Membership Drive
The Royal Automobile Club of Australia is conducting a membership drive and here is your opportunity to join Australia’s oldest Motoring Club and one of Australia’s most respected business and private member clubs. Founded in 1903 for ladies and gentlemen, it thrives as a haven for members looking to enjoy social facilities, events and connections within the CBD of Sydney.
Benefits of the Membership invitation package include:-
• An extensive global network of 200 reciprocal Clubs
• Free NRMA Roadside Assistance
• Exceptional Member’s only rates on any of our seven conference, meeting, or function rooms
• Accommodation with 30 well-appointed rooms complete with Wi-Fi and Foxtel
• Access to secure valet parking
• Harbour Dining Room with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour
• Members’ lounge and bar
• Modern Fitness Centre
• Complimentary access to our Business Centre, including Wi-Fi and printing services
Some of the reasons members love the Club are its state-listed heritage building with beautiful main rooms, its prime location near all the transport options of Circular Quay and the stunning beauty of the harbor and botanic gardens, and the Club’s reputation as a quiet retreat offering dining and meeting/function spaces with events every month and many interest groups for socialising.
To apply for membership or to book a tour of the Club, please contact Yue Pan, Membership and Marketing Coordinator, at yue.pan@raca.com.au or call 02 8273 2324 for more information and to book a tour of the Club if you wish.
Membership invitation package https://mcusercontent.com/4c0909e4dfabba9fad88dae57/files/6d941eb0-e237-5464-1d96-8a80f9bae0df/RACA_Membership_Package.pdf
What the Dickens!
To borrow from and adapt the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, ‘It was the best of times, it was the best of times’! This seems an appropriate description of the Ampol Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance which took place on 2nd – 4th March.
The event was blessed with glorious weather and the 50 vehicles on display shone in the beautiful sun which burst forth after the tropical storm on Friday lunchtime which necessitated the opening of the Ampol brollies. The amazing parade of classic cars and motorbikes at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Hyde Park Barracks, built in 1819, was much appreciated by the invited guests who dutifully supped Pommery Brut Apanage Champagne, and Chateau La Gordonne rosé from Provence.
Amongst other delights the exquisitely dressed guests were able to view a 1927 Bugatti Type 51 once owned by the Fauvist artist André Derain; a most rare jewel, showcased exclusively for the fifth edition of the Concours by Calleija, the 1.25ct Argyle Pink Tender™ Diamond, one of the most coveted diamonds from the final Argyle Pink Diamonds Signature Tender™ collection and worth $2.2 million. As the famed Australian Argyle mine is now closed, Argyle Pink Diamonds™ will never be unearthed again and become more elusive with each passing day; hypercars Pagani Huayra Roadster and McLaren Speedtail; 1960s supermodel Twiggy’s Lamborghini Miura; a host of stunning sports cars from Italy, including Lancia Aurelia B20 coupé, Lancia Flaminia, Ferrari 250 PF, Bristol 406 Zagato, and Maserati Sebring, all of which the International Jury felt were world class; celebrations of Land Rover’s 75th anniversary, and Lamborghini’s 60th; and a stupendous 1962 Ferrari SP 196 with amazing history and provenance.
Manufacturers Maserati, Genesis, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, and McLaren showcased their latest wares, as did motorbike brand Brough Superior of Lawrence of Arabia fame, to the backdrop of the relaxed vibes of DJ Mary, with picnic luncheon served in the LGT Crestone lounge.
Guests were also at the spirited auction of Objets Lux at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia; met with guest of honour and classic car guru Simon Kidston; and partook of a swanky black-tie dinner at the Royal Motor Yacht Club of NSW.
