Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance
Car Enthusiast Newsletter
Rotary Club of Forest Grove – March 2008
Car Enthusiast Newsletter
Rotary Club of Forest Grove – March 2008
HELLO AGAIN, DEAR FRIENDS!
The Forest Grove Concours season is upon us again, promising another great year, an exhibit of spectacular automotive gems, and all the fun and comradeship we share every July.Have you joined us for our Saturday afternoon tour of local wineries (and usually a visit to Hagg Lake)? Have you attended our elegant Saturday evening dinner at Pumpkin Ridge? If so, we hope to see you at these events again this year. If you haven’t, please consider joining us. You will have a memorable time at both of these events, adding to the grand experience of our Sunday show. More on these events in the Newsletter below.
We hope this Newsletter serves the purposes we intend. First, to remind you how much the Forest Grove Rotary appreciates and values your participation and support of our Concours. We could have no show without you, our Exhibitors, Judges and Sponsors! Second, we want to get the weekend of July 19-20, 2008 on your calendar.
The Rotary Club of Forest Grove started our Concours 36 years ago to raise money for charitable causes. You will find an explanation later in the Newsletter of how we spend this money. We offered a partnership with the Collector Car Community. In return for your involvement and (considerable) support our Rotary Club committed to finance, sponsor, and put on an annual, honorable, legitimate Collector Car Concours d’Elegance of the very highest quality. Going into our 36th year you and we are continuing our commitments with style and undiminished vigor!!!
We look forward to seeing you at our (yours and ours) 36th event!!
Megan Johnston Concours General Chairman
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU
The Collector Car Community has in the Forest Grove Concours a dedicated, committed group working diligently to support your love of cars and promote the general public’s continued interest. Our exhibitors and your cars, our committed and skilled judges, and our generous sponsors are the most essential ingredients to our Concours. We, for our part, enjoy the pleasure of being involved in your passion while also serving the charitable objectives of our Rotary organization. We need and greatly appreciate you. We also believe we provide a highly valuable service to the Collector Car Community, worthy of the support we receive from you. We look to you to help assure the continued vitality of our annual show and its charitable goals. Thanks for your continued support of our Concours.2008 FOREST GROVE CONCOURS THEME ‘CLASSICS’ OF ROUTE 66
Nothing represents the emergence of the iconic status of the American automobile more than the highway, “Route 66.” Route 66 carried us from our early twentieth century roots of rural America, with villages, towns and cities connected by dirt roads, to our multi-lane highways and freeways of today. Route 66 brings to our minds adventure, excitement, new beginnings, new opportunities, expanding horizons. Just a few facts:- The number 66 was assigned to the route in 1926.
- By 1932 it linked Chicago to Los Angeles, 2400 miles, as a continuous highway (though not yet all paved).
- By 1938 it was paved all the way.
- The Federal Highway Act of 1956 authorized the start of our interstate highway system.
- By 1970 most of the original segments of 66 had been replaced with modern 4-lane highways.
- In 1977 Route 66 segments in Illinois and part of Missouri became I-55.
- The official Route 66’s final end came when the last segment of original Route 66 was replaced at Williams, Arizona by I-40 in 1984.
- But it lives on in people’s minds and hearts, and at various locations, with designations of “Historic Route 66.”
So 66 took us from the Model T to today’s modern automobile designs. Along the way Route 66 gave us:
- Auto camps that morphed into cabins and cottages that morphed into motor courts and today’s motels.
- Burma Shave signs, curio shops, 2-pump service stations, diners.
- Every imaginable roadside attraction.
- The first McDonalds in 1948 in San Bernardino, CA.
- The song “get your kicks on Route 66,” introduced by Nat King Cole in 1946.
- The TV show, “Route 66,” from 1960 to 1964, about two young men seeking adventure each week in their 1960 Corvette convertible.
