty feet in length, weighs 8100 lbs and is the only surviving example of its type.
In addition, another 175 vehicles were featured at Club Day on Saturday August 22. Over the past three years, Club Day has grown to be quite popular with area collectors and clubs. A record 24 regional car clubs were present ranging from European to American marques, Antique to Modern eras, and, for the first time, Italian marque motorcycles.
To date The Masterpiece has raised over $300,000.00 for JFS. Since 1867, JFS has provided comprehensive social services through counseling, older adult and exceptional needs services for individuals of all ages, races, religions and lifestyles.
The Masterpiece will return for its sixth year Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22, 2010. Visit www.milwaukeemasterpiece.com for more information.
[Source: Masterpiece]
