Vintage Cars and The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance

Very early in my life, I realized I was a very fortunate individual. I grew up in a supportive family with loving parents, who exposed me to the arts, culture, good food, and an appreciation for nice cars... all of God's blessings really. Speaking of cars, my dad loved cars. We always had interesting cars, and we would spend hours washing and waxing them. It should come as no surprise to you that one of my favorites was our Rolls Royce 1970 Silver Shadow. Being an Anglophile, I was convinced that it was destiny that this car would enter my life. I remember taking the Rolls to the high school prom- what a thrill that was. This photo above is from sometime in the early 80's; it's me and my Mom back when we were in Newport Rhode Island. I remember the day as if it were yesterday-I directed the photo very carefully, arranging the exact angle, background and even having my Mom hold her roses just so. My big 80's hair still cracks me up. This car is still in the family and has endured a few overhauls. Personally I think it would run beautifully in here in Palm Springs, but that's another story. Speaking of classic cars...
Vintage Cars in Palm Springs
Given the population demographics here in the Coachella Valley, there are many Vintage/Classic cars in the Palm Springs area. Old Hollywood celebrities, corporate titans of industry, former Presidents, Ambassadors and well-to-do families. It is not uncommon to see elegant motor cars gliding down Palm Canyon drive, parked along the El Paseo shopping district, or outside an estate in old Las Palmas estates. I would stop short of calling myself a car buff, but nice cars do turn my head. And here is an event with Vintage Cars that may interest you:
The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance
A Classic Car rally was held in Palm Springs to benefit some local charities. The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance event was held at the beautiful O'Donnell Golf Club at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains here in Palm Springs. Please note, all photos were taken by Wade Byars for The Desert Sun newspaper.

above: Vintage cars lined up on the pristine golf course. The San Jacinto Mountains are the perfect backdrop for this kind of event.

above: A beautiful hood ornament on a 1936 Packard 120 Custom Convertible Victoria.

above: The first Ferrari racer has a 1947-48 body- she's a beauty!

above: The first Ferrari ever built, with the chassis number 01C

above: there were a wide variety of classic and vintage cars on exhibit.

above: Weird but interesting, a 1956 BMW Isetta Bubble Window Cabriolet

above: A 1930 Minerva, made in Belgium

above: A 1942 Chrysler Barrelback Woody...looks like something Clark Gable and Joan Crawford would drive to Palm Springs for one of their "getaway weekends"
The neat part of this classic car rally was that the proceeds benefited Animal Samaritans, the Lucy Curci Cancer Center, the College of the Desert, and the Angel Light Academy's Leadership Training Institute. I love it when things like this can be used to help others.

-Rick Rockhill