by Mike –
The Hillsborough Concours D’Elegance is almost here, the date is Sunday July 19 – about three weeks from now.
If you like beautiful cars in an elegant setting in the California hills with easy access right off Interstate 280 on the San Francisco Peninsula then you should go to the Hillsborough Concours D’Elegance.
I go every year and this year is no exception even though I now live much further away than previous years. This is the oldest continuously running Concours D’Elegance in the world!
Iso Grifo in the Parking Lot
The photo above is my favorite photo that I shot myself. This is the parking lot for visitors at the Hillsborough Concours in 2011. I love the juxtaposition of a red Iso Grifo in a parking lot full of ordinary daily drivers, most in drab colors (click on the image for a larger view).
Why is an Iso Grifo parked in the parking lot and not on the show field? And why is it in the front row, indicating it arrived early and grabbed one of the best visitor parking spots? Because my Bizzarrini GT 5300 was on the show field having been trailered up and my friend, Michael Menetto, and I drove the Iso Grifo to Hillsborough very early in the morning and secured a great parking space.
Beautiful Cars Attract Beautiful Ladies
That was the year the Bizzarrini won the Owner’s Choice Award (my favorite award). The trophy, below, has my name and car identification for being voted the owner’s favorite in 2011 (lower right). This trophy is on display in some city hall somewhere, maybe I’ll look it up sometime. At least I get to see it every year at the Hillsborough Concours.
Trophy For The Owner’s Choice Award at the Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance
This year the newly acquired blue Iso Grifo, No. 101, will be shown for the first time in North America at Hillsborough and I will leave Carmel at some very extreme early hour to drive the Grifo north, pick up Michael Menetto in Los Gatos, and then on to Hillsborough. This is approximately 120 miles one way and will take about 2.5 hours of drive time each way.
If you go to Hillsborough stop by the only dark blue Iso Grifo. I will probably be napping in the chair in back resting up for the drive home. Nudge me and say hello.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
The short route is to take HWY one north along the ocean with beautiful vistas, then cut over on HWY 92 dropping you off right on top of the event. This way you miss all the hot traffic in San Jose or the 101. On the way back you can take the fun route on HWY 84 through La Honda dropping you back on HWY one missing the traffic jam on HWY 17. Michael can take public transit.
Not a bad idea.
I love Grifo #101, that was a smart purchase! You can’t beat Robertos’ workmanship!