Rather than showing page after page of cars, Hemmings show coverage focuses on getting a smaller number of in-depth stories, little vignettes into why a given car is important to someone. So at the Keels & Wheels Concours today, I enjoyed spending time with owners, and hearing their stories.
I think my favorite was John Sweney and Mike Stargel’s V-12 1932 Cadillac. It’s a complex story and the full version will appear in Hemmings, but I’m willing to bet it’s the only concours-quality (they won a silver in their class today), daily driver V-12 Cadillac in the country. But the most entertaining part is that they bought it because it fit: John is 6′ 5″, and Mike 6′ 3″, and it was this or a Lincoln and even so, the seats use half-springs to fit John behind the wheel.
After the show coverage, I talked the WWG guys into letting me set up Goldie the 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6 on their stage. Owner Dennis Collins–better known as the holder of a 31 hour and 59 minute coast-to-coast driving record–has an extensive file on the car’s history as an Earl’s Court show car, so this should be a cool feature.
One nice note: (WWG auction principal) John Kruse surprised his wife at the end of the day with a 2004 Thunnderbird. She seemed pleased.
Tomorrow’s my last day in Texas, with an A-M DB2 on tap, and maybe something else. Oy.