Elegance Without the Boast: Glenmoor Gathering keeps gaining significance

Founders of the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles steered away from the “concours d'elegance” label when they started the thing 16 years ago. That “concours” word escapes their lips now that the annual gathering on the grounds of the Glenmoor Country Club (the centerpiece of a gated community just outside Canton, Ohio) has achieved a certain gravitas.

Consider the best in show winner at the Sept. 19 event was a 1933 Duesenberg SJ Beverly Berline by Murphy owned by Judge Joseph Cassini of West Orange, N.J. It's a high classic, restored to a high standard, and it traveled from several states away to cop top honors. It was originally built for Powell Crosley, owner of the radio manufacturer that went into compact-car production post-World War II (also owner of the Cincinnati Reds, so the car was coming home to its Ohio roots in a sense).

Or the outrageous customized Rolls-Royce 1939/47 Rolls-Royce Phantom III by Labourdette owned by Jack Rich. It's a 1939 chassis that was sent for custom bodywork in 1942. It took five years to finish--of course, that includes some delay because of unpleasantness during the first several years of its construction in France. But when it emerged in 1947, it was a show star and is again, picking up the special “Directors Award” at Glenmoor.

Special-interest circles presented at the show included cars designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, cars built in Cleveland and Italian superbikes.

The usual Saturday countryside tour stepped it up a notch over past years by laying on a tour of the 65-room Stan Hywet (stone-hewn) Tudor-style mansion built by the Seiberling family, founders of Goodyear Tire and Rubber in nearby Akron. An addition to the weekend schedule this year was the Classic Motorcars Auction, led by Bob Lichty on the Saturday afternoon, which stretched on through the cocktail time and into the dinner hour, so high was the interest.

Next year, organizers plan to feature 16-cylinder cars, Darrin automobiles (with interest in Packard Darrins), early front-drive cars (the avant garde, nyuk-nyuk!) and historic camping trailers. Mark your calendar for Sept. 16-18, 2011.

Full results of this year's show judging including awards in the numerous classes are posted at www.glenmoorgathering.com but we've selected a few photos to give you a taste of the 200-plus cars entered.

The following list of “special awards” highlights cars chosen for special recognition outside the class system.

-- Honorary Chairman's award: 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet by Sindelfingen, OFF Brothers Collection

-- Chairman's Award: 1932 Auburn V12 speedster, Stan Lucas

-- Director's Award: Rolls-Royce 1939/47 Rolls-Royce Phantom III by Labourdette, Jack Rich

-- Lee Iaccoca Award (by National Parts Depot): Eldon Hostetler

-- Most Distinguished Motorcar: 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta convertible, Ed Meurer

-- Spirit of the Road (by Sports Car Market): 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1 convertible, Bruce Perrone

-- Dave Holls Award-Most Distinctive Design (by Auto Metrics): 1968 Bizzarrini Spyder Stille Italia, Don Meluzio

-- W. K. Haines Award (Best Brass Era): 1913 Coey Flyer touring, Al Zamba

-- James Conant (Veteran Touring Award): 1904 St. Louis, Timken Company

-- Technology Award (by Stark State College): 1923 Duesenberg roadster by Millspaugh & Irish, Peter Heydon

-- Most Elegant Car (by Dave Walter BMW): 1928 Rolls-Royce town car by Hibbard & Darrin, Jack Dunning

-- Outstanding Closed Car: 1947 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, Dick & Joyce Thams

-- Outstanding Open Car: 1954 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, Davie Johnson

-- Best CCCA Classic: 1929 Duesenberg J phaeton by Murphy, Paul Andrews

-- Best CCCA Open Car: 1930 Cadillac V16 452 roadster, Dennis Sobieski

-- Most Original Motorcar: 1931 LaSalle phaeton, J. Stephen Babinsky

-- American Performance: 1964 Ford Fairlane “Thunderbolt,” Don Snyder Jr.

-- People's Choice: 1935 Delage DB8 drophead coupe by Chapron, Sonny Abagnale

-- J. E. Roll-Outstanding Interior: 1954 Mercury Monterey hardtop, John James

By Kevin A. Wilson