Palm Springs Weekend - Feb. 26 -28

[Doc]

Anyone in Southern California this weekend might be interested in two events out in the desert (Shelly you still out here?):

Palm Springs Car Auction - Friday - Sunday; at the Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs. This annual auction has approximately 500 cars registered. No Mark IIs on the current list, but a couple of more recent Lincoln Marks. Looks like plenty of interesting stuff--vintage Rolls to 1960s muscle.

Desert Classic Concours - Tour on Saturday; Concours on Sunday.
This is a relatively new Concours, but it's already become one of the best in Southern California. As Shelly's post on the Indian Wells show indicates, the desert is totally immersed in the Southern California car culture. Lots of car folks with very impressive collections have retired/relocated to the desert and this show gives them a venue to show some incredible cars that had largely dropped out of sight previously.

The Tour begins at 9:30 a.m. at Old Town La Quinta and goes through La Quinta to Palm Desert. Ends at lunch time at the Cuistot restaurant in Palm Desert. Cars will be on display in Old Town before the tour and afterward at Cuistot.

The Concours is Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The venue is incredible--the golf course at La Quinta. If you've ever seen the Bob Hope golf tournament, you know the setting.

We're very excited and honored to have been invited to exhibit our Mark II. If any of the forum members are going to the show, please come by and introduce yourself, we'd love to meet you.
http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/markii1956/IMG_3273.jpg

[Shelly Harris]

Pete:

Unfortunately I have to hit the road and start my drive back to Chicago this Sunday morning. I wish I could go to the Concours, meet you, and see your beautiful car. I definitely will be at the auction in Palm Springs on Friday afternoon and Saturday. My son Dave (Carman) who is a fan of GTOs will be with me. If you are there and see a guy wearing a bright red t-shirt which says; "Member of Mark II Forum" with a MK II Logo on the back, then it's me..please say hello.

[Chuck Lutz]

Pete, Wow. I wish!! Sounds great and I wish you great fun.

Shelly, You are a slave to fashion, you devil!

[Nick DeSpirito]

Pete,

Your car looks amazing. Many years ago on a trip to LA to visit relatives, I was driving on PCH in either Hermosa or Redondo and saw a silver Mark II.

[John Pawoll]

Doc,

I will be a field worker at the Desert Classic. Although asked, I will not be bringing my Mark II. Probably a good thing as My Mark II is a "sister" car to yours as my car is also black. I will stop by and introduce myself and will look forward to seeing your Mark II. Good luck!

John Pawoll

[Doc]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Wish we could somehow find a venue like La Quinta where we could all get together and share our cars.

Shelly - I'm not sure when we'll get to the auction, but will look for you when/if we do. Chuck may be on to something--how long before you start selling forum tee shirts?

John - Look forward to seeing you this weekend. Cathy and I actually talked to you briefly at the La Jolla show last month when you shared the peculiar history of your car. Like you did in La Jolla, we're just going to be on exhibit at La Quinta, not in a judged class--don't know where that will put us on the field, but I'm sure we'll be easy to find.

[Barry Wolk]

Doc, why wouldn't you want your car judged, it's beautiful. Getting recognition for your efforts is no sin.

Concours judging is so much more pleasant than club judging. I like people telling me what they like about my car, not what's wrong with it.

We'll have our Porsche in the Amelia Island Concours on March 14th. It'll be lovely to get away from the snow, I hope!

[Shelly Harris]

--how long before you start selling forum tee shirts?

It's an item that's been on the back burner for several months. It would be great to have all the people who'll be at shows this year, whether showing their car or not, to have the shirt promoting our forum. Barry should be testing his out on Amelia Island, unless he's wearing his Tuxedo.


I've place a poll in the Marketplace Forum to determine interest in getting the T-Shirt.

[Barry Wolk]

Tux at the black-tie only. I always wear Hawaiian print shirts on show day and my wife always wears her black cowboy hat.

I think you should sell shirts, Shelly. This site doesn't come for free and that could defray the cost. We all owe you so much already.

[Stank-67-98]

Yes , very good idea..get them of NA good quality, not off shore waste

[Doc]

Barry - We generally participate in selective shows that are in nice locations or that are benefiting causes that we support. Showing the car is almost secondary to an excuse to go somewhere for the weekend, the chance to meet interesting people at the shows, and a chance to contribute to the charities. I'm not sure exactly how to put it, but I've never really been that interested in car shows as competitive events--I have no problem with those that enjoy that aspect of it, just not something that I find particularly engaging. When we have the option, we always elect "exhibition," not a judged class. That way we don't impose on the judges and don't get into a competitive thing with the other car owners. I suppose I should note that in the two shows we did this year in which judging was automatic, we got "first in class" both times; including a beautiful plaque from a very nice show on the Arts Festival grounds in Laguna Beach. While it's nice to be recognized for our efforts to restore and maintain the car, not at the expense of alienating other car owners who are convinced their beautiful Chrysler lost to us only because of our car's "snob appeal..."

[Barry Wolk]

Interesting points. I like the fact that you can rub elbows with the rich and famous, without being either.

