The San Marino Motor Classic is a concours-level collector car show and competition that features a broad array of motorcars that span more than a century. Co-founded by Aaron Weiss, Paul Colony and Ben Reiling, it is the successor of the Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance. This year's event returned to Lacy Park on Sunday, June 9, 2019...
Warm weather and sunny skies welcomed the 9th Annual San Marino Motor Classic. The 2019 edition of this nationally acclaimed car show surpassed everyone’s expectations with a record number of cars, spectators, and funds generated for its beneficiary charities: the Pasadena Humane Society, the Cancer Support Community Pasadena, and San Marino Rotary Charities (the Motor Classic’s conduit to disbursing funds to over 20 charities in the San Gabriel
Valley). The San Marino Motor Classic is the leading regional automotive exhibition in the San Gabriel Valley and one of the premier concours-level exhibitions in Southern California. It was established in 2011 by co-founders Aaron Weiss, Ben Reiling, and Paul Colony and is held in Lacy Park, an exclusive 30-acre park in San Marino. It is the successor of the Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance.
In its inaugural year, the exhibition was a hybrid of a Classic Car Club of America Grand Classic and a contemporary Concours d’Elegance. More than 220 Brass Era, Depression Era and Post-War luxury and sports cars were showcased attracting more than 3,000 spectators. The 2011 event raised more than $120,000 for its beneficiary charities. A range of classes were represented with 41 for this year’s event, encompassing many different marques and eras from brass and nickel era cars all the way up to the latest supercars available.
Judging takes place at the end of the day in which seven awards are given, plus first, second and third place awards given per class. The 2019 edition of the San Marino Motor Classic took place on June 9, 2019 and there were over 460 cars on the show field with vendors from all over. The Humane Society had an area set up with animals that were up for adoption, which was a fun addition. It was very organized and this year they added hosts to help car participants with directions and how to proceed for awards and recognition.
Tom Krefetz of Classic Showcase entered his 1961 Chevy Bubble Top into the Concours to be judged; this was the car's second major event on the show circuit. This is a very special and highly original car restoration that was perfomed over a 30 year period. It's previous owner was focused on a high quality restoration, and sourced all NOS parts before the restoration process even started, and as such is a restoration free of any after-market parts.
It's one of the best examples we've even seen, and is sure to be seen at more events in the future. Features include: the rare 409 CI V-8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor, aluminum intake manifold, dual exhaust, 4-speed manual transmission, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass, heavy-duty police suspension (which included stiffer springs, heavier shocks, a beefier front sway bar) and spinner wheel covers with whitewall tires.
