2007 William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Concours d'Elegance


A 1937 Bugatti type 57C owned by Malcolm Pray, Jr. was named Best in Show at the inaugural William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Concours d'Elegance, hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County July 27-29, 2007.

The Bugatti (pictured left) also took first place honors in the European Classic Pre-War Class.

More than 140 classic and antique automobiles and race cars were displayed on the grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer and The Breakers, two of the Preservation Society's historic mansions.

Prizes were awarded in 22 classes, as well as several additional major awards.

     


See the complete awards list.




Show Featured Historic Moss-Gurney Reunion with Birdcage Maserati

The Concours featured the historic reunion of racing greats Sir Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney with the Birdcage Maserati #2461 that they raced to victory together as teammates in 1960 at Nurburgring.  The car, now owned by Carl Moore of Malibu, CA, was the centerpiece of one of the largest collections of Gurney owned or driven race cars ever displayed on the East Coast, and was the winner of the Concours' Founder's Award.  After admiring the car, posing for photographs and reminiscing about the race, at Moore's request Moss and Gurney each autographed the car.  

Moss and Gurney received the 1st annual William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Awards at a special dinner during the weekend attended by some 300 people, among them an illustrious selection of their racing colleagues, including Richard Atwood, Skip Barber, Bob Bondurant, Geoff Boss, Luigi Chinetti, Jr., Nick Craw, Janet Guthrie, David Hobbs, David Piper, Johnny Rutherford, Peter Windsor, and George Wintersteen.

                                                          

                                                                                            
                                                                                                              

                  
 
                    
                       


Highlights of the 2007 William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
Concours d'Elegance Weekend




A Tour d'Elegance by historic autos along the picturesque roadways of Newport and Aquidneck Island

Displays and judging of classic cars from the Brass Era to 1970, with special emphasis on cars from between the World Wars, on the grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer (1852), a National Historic Landmark

Displays of legendary competition cars on the grounds of The Breakers (1895), a National Historic Landmark

A celebration of "Willie K's " contributions to American motor sports with the conferring of the William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney at a Legends of Racing Dinner at The Breakers

A Black and White Ball at Marble House (1892), William K. Vanderbilt's childhood summer home, now a National Historic Landmark

Special appearances and autograph sessions by legendary drivers


Marble House

"Willie K." as William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. was known, drove his way to fame as the world land speed record holder in 1904, and in the same year launched AAA and its successors on one of the longest running auto championship series ever, with the creation of the original Vanderbilt Cup.









 
     



NEWPORT MANSIONS is a registered trademark of The Preservation Society of Newport County. Our tickets should not be presented at any other mansion in Newport except The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, The Elms, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House, Kingscote, Marble House, and Rosecliff.