- And so much more…
So what cars do we honor with our 2008 theme? Open for discussion. Certainly Corvettes (from the TV show), especially 1960 models. Probably convertibles and station wagons (especially woodies) from the earliest days through the 60’s. The heaviest use of Route 66 occurred in the two decades following WWII, when America found itself with exciting new wheels, after the pain of the depression and the War; so certainly all sorts of “road” cars from that era.
During our 2008 Concours we will make an effort to appropriately recognize cars that reflect the spirit of the era of Route 66.
OUR THEME NOT RESTRICTIVE!
Our annual themes are intended to provide an additional focus of interest for our show. Statement of our theme is not intended in any way to exclude cars that don’t fit the theme. We have been surprised to find car owners not bringing their cars to our show because they didn’t fit the theme for the year. WE WANT ALL YOUR SPECTACULAR CARS WITH US IN JULY!!CARS MAY BE ENTERED FOR DISPLAY ONLY
We have been asked to remind everyone that cars may be entered either for display only or for judging. In both cases approval of cars by the Concours Committee is required.COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAR CLUBS
We continue to seek better ways to communicate with car clubs in the Northwest. We need your help on the following:- Car Club Identification – A couple of years ago we started a page on our website listing car clubs and contacts, for your use and ours. Please check our website car club page to be sure your club is listed and contact information is correct. Provide us added or corrected information by email or our hotline.
- Car Entries – Please encourage the entry of qualifying, quality cars. Each year we also have some target car categories we would like to be sure to have at our show. This year we are particularly looking for cars that fit our theme, Route 66. Please encourage owners of cars in this category to enter their cars. Or give us contact information and we will follow up.
FOR SALE LOT FOR COLLECTOR CARS
We once again offer the “EXOTIC AUTO EMPORIUM” where owners may offer their Collector Cars for sale on the Pacific University campus.Pre-register for $40 or register day of show for $45, which includes entry into the Concours Show for the driver only. Cars must enter Sunday, July 20, 6-9 am only and must remain in the lot until 4:30 pm Sunday.
Checks go to Exotic Auto Emporium, at P.O. Box 176, Forest Grove, OR 97116-0176. For more information call Randy Smith at (503) 936-6878 or email at smitty@awardnet.net.
2008 SHOW
- Vineyard and Lake Tour, Saturday afternoon, July 19. More below, in your entry package and on our website.
- Evening of Elegance Dinner, Saturday night, July 19, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. More below and on our website.
- Concours d’Elegance, Sunday, July 20 on the Pacific University campus.
- Entry data and entry form have been mailed to many of you and are also available on our website.
- If you have questions, please contact us.
HOW TO REACH US
- E-Mail: info@forestgroveconcours.org
- Website: www.forestgroveconcours.org
- Portland area phone: 503-357-2300
- Outside Portland Area: 1-800-359-2313
- Address: Forest Grove Concours, P.O. Box 387, Forest Grove, OR 97116
JOIN OUR SATURDAY VINEYARD AND LAKE TOUR IN 2008
Our Saturday tour has become a tradition.
We will leave from downtown Forest Grove about noon. First stop one of Oregon’s finest wineries for a light catered lunch and wine tasting. Then Henry Hagg Lake for rides on the water in vintage wooden speedboats. The tour will officially end at Pumpkin Ridge in time to make the Evening of Elegance.
Participating cars will receive a Concours commemorative gift bag and Tour ribbon.
You can sign up on our entry form – see our website. Final details in your tour acceptance letter.
Some of the comments from previous tours:
“Perfect weather” (can’t promise it, but we usually have it), “good route” (thanks Rick Johnston), “good pace, boat ride great. Love it!”
“The BEST, it alone is a beacon to attend.”
“I didn’t know there was one.” (Don’t miss it!!!)
“Well done, boat ride an added bonus, we would do it again.”
“Great fun and well run.”
Go Rick!
