“It was a most enjoyable weekend,” said CCCA Museum president Walter Blenko. “The
weather was perfect for every event scheduled for our 25th annual Experience. The
automobile rides proved to be a special treat for spectators who definitely enjoyed
riding in the Museum’s Classics again this year.”
The weekend events commenced on Friday with the traditional “Get Acquainted” Bar-B-Que
on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum.
For the Indiana-built and Classic Cars attending the weekend, Saturday began with
a morning tour through the beautiful Michigan countryside. A great swap meet ran
all afternoon as did the Art Show that featured some the foremost automotive artists
in America and was punctuated by Tom Hale’s presentation on Automotive Art.
The day’s activities concluded with a gala evening dinner and presentation. In what
is now a welcome tradition at the Experience, Bill Parfet served as celebrity auctioneer
for the auction that kicked off the evening events.
On Sunday the “Grand Experience” took place with a truly outstanding group of automobiles
making up a field of great Indiana-built cars and superb Classic Cars. The awards
drive-by, narrated by Bob Joynt and David Schultz, was both informative and enjoyable.
Among the earliest car present was the Class Award winning Marmon Speedster build
pace car for the Indianapolis 500 in 1921 restored by Jack Dunning. The CCCA Museum
Award was presented to a 1932 Stutz Convertible Coupe owned by Mark Desch; the Art
Award honored the beautiful 1930 Cord L-29 Speedster owned by Ed and Judy Schoenthaler;
the Hyman Award went to the1932 Auburn, 8, 8-120, Speedster owned by Terry and Rita
Ernest; the Governor’s Award, Sponsored by Gooding & Company Auctions, went
to the 1931 Studebaker President 4 Seasons Roadster owned by Chuck Morgan; the Award
for Most Elegant car went to the largest car present, the 1928 Daimler Royal Limousine
of Bob and Barb Lorkowski; the People’s Choice was gathered up by Connie and Dennis
Sobieski with their 1930 Cadillac Fleetwood Roadster; the Gilmore Award was presented
to a 1932 Franklin Sedan from the Franklin Automobile Collection; and Best of Show
was won by a 1929 Murphy bodied Duesenberg Phaeton owned by Chuck Letts.
The 2011 Experience event sponsors included Hyman Ltd. and Hagerty Insurance, who
sponsored the Junior Judges, along with the generous support of Chief sponsor, Gooding
& Company, whose representatives presented the Honorary Chairman’s Award to
a 1930 Duesenberg Convertible Coupe with a body by Hibbard & Darrin from the
Off Brothers Collection. It was also the great support and hospitality of the entire
staff at the Gilmore Auto Museum that made this annual event successful once again
this year.
Following the awards presentation Bill and Barbara Parfet hosted the wonderful afterglow
party – a fitting end to a truly great camaraderie at the Museum weekend.
The 2012 Experience theme is All Foreign Automobiles through 1965 and Full Classics®.
It will be held on Sunday, June 3 with a Grand Classic to be held on Saturday, June
2.
Gallery photos courtesy of heripassociates.com