26 ❘ September05, 2019 http://www.oldcarsweekly.comA
magni¿ cent show ¿ eld of 75
cars came together once again
for the 9th Elegance at Hershey
June 7-9. Elegance co-founder
and Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable
called it, “Our best ever. Hard
to believe, but I think we even topped
last year.” Situated in the gardens of the
Hotel Hershey & Spa, the show is the
vision of the late Jack Rich, who desired
a European-style, invitation-only con-
cours in an intimate environment, here
in the gold ol’ U.S.A. Although Rich
passed away in the year following the
¿ rst event, his inÀ uence remains strong
as the show has quickly grown to promi-
nence among the top shows on the busy
annual concours circuit.
Somewhat unique among concours,
there are no classes at The Elegance.
Each car competes for named awards.
Vehicles can be judged as many as ¿ ve
or six times by different teams of ac-
complished judges. In the end, each car
is paraded by the reviewing stand for the
public to see and hear (and smell) in op-
eration. Every participant receives a sig-nature Hershey Kiss trophy along with
any award they might have won as the
narrated awards ceremony progresses.
Typically, the Elegance is dominated by
prewar cars, but this year the show ¿ eld
was split evenly between prewar and
postwar examples.
The concours is held in conjunction
with the VSCCA-sanctioned Grand As-
cent, a reprisal of the old Hershey Hill
Climb. More than 40 vintage sports and
racing cars competed against the clock
on the twisty course that rises 200 feet
in just .7 mile. Stefan Vapaa in his 1968
Saab Sonnet posted the weekend’s best
time at 52.2 seconds.
In addition to Grand Ascent prac-
tice runs which began Friday, weekend
participants were invited to a welcome
cocktail party at the Hershey Gardens
adjacent to the Hotel Hershey that eve-
ning. Over 450 guests attended, enjoy-
ing perfect weather which prevailed for
the remainder of the three-day event.
Local Lancaster County car collectors
provided a special display of ’50s and
’60s cars, joined by the racers and theircars participating in the Grand Ascent.
Saturday’s Cars & Coffee attracted
more than 200 vehicles and featured a
display of race cars from the adjacent
Grand Ascent, including three rare
H.R.G. models. The evening’s sell-out
charity dinner and silent auction was at-
tended by nearly 350 guests with noted
collector Robert Jepson serving as Hon-
orary Chairman. The “First Lady of Car
Collecting,” Pat Swigart, became the
ninth recipient of the Olympus Award
in recognition of her dedication and ser-
vice to the hobby. Proceeds bene¿ ted
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Founda-
tion, the AACA Library and Research
Center and the AACA Museum.
Among this year’s highlights was a
reunion of three of the most signi¿ cant
cars in General Motors history: the 1951
LeSabre, 1956 Corvette SR-2 Roadster,
and the 1959 Cadillac Cyclone — all of
which were attributed to GM’s then-De-
sign Chief Harley Earl. “What an epic
event in the car world to have these cars
together to headline on our show ¿ eld,”
said Concours Chairman and co-found-Eleganceat Hershey brings out the hobby’s best
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BILL ROTHERMEL, SAH
A partial view of the Elegance at Hershey showfi eld.@UTTIN’
ON THE