The competition for the Class Awards and the Ampol Best in Show Prix d’Honneur was most fierce, especially in the pre-war sports racing car class which included the ex-Jumbo Goddard 1934 MG Q Type one of just eight ever built, a stupendous 1931 Bentley, a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C driven from Melbourne to Sydney for this event, and a lovely 1934 Frazer Nash. The Jury led by Filip Bourgoo from Belgium and supported by Madan Mohan from India, David Cohen from Canada, Allan Winn from the Brooklands Museum in England, and local radio man David Berthon after much deliberation under their LGT Crestone Panama hats finally settled upon the following results:-
Class 1 – Racing from War to War presented by Paradise Garage – 1927 Bugatti Type 51
Class 2 – Peace and Luxury presented by Calleija– 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Class 3 – Poster Cars presented by Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive– 2020 McLaren Speedtail
Class 4 – Keeping a lid on style presented by Suixtil– 1951 Porsche 356
Class 5 – Country Life presented by Benzina Magazine – 1977 Range Rover
Class 6 – Sports car of the ‘60s and ‘70s presented by Lockton Performance – 1978 Lamborghini Silhouette
Class 7 – Sports Racing Cars presented by LGT Crestone– 1962 Ferrari 196 SP
Preservation Pre-War presented by Chateau La Gordonne – 1934 Frazer Nash TT Replica
Preservation Post War presented by Brough Superior– 1984 Lamborghini Jalpa
Best Restoration presented by Swissvax – 1965 Maserati Sebring
Passion – Pre-War presented by Magneto Magazine – 1934 MG Q Type
Passion – Post War presented by Magneto Magazine – 1958 Abarth Sprite Special
Ladies’ Choice presented by Renkhoe Jordan – 2019 Pagani Huayra Roadster
People’s Choice presented by Pommery – 1951 Porsche 356
Ampol Heritage Best in Show Pre-War – 1920 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP “Nareeb’ Silver Ghost
Ampol Best in Show Prix d’Honneur – 1962 Ferrari SP 196
Objets Lux
The opportunity to purchase some amazingly beautiful new and preloved Objets Lux, from a variety of artists and ateliers including Luis Vuitton, Panerai, Omega, Hermes, Anthony Ricciardi, Gucci, and Alexander McQueen, presents itself at the forthcoming Halcyon Auctions sale at the upcoming Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance on March 3rd.
To find out more please go to https://bid.halcyonauctions.com/auctions/1-71GTZ6/sydney-harbour-concours-delegance-sale-of-objets-lux#?view=grid
1967 Porsche 911S Targa Soft Window
If anyone out there is looking for a rather special and every rare 1967 Porsche 911S Targa Soft Window which has just had lots of work carried out to bring it up to a spectacular condition then please let me know. The car will be featured at the Ampol Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance in March https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au as part of the Porsche marque’s 75th birthday celebrations.
Finished in splendid Bahama Yellow it is available for sale and certainly an opportunity not to be missed.
Please contact +61 409 327 220 or james@marinamarini.com.au
Just around the corner
The fifth edition of the Ampol Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is just around the corner. Taking place on 2nd – 4th March at Hyde Park Barracks, a UNESCO World Heritage listed site in the heart of the Emerald City. To find out more please go to
https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au
More driving, less talking!
If you liked the little films posted last time then I hope you will also enjoy these vignettes on a left hand drive alloy bodied Jaguar XK120 OTS and an even more rare right hand drive example, along with a 1959 Caddy, and a 21 window VW combi.
If you are interested in learning more please do get in touch with me at james@marinamarini.com.au
Link to right hand drive 1950 Jaguar XK120 alloy bodied OTS – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJSoUYYUzu4
Link to left hand drive 1950 Jaguar XK120 alloy bodied OTS – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGgN1TSILb4
Link to 1959 Cadillac – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7tiReTSMQU
Link to 1965 VW Samba Type 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZnGXZ2Lwc
Two Italian Beauties
I have been doing some video work recently and thought you might like to see the results. And of course, please let me know if you are interested in purchasing either of these two Italian beauties.
1937 Lancia Astura
and a fabulous Ferrari
Season draws to a close
The concours season in Europe has drawn to a close with the final big events of the year the incredible Zoute Concours d’Elegance in Belgium coming hard on the heels of the amazing Chantilly Arts & Elegance near Paris. Both took place in pretty decent weather and I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Jury at both of these fabulous events. However there is still one big concours event to come when the winner of the Concours Event of the Year at the Historic Motoring Awards in London next month is announced. And I am very pleased to share, that my event, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au is one of the five finalists. Fingers crossed!
Laguna Seca
I recently returned from Monterey Car Week, and whilst lots of my time was taken up with two fabulous concours events, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I also took the opportunity to go to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the WeatherTech Raceway in Laguna Seca. Hopefully these few images from the corkscrew speak for themselves and provide a flavour of what was a fabulous day’s racing in the Californian sunshine.
