17th Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance Art Deco, Rally Cars, Aston Martin and Norton

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, New York Bureau
The Auto Channel

The 100 Motorcars of Radnor Hunt is a nationally recognized Concours that was first organized in 1997 by Michael G. Tillson, III, a Governor of the Radnor Hunt and a recognized expert on the subject of classic, sports, and racing cars.

Michael Tillson and several of the present committee members of the Concours played major roles in the organization and supervision of the Fairmount Park Vintage Grand Prix events that were held from 1990 to 1995. Featuring several hundred vintage sports racing cars, these four-day racing weekends honored the memory of the famous Fairmount Park races that took place in Philadelphia’s vast Fairmount Park system during the period of the First World War. At the time, the Fairmount Park races were the premier racing events in the United States, comparable in scope and reputation to the later Vanderbilt Cup races and the Indianapolis races of the 1920s and 1930s.

The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance committee elected to restrict the number of entries to 100 in order to maintain very high standards and to allow the best possible display of each car. Thus evolved the concept of “The 100 Motor Cars of Radnor Hunt”.

The gently rolling hills of the Hunt grounds along with the stepped hillside make for dramatic vehicle displays. The late summer sun, a light breeze, and occasional soft cloud-cover further enhanced the beauty of the Radnor Hunt and allowed the multitude of car aficionados and enthusiasts to absorb the beautiful sheetmetal.

For the seventeenth year, a unique grouping of cars, carriages and motorcycles was presented. This year’s feature presentation was Cars of the Art Deco Period, an era known for its flamboyant style, such as Delage and Delahaye. Also showcased were Aston Martin in celebration of its 100th anniversary, and Rally Cars including Triumph, Subaru, Audi and Lancia makes.

The motorcycle field featured Norton, a British manufacturer known for performance bikes on both street and track. Also showcased were American Flat Track Racers that include any bike raced in America. The honored guest Dick Klamfoth is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and three-time Daytona 200 champion.

As the only U.S. concours d’elegance to feature coaches and carriages, this was the sixth year for the event to have an exhibition of the earliest form of wheeled transportation, this year featured horse drawn sleighs on display.

The Art Deco Car class included Delage, Delahaye, Steyr, Isotta Fraschini, LaSalle and other cars that epitomize the design style of the early 20th Century. The Rally Car class presented Mini Cooper, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Saab and Audi just to name a few. Aston Martin celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2013, and a selection of the most significant models were on display. In the motorcycle field along with the many Nortons, bikes such as the Manx, Commando, BSA, Triumph, Indian and Atlas were presented.

This car-enthusiast weekend featured a Friday night barbecue, Saturday Chester County road rally and car club gathering, and a black tie gala and art show preview. The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance benefits the Thorncroft Equestrian Center whose mission is to help build the physical, emotional and mental well-being of all people, particularly those with special needs, through establishing an atmosphere of cooperation, respect and love in an equestrian environment.

� Larry Nutson