by Kim ThomasIf you are in the mood to be shaken, not stirred, this weekend, you might want to transport you and your family to check out the Keeneland Concours d'Elegance. With this year’s Bond theme and over 600 classic cars, the event will present unique opportunities to view sculpture, performance art and engineering like no other.
(Photo by Eric Seale is from last year's gala. Amongst those pictured are actors Tim Davis, Bob Singleton, Tara Adkins, Kevin Greer and Jeremy Gillett.)
Chairman Tom Jones and a small dedicated group started the Keeneland Concours d'Elegance in 2004, and over the course of the last six years, the automobile extravaganza has raised over $400,000 for Kentucky Children’s Hospital. During that time, the effort has certainly had its share of memorable moments. Jones recalls, "Two years ago, it was very hot, and Dr. Tim Bricker was leading the judging team around -- a handful of children from Kentucky Children's Hospital, they choose the winner for the Children's Choice award, and they came upon a 1956 Lincoln, baby blue...and I mean the entire car was baby blue: fender wells, interior, carpet, and the exterior. Well, the kids picked that car because they said it looked like a really big swimming pool!"
There have been heartwarming times as well, he remembers, "Another year, I received a distraught call from a woman whose father had entered a car. The father's wife had just passed away after a long illness the day before. She was very apologetic that they would not be coming, and I told her, 'no problem, we were very sorry for your loss, take care, and we will see you next year.' The same woman called back the next day (one day before the show and says, 'We're coming!' I said okay. Well, the car was beautiful -- but I could not tell the judges the story, for fear of tainting the outcome. Long story short, the car her father had entered won -- and there was not a dry eye in the house when I told the judges!" Jones is looking forward to the sixth year for the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance. "Another year and another opportunity for us to showcase the world’s finest and rarest of automobiles all displayed on the grounds of Keeneland Race Course, undeniably one of the most historic and beautiful settings in the country. Our mission in this Concours adventure is to continually improve with age, and with that, events for the 2009 year are shaping up to be creative, exciting, and sure to please. I encourage everyone to experience the Concours and see the website for more details of the Bourbon Tour to Jim Beam, the “James Bond” Gala, what vintage airplanes will be at the Hangar Bash and where the Tour d’Elegance will travel, where online registration is made easy.”
Jones says one of the highlights of the show this year will be the featured car, the British Morgan, which is celebrating its centennial. "It is the featured car, but there will be many others, 130 judged cars, and over 600 paddock cars,” says Jones.
"This year’s Concours d’Elegance will be celebrating the iconic British Morgan in commemoration of its 100 years of automotive history. As we are always looking to increase the interest and awareness of transportation in general, a motorcycle class was introduced last year to rave reviews, and this year, we are including an historic truck class. Add the 100 Concours automobiles, special automotive exhibits, and of course, the ever-popular Car Club Paddock, and there will be close to 1000 vehicles of distinction for your viewing pleasure!"
Jones is grateful for the contribution his group has been able to make and states, "I speak for everyone associated with the Keeneland Concours when I say that this event has positively affected us all in a very personal way. From the generosity of our sponsors and the dedicated individuals who labor tirelessly, you have all helped us support our beneficiary, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, and thus ensure quality healthcare for all of Kentucky’s children. We hope to see you the weekend of July 16th - July 19th here in Lexington!"Taylor is enthusiastic about the a number of competitions related to the different types of cars and the car clubs who support the event and advises that plenty of parking is adjacent to the Concours. “I am not sure of the grand total raised to-date by the event but for a number of years it has raised significant amounts of money to benefit KY Children's Hospital -- last year alone they raised $25,000. We have also hosted the See Blue UK Homecoming event that raises money for that cause.” Keeneland has donated more than $25,000 over the last couple of years to support Kentucky Children's Hospital.
Who’s to judge?
Lexington attorney Dean Langdon will be one of the judges again this year. Langdon first attended in 2005 because a friend's car was in the show. A few years later, one of the other judges let him know that they needed additional judges, and he took him up on it. According to Langdon, “Judging involves evaluating the condition and authenticity of a car. The best cars will have original or authentic parts, and be in great condition. There may be cars which are very authentic, but in fair condition - or in great condition but with non-original equipment. For example, there weren't halogen headlights in the 50's, so a 50's car which had halogen replacement headlights would be marked down for not being completely authentic. There are 16 different classes of cars, with 6-9 cars in each class. There are three judges per class who judge each car as a team. We will spend about 20 minutes on each car.”
Langdon further emphasizes that “this is an opportunity to view an extraordinary group of vehicles assembled in one place that would be almost impossible to see elsewhere, and it provides a big boost to the UK Children's Hospital.” He believes the best part of the event is the announcement of
the Children's Choice Award - an award given to the vehicle voted as the best by children who attend the show.
