The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance 2010 was held September 11-12 on the grounds of the Radnor Hunt in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Despite an early morning rain and threatening skies, the 2010 Radnor Concours d’Elegance featured a great show field that showcased Studebaker, Triumph motorcycles and the designs of Pininfarina this year. Best of Show was awarded to the 1932 Packard 903 Sport Phaeton of Frank Buck.
“We were pleased to have such an outstanding showing of classic cars and motorcycles,” said Michael G. Tillson III, chairman, Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance, “The show field was still very full in spite of less than perfect weather. The 2010 event once again included a display of vintage coaches and carriages that illustrated the evolution of transportation.”
The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance includes three days of activities beginning with the Friday evening Porch Barbecue, the Saturday morning Road Rally through the scenic countryside of Chester County and the Saturday night Black Tie party featuring a silent auction to benefit the charities.
The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance 2010 featured a selection of significant cars from Studebaker, one of America’s earliest auto manufacturers. Perhaps one of the most unusual Studebakers on the showfield was the 1908 “Backward-Forward” Electric Bus presented by the William E. Swigart Jr. Automobile Museum in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania which took first place in the Studebaker Veteran class. This vehicle is one of two that was designed to operate in the tunnel that connects the Senate Office Building and the United States Capitol because of its ability to operate without the need to turn around.
The featured coachbuilder this year was Pininfarina, a name associated with many of the most beautiful Italian cars, in celebration of the design firm’s 80th anniversary this year. The 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupe of Donald Murphy was the winner of the Pininfarina Closed class and the 1954 Ferrari 375MM Spyder from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum (formerly owned by actor William Holden) won the Pininfarina Open class as well as Best Sporting Marque of the Show. The show also featured an additional category titled “Cars with Tailgates”, with the first place award going to the 1947 Nash Suburban of Dave and Elaine Krause.
The motorcycle division showcased British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph, and the Best Triumph award went to the 1970 Triumph T120 of David Markel. Legendary motorcycle racer Gary Nixon was a special guest at this year’s event, and he selected the 1968 Triumph Twin Engine Bonneville presented by the H.C. Morris Collection to receive the Gary Nixon Award.
Proceeds from the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance 2010 benefit the Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital and Thorncroft Equestrian Center. The Joan Karnell Cancer Center provides progressive, comprehensive and supportive cancer care through a wide range of services. Thorncroft Equestrian Center has horseback riding programs designed to educate equestrians of all ages and abilities in the enjoyment and care of the horse. For more information about the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance, visit www.radnorconcours.org. For more information about the Joan Karnell Cancer Center, visit www.pennmedicine.org/pahosp/cancer. For more information about Thorncroft Equestrian Center, visit www.thorncroft.org.
Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance 2010 – Selected Winners
Best of Show – 1932 Packard 903 Sport Phaeton, Frank Buck
People’s Choice – 1930 Packard – 733 Roadster, Robert Ries
Timeless Elegance – 1934 Rolls Royce PII Continental DHC, Morton Bullock
Best Sporting Marque – 1954 Ferrari 375MM Spyder, Simeone Museum
Chairman’s Award – 1967 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport Zagato, Ken Swanstrom
Photographer Al Wolford braved through the rainy morning at Radnor Hunt to produce the following wet images, but he reports that, “even though it was raining, everyone with the event was cheerful and doing what they could for the entrants and attendees. It was great to see that no one just threw up their hands and gave up because of the rain. There was a nice field of cars and it was too bad the weather didn’t cooperate to show off the full potential of the entrants.”
Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance 2010 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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[Source: Radnor Hunt Concours; photo credit: Al Wolford]
Too bad this year’s event was beset with the rainy start. It kept me from attending, although by the looks of these pictures I wish I made the trip. Thanks for bringing it home to me. See you next year.