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Concours auto show starts its engines |
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Concours auto show starts its engines
The roar of British sports cars are set to jostle for attention with the innovation of alternative power vehicles at the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance June 10.
The Ault Park Concours d'Elegance, tagged as the Midwest's most prestigious automotive event, promises to attract more than 250 rare and beautiful cars from across the United States during its 30th anniversary at Ault Park's meticulously manicured grounds on Observatory Avenue in Mt. Lookout.
Throughout its three decades in Cincinnati, the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance has grown from a small gathering of avid car collectors into a nationally recognized event.
According to Concours director Brandy Jacobs the Ault Park event is the second oldest of its kind in the nation, second only to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, many of the previous best-in-show winners are set to be up for display.
This year's theme, "Legends of British Motoring", is set to include modern cars like a hip-hop mogul favorite - a 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom - alongside the sultry curves of a classic 1957 Jaguar XK-SS.
Nearly 20 percent of this year's lineup will consist of automobiles hailing from the British Isle.
Perhaps one of the most important displays of cars at the Concours d'Elegance will be the alternative power vehicles. In a world of violently shifting gas prices, these automobiles may be the saviors of America's mobility.
Mike Mereness, President of the Concours d'Elegance, feels that it is critical to show the public the progress we have made against oil dependency and to display our nation's history of gas alternative cars.
"I feel that it's necessary [to include these cars] because of our belief that combustion engines are the only way that automobiles can be powered," Mereness said.
Don't expect to see only hybrids and sci-fi concepts in this year's alternative power lineup. Some cars, like the electric-motored 1916 Detroit Electric Model 60/98S Brougham, were sold to the American public when Henry Ford was pumping out millions of his venerable Model T. It just goes to show that gasoline wasn't always king of American transportation. |
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