Once Is Not Enough (actors add to the fun)
Actors Guild of Lexington and Bluegrass Community Technical College will add their talent to the excitement again this year. Tim Davis, Theatre & Film Program Coordinator at BCTC explains, “Last year, Connie Jones (who organizes the gala) met with Eric Seale (AGL’s Assistant Artistic Director) and myself to discuss how we could be involved. We decided that we would have actors roaming the crowd "in character" (last year's theme was Gatsby) and interacting with the assembled folks. For instance, Kevin Greer (a BCTC Theatre Student) was dressed as Gatsby himself, and I was his posh, English butler (well, as posh as I could manage) who loudly and obnoxiously announced everyone's name as they entered the main hall. They seemed to love us last year, and everyone commented in a very positive fashion and liked what our actors added to the event.”
This year's theme is Bond, so there will be a James Bond, some Bond villains and assorted other Bond-style folks. Davis states, “We'll also have some "stage combat" during the night's festivities. It should be a gas! Eric and I provide actors (and act ourselves. This year we both get to be Bond villains!) I've also recruited Henry Layton, who has worked with our BCTC Theatre productions this year, to choreograph the fights and to play Bond himself!”
Seale and Davis will be taking a break from their summer production work for subUrbia (AGL) and Dark of the Moon (BCTC), which according to Davis, “is sort of an Appalachian Romeo and Juliet, which goes up Aug 5th-7th at the Talon Winery Barn, out Tates Creek Road (for tickets call Talon Winery at (859) 971-3214). Seale is leading the Apprentice Players in their presentation of the coming of age story, subUrbia (currently playing at the Downtown Arts Center; call 1-866-811-4111 or http://www.actorsguildoflexington.org/ for tickets).
Davis is looking forward to the response they will receive and remembers, “The reaction we got last year was wonderful, and the funny thing was since a lot of the revelers show up in costume themselves, people thought that some of us were "for real" -- my butler, for instance and Tamara Bentley speaks perfect French and was running around in a flapper dress hollering French all night, so most folks assumed she was just a 'regular' guest! It's lots of fun, and it's for a good cause. Our organizations are very happy to be a part of it again.
Award-Winning Sculptor Alexander Buchan Unveils New Work
This year’s Concours will present a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Alexander Buchan, one of only three artists worldwide doing bronze automotive sculpture. The age of the classic automobile comes to life when automotive sculptor Alexander Buchan unveils a new sculpture on Saturday, July 18. Using a “lost wax” process that dates to the Renaissance, Mr. Buchan is one of three bronze sculptors in the world who specialize in automotive themes.
Mr. Buchan will present “The Fastest Man on the Earth.” The painted bronze sculpture commemorates legendary racer Ralph DePalma and the remarkable Packard 905 he drove to a world-record setting performance at Daytona Beach, Fla. in February, 1919.
DePalma and the Packard 905 broke all existing speed records, running the one-mile course in 24.2 seconds for an average of 149.87 mph. Hailed as “The Gentleman Champion” by racing fans and fellow drivers, DePalma also was nicknamed in his time as “America's greatest sultan of speed.” DePalma is reported to have won 2,000 of the 2,800 races he entered. Powered by a V-12 aero engine, the Packard 905 was built exclusively for setting speed records. The beach course’s wet sand kept the tires cool, also helping make possible the historic run.
In a General Motors career that spanned 38 years, Mr. Buchan served as chief design sculptor. In that role, he was part of the design team that shaped many of GM’s most popular production and spectacular concept vehicles. Today, he is one of the world’s leading experts on the process of bronze casting, recognized around the world for the beauty of his work. Mr. Buchan’s themes include freedom, speed and excitement. His subjects include classic and racing automobiles and motorcycles, as well as historic figures and the beauty of the human form.
Each year, Mr. Buchan exhibits at several automotive exhibitions. He also works on commissions from his Michigan studio. To view examples of his work, and for a complete list of events and exhibitions, visit http://www.alexanderbuchan.com/.
If you go
The Keeneland Concours d'Elegance will be held at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday, July 18, but the weekend's events begin Thursday, July 16 and run through Sunday, July 19. The Concours is a showcase for several hundred of the finest automobiles in the world. Important parts of the Concours are a special automotive art exhibition, a silent auction and unique opportunities for collectors. The Keeneland Concours d’Elegance and related events benefit UK Health Care and Kentucky Children's Hospital. Jones suggests a visit to their website at http://www.keenelandconcours.com/) to find out all about this exposition of automobile ambrosia. There will be plenty of food or drink available, according to Taylor, “and the gala event associated with the Concours has wonderful food as well! There are a number of competitions related to the different types of cars and the car clubs who support the event. Parking is adjacent to the Concours."
(This is the unedited piece I wrote for Ace Weekly; to see the piece in print, please pick up a copy of this week's Ace Weekly, on stands now ;-)
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