The judges at Sunday’s 15th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance selected a 1914 Stutz Bearcat (above, middle) owned by Brian and Trish White of Apex, North Carolina, for the coveted Best of Show Award. Alternatively, attendees at the event made a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal (above, right) owned by Douglas Dressler of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, their “People’s Choice” winner, as the grounds of the Port Royal Golf Club on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island once again hosted a full field of more than 500 classic automobiles
“We again reached our maximum of exhibitors this year,” noted Carolyn Vanagel, the Festival’s President, “and encourage owners to submit as early as possible for next year’s event. The world-class hospitality and facilities of our venue, The Port Royal Golf Club, along with our newest additions…resulted in an even higher quality show field than in past years, and this year’s winners truly point to our growth and success.”
The event’s third top honor, the Paul Doerring Founders Award, honoring one of the event’s founders, went to a 1953 Maserati A6GCS (above, left) owned by G. Larry and Patricia Wilson of Georgetown, South Carolina. Also honored were renowned collectors Miles Collier (the Collier Collection at The Revs Institute) and Jeff Lane (the Lane Motor Museum), recognized as the 2016 Pinnacle and Honored Collectors, respectively.
Numerous other automotive personalities were also in attendance including Ian Callum (Director of Design, Jaguar Cars), Ralph Gilles (Head of Design, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.), J Mays (former Chief Designer, Ford Motor Company), Jay Ward (Creative Director of the Cars franchise, Pixar Animation Studios) and race driver Bill Auberlen, who served as the Grand Marshal at the Festival’s Savannah Speed Classic on Hutchinson Island, Georgia. The major and special award winners are listed below, for the complete listing of the other Class Winners, please visit www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.
The 16th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for October 27 through November 5, 2017.
Major Award Winners
Best of Show – 1918 Stutz Bearcat – Brian and Trish White
People’s Choice – 1956 Dodge Custom Royal – Douglas Dressler
Paul Doerring Founders Award – 1953 Maserati A6GCS – G. Larry and Patricia Wilson
Special Awards
Automotive Design Excellence – 1938 Darracq/Talbot Lago – J.W. Marriott Jr.
Best Buick – 1913 Buick M-31 5-Passenger Touring Car – Janet and Alfred Meyer
Best Cadillac – 1931 Cadillac 452A – Charles B. Gillet
Best Car for Driving on Vacation – 1954 Packard Convertible – Mark and Hilary Becker
Best Car for Touring the LowCountry – 1956 Pontiac Safari – Warren and Dianne Daniels
Best Porsche – 1960 Porsche RS-60 – Miles Collier
Chairman’s Award – 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 – Bill Head
Historical Vehicle Award – This Car Matters – 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – Miles Collier
Most Significant Micro Car – 1963 Messerschmitt KR201 – Patty Schwartze
Outstanding Original Vehicle – 1954 Hudson Hornet – Peter M. Brown