“AN EVENING OF ELEGANCE” 2OO8 SATURDAY NIGHT DINNER
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club has been a winner for our dinner. We have arranged to hold it there again this year. Our buffet dinner will start at 6:00 pm and end at 8:30 pm, wine with dinner included. The evening will also include a preview of some of the classic and other automotive stars of Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance. As always, a memorable experience. Please, do join us. You can sign up on our entry form – see our website. One request of attendees, Pumpkin Ridge has told us “no denim clothing.” A minimum concession to an “Evening of Elegance.”RESIDENCE HALL ROOMS AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS
The University is making residence hall rooms available to exhibitors as they did some years ago. One bed per room. Rooms go for $40 a night, right on campus! See our website for details.DONATIONS TO SUPPORT THE FOREST GROVE CONCOURS AND ITS IMPORTANT CAUSES
(And to keep our show healthy, vital and continuing to support the Collector Car Community)The Forest Grove Rotary Concours d’Elegance is fundamentally a fund raising program. See the paragraph below showing charitable causes that benefit from our Concours and other Forest Grove Rotary fundraisers. Maybe unique among the “great” Concours events. Proceeds support young people, scholarship programs, worthy community needs and international projects. The show is sponsored by our 501(c)(3) Rotary Foundation, all contributions tax deductible.
Automobile Donations: In the past we have had vehicles donated for auction during the Sunday show, all net proceeds going to the Forest Grove Rotary Foundation. A fully deductible donation!
That is one way, and a good way, to contribute to worthy charitable causes, while supporting our mutual interest, the Collector Car community. Please let us know if you have a car you would like to donate.
Cash or Other Donations: We know that our Exhibitors and other supporters are generous in your support of worthy causes, just one more notable characteristic of our little community. Our Forest Grove Concours program gives you the opportunity to both support worthy causes and your Collector Car passion. Any contributions you provide will go directly to our charitable causes and will be fully tax deductible, passing through our 501(3)(c) foundation. If you want to support, simultaneously, tax-deductible charitable causes like ours, AND the Collector Car flame, we will accept contributions in any acceptable form, certainly including checks, made out to the “Forest Grove Rotary Foundation”. Please contact us if you need to know more.
WHERE DO OUR FUNDRAISING PROCEEDS GO?
Our 35 years of Concours have produced over $900,000 in charitable contributions. Examples of beneficiaries include:- Pacific University receives a large portion of our Concours proceeds for scholarships benefiting students living in our area.
- Scholarships to colleges and vocational schools for local high school students in Forest Grove, Banks and Gaston.
- Local FFA programs.
- International projects, such as third world country schools, water projects, Mercy Corps, Northwest Medical teams.
- Local community programs such as the Forest Grove entry garden, Valley Art non-profit association, and other worthy activities.
- A great many local youth projects, such as youth sports programs, the SMART program, Boys and Girls Clubs Clubs, Special Olympics, Boy Scouts, etc.
- Local senior projects and the Forest Grove Senior Center.
OUR JUDGES
We could not hold our Concours without the expertise and commitment of our judges. We want to thank you for your invaluable contributions and to let you know how much you are appreciated. We are always searching for new, knowledgeable and experienced car hobbyist to add to our judging ranks. By the end of May 2008 our judging invitations will be mailed. If you know of someone who would have interest in participating as a judge, please have them contact our Concours hotline for more information. We always welcome fresh, competent talent. Great judges keep our Concours healthy and valid.AL McEWAN: OUR 2008 SENIOR JUDGE
Al McEwan has been a strong and loyal supporter and participant in our annual Concours for many years, as a judge, as a cheerleader, and as an energetic advocate for quality cars showing up in Forest Grove in late July.Al is as classic as the cars he loves, owns and promotes. We understand the first vintage car he acquired, when living in Massachusetts, was a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Imperial Sedan, which he sold when moving to Seattle (for $600 and a 1953 Buick Skylark). Al continued his acquisition of classic cars, including Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and other European classics. He became, and continues to be, a significant participant in the collector car community, including his leadership in classic car tours to Pebble Beach, Chief Pre-War European Classics Class Judge at Pebble Beach … and so much more.
We feel honored and blessed to have Al McEwan deeply involved in our own Concours D’Elegance. Al, thanks for your support!