Since Concours are just beauty contests we've fared well and taken some kind of award or ribbon at each outing. I never get tired of crossing the awards stage. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

Interesting that you should mention charities. I've wanted to broach the subject, but never saw the opportunity. Most people that show their cars in charitable events of this nature don't realize that they are actually 501 (c) (3) organizations and, as such, have fundraising benefits, beyond what you might normally think.

The cost to transport your vehicle is tax deductible, as is your cost of transportation to and from the show. You make take your lodging and those of assistants (real ones), but only those meals for you and your helpers, not your spouse or children. This has been OK's by a group of tax attorneys and CPAs in the Detroit area that saw no flaws in my thinking when I brought this to them.

In effect, without the cars there is no show. Without the owners there are no cars. The cost of showing your car, with limits, is a legitimate charitable expense.

Most people also don't know that the admission to a charitable Concours is also deductible, less the value of any posters or booklets received.

Please, check with your tax advisor before taking my advice.

[Doc]

I'd never given the charitable aspects of it any more thought than "this is our way of supporting their cause." Coincidentally, I see our CPA next week about our taxes--I'll ask him about the possibility of making the appropriate deductions. Thanks for the tip.

[Chuck Lutz]

Ok.. Let's all envision.. Nat Nast two tone silk (Charlie Sheen type) and a gold Mark II Logo (Icon) on the pocket and below the inscription. "Modern Formal" I admit it needs work but I'm spit-balling here. :)

[Barry Wolk]

Ok.. Let's all envision.. Nat Nast two tone silk (Charlie Sheen type) and a gold Mark II Logo (Icon) on the pocket and below the inscription. "Modern Formal" I admit it needs work but I'm spit-balling here. :)

Huh? I no get it.

[Chuck Lutz]

Huh? I no get it.

Sorry, that came too late in the thread. I was adding thoughts to the MKIIF shirt discussion.

[Barry Wolk]

So, you were trying to rerail an already derailed thread?

[Chuck Lutz]

Perhaps..
I've been known to do that :cool:

[linc64]

Pete, sorry I won't be able to attend due to a prior commitment. I'd really like to see you and your beautiful car. Will you be attending the Fabulous Fords Forever show at Knott's Berry Farm on April 25? They're celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Lincoln Continental, along with the 55th anniversary of the T-Bird, 50th anniversary of the Falcon and 25 anniversary of the Taurus.

[Doc]

Jim - In recent years we've gone to the Fords show with a friend who has a Cobra and it seemed like it was more and more about Mustangs and Shelbys than anything else--but maybe that was just our perception from the perspective of his Cobra. Hadn't really considered it as a venue for the Mark II and didn't realize they were celebrating Continentals--we'll have to look into it. Last time we actually entered was many years ago with our Model A. Maybe it's time for the Mark II.

[Doc]

Just back from our weekend in the desert and wanted to close out this thread with a couple of observations. Shelly gave the Palm Springs auction--that ended up with two Mark IIs--a good summary on another thread, so I won't go over that except to say that if the prices there are any indications, we've all got a ways to go before our cars are worth what most of us have invested in them.

The Concours at La Quinta was great. The bit of rain that came Saturday for the tour gave way to cloudless skies and weather in the high 70s for the show on Sunday. This was their first year at this venue on the La Quinta course, but the organization was excellent and the show ran well. The La Quinta Resort was the perfect host, even had underground, secured parking for all the participants over the weekend. The La Quinta for those who are unfamiliar is one of the true gems of Southern California--established in the 1920s, it was THE destination in the desert for many years and hosted everyone from Diego Rivera to Dwight Eisenhower, along with all the unusual cast of Hollywood types. It is still one of the nicest hotels in the country.

Here's the show venue early in the morning, before most of the cars arrived.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/markii1956/IMG_0622.jpg

I'd encourage anyone looking for a great show next year to consider the Desert Classic. My wife is already planning to go back.

Here's our Mark II next to an unrestored 1948 Lincoln Continental--a really fabulous survivor.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/markii1956/IMG_0618.jpg

Finally, a big thanks to Forum member John Pawoll who came by to say hi at the show. John turned down the offer to show his car, declined to supervise the judges, but still volunteered to work the show. Ended up spending his day standing in the sun on a remote parking lot, directing traffic, and basically missed the event. It's guys like him who make our hobby so great. Thanks John!

[Barry Wolk]

Beautiful venue. What organization was the beneficiary?

[Doc]

The Concours benefitted the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio) and a local organization (Animal Samaritans) that is affiliated with the S.P.C.A.

[Barry Wolk]

Great causes.

[linc64]

Thanks for the pics and the write up Pete. Looks like I missed a good show.:(

[John Pawoll]

Pete,

Your correct, the LaQuinta Show was excellent. It was a pleasure to meet you and your lovely wife. I must report to all Forum members that Pete's Mark II is a gorgeous car and drew a ton of interest and attention. He knows what to do with a good can of car wax!

Yes, I did "work" the event, but after showing my car at many events, it was time to give back a little. It was a great time!

John Pawoll

[Barry Wolk]

And, no pressure.