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Louisville Concours d' Elegance

Historic French Lick Resort

West Baden Springs, Indiana

The 2013 Louisville Concours d'Elegance enjoyed a new venue this year. After 5 years at Historic Churchill Downs the Concours event has moved to the French Lick Resort in West Baden Springs, Indiana. West Baden Springs is about an hour and a half drive Northwest of Louisville, Kentucky. The New location in my opinion was a very smart decision. The French Lick Resort area is Beautiful. The Concours was scheduled to be held on the Golf Course located between two Beautifully restored resort hotels, the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Springs Hotel. Both historic hotels have been recently brought back to their Gatsby-era Grandeur at a rumored cost of 500 million dollars. Unfortunately the 100 plus cars competing for Best of Show never made it to the fairway due to rain. Thanks to the help of the staff of French Lick Resort Operations provisions were made to move the show inside their Casino parking garage. The move worked very well and certainly saved the event. Next years Concours will again be in French Lick, Indiana hopefully better weather is scheduled. Visit there website to view the winners of this years event, www.louisvilleconcours.com

The Honorary Marque for this years Concours was Packard. The Packard Motor Car Company was started in 1901. The last automobile wearing the "Packard" nameplate was built in 1958 in South Bend, Indiana. Now... depending on who you talk to, some claim the 1957 and 1958 Packards were nothing more than Re-Badged Studebaker's. Others Claim that Packard production ended in 1939 with the Last Senior 8 and 12 cylinder cars. Regardless, Packards have always had a very strong following due to their innovative engineering and successful marketing. Part of that marketing genius was their ever successful use of; "If you're considering the purchase of a motor car, ask a Packard owner how he feels about his car ".  This resulted in a a plaque being attached to all Packards since 1901 with the phrase  "Ask The Man Who Owns One". The selection of Packards for this years show was very impressive. The Selection Committee did an outstanding job and the owners of these Fine Automobiles deserve a Special Thanks for bringing and sharing their Packards with us

Ms. Margaret Dunning was bestowed the honorary title, "Bell of the Concours" and understandably so. Ms. Dunning is just a tad north of being 100 years old. Remarkably she owns and still drives a Beautiful, Cream over Black, 1930 Packard 740 Roadster of which she purchased 64 years ago. Ms. Dunning started driving when she was just 8 years old and has never stopped. When not Piloting her Packard around town she may be seen driving her 1966 Cadillac DeVille... a woman after my own heart. Congratulation Ms. Margaret Dunning

I should have done this years ago... I finally made the acquaintance with the Mystery (at least to me) Automobile Artist that I have see at many of the Concours events that I attend each year. He is Peter Williams. Mr. Williams is an exceptional talent. Myself and countless other admirers watch in amazement as he creates at least one if not more,  wonderful automobile paintings during Concours events held throughout the mid-west. Mr. Williams has a mailing list and he will do commissions. His website is www.peterwilliamsinc.com