Palo Alto Concours 2005 - Cobra as a Marque
 

The Palo Alto Concours, Sunday June 26, 2005, will feature Jaguar and Cobra as co-Marques. I have contacted the fellow in charge of Cobras and indicated the desireability of having a Corral of some sort for Cobras. He indicated that they are looking into arranging for this, although there are logistical and other constraints that they must deal with.

Bottom line is that you should circle this date and plan to attend. Even if they can't arrange a Corral, we should plan to attend as a group of some sort.

Let me know if you think you might attend with your Cobra and I will give him a head count as to the number of cars that might be there. Obviously no commitments are needed with six months to go.

FYI, the Concours has moved and will be held close to Stanford Hospital starting this year. You can view their site @ www.paconcours.com.

Tom

Thanks for the good news, Tom. They always have some memorable cars at this event. I wonder if *The Man* plans on attending. I do. :MECOOL: Rich

Not to pre-empt Scott's recently posted inquiry, but . . .

Here is the current skinny on the Palo Alto Concours from the fellow in charge of the Cobra portion -

There will be two categories of Cobras that will be judged - CSX 2 & 3000, COB & COX cars (originals - Class SC1) and 1, 4, 7 & 8000 series (continuation - Class SC2 - no judging or trphies). They will also be setting aside an area adjacent to the Main Field for Replicas - Class SC3 (aka a Corral). The caveat is that in order to be in the Corral, you must be registered as an Entrant, i.e. you can not just drive up and request admission. This also means that they will want you there early on June 26th and expect to stay all day. Your car must be "selected" to participate in the Corral, i.e. they don't want home made/creative cars but instead want cars that are true to the original cars. Space will be limited.

I have just heard that they have an oral agreement that Mr. Shelby and his entourage will attend, including the 18 wheeler and his support staff. This is still a number of months off, so things may change, but this would be quite a coup if CS were actually there. (Rich, so there is your answer). They are also trying to get some of the most notable Cobras to be in attendance. More to follow on this.

Obviously there will be some folks who do not want to commit their entire day to this event and thus will not enter their car. For these folks, you may still wish to drive down and hang for a while. I will see what can be done to allocate some parking spaces for Cobras that are not in the Corral - I personally have no influence with this organization so I don't know if this is possible. As we get closer, I will ask for a head count on people who might want such an area set up.

REGISTRATION:

Please go to www.paconcours.com or directly to: http://www.paconcours.com/2005/Enter...gistration.pdf for registration material. Cost to enter cars in the SC1 and SC2 class is $50 with Class SC3 @ $30, the later for exhibit only - no judging. You can also e-mail Roy Riccetti who is the Concours Registrar at: rocco@pacbell.net

Also available that weekend are: "The Drive" on Saturday 6/25 from 10:30-3 through the Santa Cruz mountains with lunch at a winery; Dinner Saturday night and/or the Patrons Pavilion.

The Drive might be something a lot of the guys want to do after leaving Athens Saturday morning - the timing is about right.

I hope this is of some interest and assistance. I will provide updates when I hear of them. NORCAL-SAAC also has information on this event - they are not a sponsor and their information is not this fresh.


Tom

Shows how good I look at all the post. I didn't see that you had already posted it. I printed out the registration form thinking that I might do it. It would be tough to stick around all day. When I went last time it was a little warm out there.

Thanks for the updated details, Tom. The Palo Alto Concours is always a class act. I try to attend every year. While I'd be a little nervous to subject my beast's underbelly [new parts, new seals: still leaks] to a Concours judge's white glove treatment, a "for exhibit only - no judging" deal I can live with. Even "The Drive" sounds like fun. The thought of our loud, nasty machinery cruising with those purdy, expensive little furrin' cars in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains intrigues me. And the Pinot Noir from Testarossa Vineyards is excellent. I'm gonna bring along a new sharpie and a credit card in case Mr. Shelby is interested in autographing my dash. :MECOOL: Rich

Hey, thanks for posting this reminder! This a "must attend" event for Bay Area Cobraphiles. I'm dragging the family along...

shelby has not agreed to attend the event, that is misinformation. as the date gets closer he MAY agree to go, dependent on his health and other issues.

if we can get him there we will. dont forget, SAAC 30 weekend after, then hmsa portland Shelby weekend after that. it does promise to be a big event. lynn park judging, notable racecar drivers, some great cobras that haven't been shown in decades, incl team cars and FIA cars. not a picky show, but a fun show.

The word I received on Friday was that he had just agreed to attend. I take this with a grain of salt and thus tried to say as much in my post. I agree that health and other commitments may preclude him from attending, but my information was current as of Friday. Let's hope he is available.

Lots of other great events this summer - the more that attend each one, the better. Make sure that Monster has been altered to them so that he can add them to his list.

Regarding location - I understand that the replicas will be parked on the west end of the field, judged cars on the east end. The entire field is turf. I believe these are open play fields, thus the chance of shade near your car is limited.

While there is rumor that a CSX will be auctioned off, it is uncertain whether that is true much less whether that is a PA Concours exclusive raffle or it is an on going raffle, the ticket to be pulled some time in the future.

More to follow.

Tom

Just a quick note on this show. I was en route to Menlo Park and took Alpine Road toward Menlo/Stanford from 280. The link between Alpine and Sand Hill is closed for construction, with a detour down Junipero and then through the Stanford campus. Don't know if the construction will be completed by the show, but if not you will have to detour off of Alpine through the Stanford campus. Sand Hill goes through to the new show site, so this would be the best route from 280. Just a head's up.

Shelby's out of PA Concours.

Hadn't heard but hardly surprising. Hope he is OK. Thanks for the update.

Just got word that CS will not attend Palo Alto as he had a prior commitment in Wisconsin of which his office did not advise him. We, and he, are disappointed. :(

The good news is that he has promised to send CSX2000 (the first Cobra) to the show. :D There will also be representatives of his Foundation at the Concours.

Have you downloaded an application and/or are you planning on attending the show? It is now about six weeks to go and they are trying to get a handle on the number of Replica's and CSX's that will be there. PAC is always well attended - how often will you have the opportunity to show your car at a well known Concours? Set up a tent, kick back and enjoy the day.:MECOOL: For about the price of admission, you get a parking space in the middle of the action. The only downside is that you must be there all day as they don't want cars to leave early.

Keep me posted as to whether you plan to be there. - Tom

Hey Tom,
I printed out the application the other day. My wife and I are planning on attending. I still need to fill it out and send it in.
Scott

A month from tomorrow! As of a few days ago, there were 8 originals signed up, 5 continuation and 11 Replicas. Scott Douglas is working hard on more originals as well as more recent cars. Come on guys, this is a great chance to show off your car and talk with others who share this passion of ours. Very first Cobra is scheduled to be there. Even if you don't want to show your car, plan on attending. $30 entrance fee for a Replica is cheap.

Please get your applications in as soon as possible. This is a great venue and there is still room. Let me know if you have any questions. View the site at www.paconcours.com.


Tom

I sent my application form and check a couple of weeks ago. I think the check was cashed. So I guess that is a good sign.
Scott

Application, photo and check sent in.

Stan

My check cleared, too!

Latest word is that there will be approximately two dozen Original Cobras or AC's with two weeks to go. I am sure that number will continue to increase. Thanks again to Scott Douglas for all his arm twisting and the rest of you for signing up!

The continuation cars will be placed very close to the Originals with the Replicas nearby.

I believe there is still room for your car, so get your application in promptly! What a great chance to see so many Originals in one place as well as show your car to such an appreciative audience. Should be a great day.

Be sure to attend even if you don't show your car.:)