Peter Boyle with his rare 1938 Glaeser-designed Steyr 220
On Sunday I attended two car shows on the same day in two non-contiguous states. In the morning I fired up my old 911 and headed over to Caffeine and Carburetors at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut. Designed by William Tubby in 1913, Waveny and its 300 surrounding acres provided the perfect backdrop for a crisp fall car gathering.
Years ago, Caffeine and Carburetors began as a small Sunday morning get together at Zumbach’s Coffee Shop in downtown New Canaan. Over the years it has morphed into a full on gathering of serious motor enthusiasts. Cars of all shapes, sizes, and genres converge on Waveny Park twice a year for this casual and fun event. I saw license plates from as far away as Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. I went to the show with Jonathan and Vec Mazella and they brought their gorgeous Mercedes 280SE convertible. My other good friend John Pavone attended with his impeccably restored gunmetal gray 1962 Land Rover. At Waveny, collectible cars were parked along side of vintage tractors. There were also several fun but not-so-collectible cars on the show field. All in all, the variety of automobiles at Caffeine and Carburetors was a Technicolor delight.
At around 11am I sped down the nearby Merritt Parkway and crossed the Hudson River to West Orange New Jersey for the first annual Edison Concours d’Elegance. This is an all-new show that was masterfully organized by Judge Joseph Cassini. The quality level of cars was set to the highest standard. It was an invitational event that was held on the grounds of Thomas Edison’s beautiful home at Llewellyn Park. I expect this blockbuster show will become a must attend stop on the burgeoning Concours circuit. My friend Peter Boyle brought his gorgeous 1938 Steyr Sport Roadster from western Pennsylvania. The car is one of only six Glaeser-bodied Steyr 220 Roadsters ever built. It is believed that three were destroyed during the war. One example sits in a museum in Austria. Peter’s car is believed to be the only one in private hands. There were so many extraordinary cars at the Edison Concours that words and photographs are poor tools to describe it. The Edison Concours was truly a day to experience live and in person. A special thank you to by Dean Laumbach for sharing his photographs.
Caffeine & Carburators at Waveny Park
Caffeine and Carburators at Waveny Park
John Pavone’s beautiful 1962 Land Rover
Edison Concours d’Elegance (Photos by Dean Laumbach)
Edison Concours
Thomas Edison’s Detroit Electric
I don’t think I told you that I was requested by Caroline and Judge Cassini to be a judge at the Wdison Concours. Roger, Portia’s father, was the head judge and he refused to have me! Now a lot of people are very upset with him, not about me, but about the fact that his father won several special awards at Edison and at St John’s, where roger was head judge. What an asshat!
I’m headed off to Portland tomorrow. Back Thursday.
How is Sarah feeling?
Thinking about you both and sending love. Xxxxx