Orange County Collector Car & Motorcycle Weekend Kicks-off Fourth of July Festivities by Honoring the U.S. Military

Image provided by Cpl. Christopher Duncan

The Orange County Collector Car & Motorcycle Weekend^TM and the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance® are scheduled to host thousands of collector car and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts from across Southern California two weeks before Fourth of July festivities get underway.

To kick-off the patriotic celebration that will sweep through Orange County, the Dana Point Concours team will honor U.S. military men and women at home and overseas through its 2013 theme: “Salute to Military: Past & Present War Vehicles,” from Friday, June 21, to Sunday, June 23.

Besides offering active duty military and DOD personnel free admission (and a $15 discounted ticket for a friend or family member) to Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance on the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort, the Concours team will also display some of the most impressive and rare military vehicles ever used in combat.

And that’s just part of the amazing surprise! The Orange County Collector Car & Motorcycle Weekend^TM and U.S. Marine Corps Installations – West / Marine Corps Base have teamed up to host a never-before-offered, guided tour of the West Coast’s largest U.S. military base on June 21. Only a select group (200 to be exact) of vehicles who sign up for the Rallye Basilone Historic Tour will have the opportunity to cruise down the famous Basilone Road, which was named after the only Marine to be awarded both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor during WWII – U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant  John Basilone.

Jumping out of your seat yet!? We are! We hope you will join us for the inaugural Orange County Collector Car & Motorcycle Weekend^TM!

As a reminder, the Rallye Basilone Historic Tour is set up on a first come, first serve basis until all seats are filled!

To learn more, visit www.danapointconcours.org.

Honoring a Legend & Celebrating a Golden Birthday

  

Founded on passion and a competitive spirit, Shelby American Inc. was established by legendary automotive designer and racer Carroll Shelby. Accomplishing what many gear heads dream of doing, Shelby was the only man to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a driver, team owner and manufacturer.

Shelby’s impressive career included winning Le Mans in ‘59, behind the wheel of an Aston Martin, as well as competing and claiming victory in ‘64 and ‘66 as a Shelby American team owner and a manufacturer with the Cobra Daytona Coupe and Ford GT40.

On Thursday, May 10, however, the automotive world lost an icon, teacher, competitor, enthusiast and brother. Carroll Hall Shelby, considered one of the last of the great independent car builders / drivers passed away at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, in his home state of Texas.

So it only seemed fitting that for this year’s Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, scheduled June 23-24, we recognize this American icon and his accomplishments in conjunction with our theme “Legends of Le Mans: Racing in the ‘60s.” Shelby American built its legend, as well as some great cars during the 1960s.

To honor 50 years of Shelby American and the man who started it all, the Concours will highlight vehicles from the manufacturer, including a Nightmist Blue on black 1967 Shelby GT500. Restored to factory-specifications, this GT500 is fully documented by Shelby American Automobile Club and is one of only four delivered to Spain for the festival of Seville in 1967.  The Shelby was then used as a display car at the Festival of Barcelona that year along with Cobras, GT350s and more.

Also on display from an exhibitor will be a 1964 Shelby Cobra equipped with a Ford V8 289 c.i.d. engine with Downdraft Webers. Reaching over 300 horsepower, this striking daily driver turns heads everywhere it goes and makes for an amazing drive through the mountains.

This 1967 Shelby GT500 and 1964 Shelby Cobra are just a couple of jewels that will be on display at the Concours. Guests interested in seeing these magnificent beauties can purchase tickets online or at the gate. Come help us celebrate the biggest party of the year and honor Carroll Shelby’s impressive career that has shaped the automotive world today.

Those interested in helping continue Carroll’s legacy, the Carroll Shelby Foundation, can click on the link and donate today in honor of one of the greatest icons the automotive world has known. As one of the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance charities, the Foundation will also be on-site during the Concours on Sunday, June 24.

We hope to see you this summer!

SO CAL’S SPIRIT OF GIVING

For those of us who love collector cars, the season of giving does not end in December.  In fact, it’s still going strong in the heart of Southern California.  This summer, the 30^th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance will enjoy far more than just the premier celebration of automotive heritage in So Cal. The Concours hopes to raise funds for five area non-profits, including the Carroll Shelby Foundation, South Orange County School of the Arts, Pet Project Foundation, Petersen Automotive Museum and the Art Center College of Design.

The first Concours, originally called the Newport Beach Concours d’Elegance, was started in 1983 by a group of volunteers as a charitable automotive event to celebrate some of the most sought after automobiles. Today, it’s grown to be one of the largest automotive festivals in Southern California and is proud of the charitable contributions it has been able to make because of its volunteers’ hard work, year after year.  This makes the Concours weekend both fun and a way to give back to the community.

From rescuing our four-legged friends to offering children an opportunity to explore their passions are some of the goals these charities strive to promote.  To access more information about each charity, check out our website with pages devoted to each of the organizations at www.danapointconcours.org/charities.  Whether you love animals, like helping kids or passionate about the perseveration of automobiles, you’ll find a charity that touches your heart!

So whether you’re visiting So Cal or a proud resident, make your way to the 30^th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance on June 23-24, at the beautiful St. Regis Monarch Beach resort.  Not only can you check out the breath-taking scenery of the golf links that lay along the beach, you can also view some of the nicest classic automobiles and vintage motorcycles So Cal has to offer.  The best part about it is your ticket purchase of just $30 will go toward the ultimate donation to each of these five non-profits.

Feeling a little bit more charitable? You can also donate ahead of time at https://danapointconcours.webconnex.com/2012tickets.

See you in June!