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The 2011 Grand Experience Featured the Wonderful Cars of Indiana
The 2011 CCCA Museum “Grand Experience” featured wonderful Indiana-built cars presented for the CCCA Museum’s annual judged Concours event. The “Experience” also featured excellent examples of all full classic automobiles on display Sunday, June 5 in Hickory Corners Michigan. The diversity of the body styles and cars was simply wonderful.
“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 Vintage Foreign Classics that will be held on June 3 with a Grand Classic to be held on Saturday June 2.
HOURS:
Gilmore Car Museum Hours:
Open Year-Round
Mon. – Fri. 9am – 5pm EST
Sat. & Sun. 9am – 6pm EST
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Admission RATES:
CCCA Museum Members – FREE on non-event days
Adults, 16 and over – $10.00
AAA Members – $9.00
Seniors, 62 and over – $9.00
Students 7-15 – $8.00
Children 6 & Under – FREE (Must be accompanied by an adult)
Group Rates Available
Upcoming EVENTS:
This year's Experience weekend will take place June 1-3, 2012 at the Classic Car Club of America Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. The theme for the 2012 event is all foreign automobiles through 1965 and all CCCA Full Classics®. No Club affiliation is required to participate for the Sunday Experience Concours.
On Saturday June 2 there will be a Classic Car Club of America Grand Classic only for CCCA Full Classics® cars and requires Club membership to participate. Watch for more information soon.
