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Maserati Club Concours D'Elegance 2005
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Graypaul Maserati Club Concours
Stanford Hall
Sunday 12th June |
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The challenge was on; "Bring your beloved Maserati along and join in the fun. Can we beat the 96 cars of 2004?"
Well I'm delighted to announce that this year our concours surpassed all expectations with between 115 and 120 cars, (depending on who took count), turning out on a day that wasn't exactly blessed with the best of weather. Fortunately for the contestants it stayed dry, but the overcast conditions did, on more than one occasion, threaten to open up the heavens.
Members who booked in to stay the night at the Daventry Hotel, to take in the Annual General Meeting, will have been delighted with the facilities provided. The constructive discussions following the AGM were most satisfying and once the formalities were over we enjoyed a sumptuous buffet washed down with a half decent Chilean red house wine, whilst catching up with old friends and meeting new members. All in all a good night!
My first visit to the Club Concours was back in 2001 when I just turned up on the day with my Maser. The following year I joined members for the AGM and overnight stay. In those days I hardly knew anyone at the Club. These days I find it difficult finding the time to talk to everybody. The weekend of the concours is one of the best ways of intergrating fully into the club. It's the ideal opportunity to meet friends old and new and shouldn't be missed. If you've not been before, please join us next year!
The magnificent grounds of Stanford Hall, near Lutterworth in Leicestershire, were once again the setting for what is now generally regarded as the highlight of the Maserati Club year.
Our sponsors Graypaul of Nottingham put on a spectacular display of Maseratis past and present. Alongside a limited edition 90th anniversary Spyder, was the latest 4200 Spyder and GT, the acclaimed GranSport and the award winning Quattroporte. But for me the two Maseratis that stole my heart were the 250F Grand Prix car and the 300S sports racer, that driven by Stirling Moss and Jean Behra won the 1956 Nurburgring 1000km.
Whilst the contestants were polishing their engines, wheel spokes and exhaust pipes, I was busy photographing as many of the Maseratis as I could. Trouble was, according to my reckoning, over 200 cars had turned up. That was until I edited this page and realised I had missed out some and photographed others twice; I even missed out on the only OSCA present, the pretty little Mt4. The Maseratis on show ranged from an early 4CS to the latest GranSport. There was something for everybody and it was great to see the large number of non-members who came along to show their cars and enjoy the display. Quite a few visitors were well impressed and I gather several have now joined the Club.
By far the happiest owner at the concours was "Signor Pronto", a devoted Ghibli Cup owner. It was his idea to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this much under-rated modern classic. "Pronto" even brought along specially designed T-shirts to present to the owners of the 24 right-hand drive Ghibli Cups sold in the UK in the event that they all 24 turned up. The response to our appeal from Ghibli Cup owners was fantastic with 18 examples on display. This was the largest gathering of Cups ever seen in the UK and the Club would like to thank all Ghibli Cup owners who attended this successful celebration. The icing on the cake was the unexpected arrival of a rare Ghibli Open Cup, and I am sure all present would like to add a special thank you to Meridien-Modena for gracing the proceedings with their fabulous racer. A special mention for two members who made a special effort to join us; Gerald Ryan who came over from Dublin in the Irish Republic and John Connor who travelled down all the way from Harrogate in Yorkshire.
Events like these don't just happen overnight, a great deal of hard work goes on behind the scene and the club would like to thank sponsors Graypaul and event organisers Bill Jackson and Simon Lees-Milne for their efforts in making it such a successful event.
I can't go on without mentioning the barbeque. Speaking as one who at present is on a strict diet I looked on in envy at the splendid variety of meats and salads laid on by Paul. Is it any wonder that my diet went temporarily out of the window and I got stuck in. Judging by the number of tickets sold, I wasn't the only one!
And now I would like to add a few words of praise for a member who very rarely gets to relax at these events, one Roger Epsztajn. He's the gentle man who runs a small department known to us all as Regalia. Whilst most of us were out admiring the cars and talking Maserati, Roger was busy in the marquee selling all manner of things Maserati on behalf of the Club. He even left his beloved Sebring at home and came in his Ghibli Cup to help the cause. Well done Roger!<
Finally for next year a new challenge will be going out to all Maserati owners following this year's successful event, "Join us so we can beat the 115 cars of 2005!!"
A fuller account of the proceedings at our AGM and the results of the concours will appear in the next issues of Trident and the Newsletter!!
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"Hi Dave, Just a few photos you can use in the club literature if you wish.
Ian Sims - 1988 Spyder." |
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Ken Painter's 4CS alongside the Mistral | |
Graypaul's classic display! | |
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The 'other' Italian exotics at Stanford Hall | |
Cinquecento e Mezzo!
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"Here a some more Masers. Photo 29 is the most perfect Biturbo example I have seen. Charming gentleman owned this superb Spyder and knocks spots off mine. My car did not make it that day. My transport for the day is shown in another photo parked at the front of the Hall (motorcycle). My car had too many fluid leaks. I have other photos of Ferraris, Lambos and De Tomasos if you need them too.
Ian." |
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Immaculate engine bay of a Biturbo Spyder! | |
The missing OSCA Mt4! | |
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Ian's mode of transport! | |
This Merak was a previous class winner! | |
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| 115 MASERATIS - A RECORD TURNOUT! |
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| THE GRAYPAUL STAND |
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90th Anniversary Spyder ©Dave Smith |  | 
90th Anniversary Spyder ©Dave Smith |
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The new GT ©Dave Smith | | 
Spyder, Tipo 300S and GranSport ©Dave Smith |
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Little Italy at Stanford Hall | 
90th Anniversary Spyder, Tipo 250F and Tipo 300S | 
Admiring the Maseratis on display |
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| THE RACERS |
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Tipo 300S | 
Tipo 250F | 
Tipo 4CS |
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| THE CLASSICS |
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Ghibli SS | 
3500GT | 
Tipo 4CS |
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Mistral Coupé | 
Sebring 1a serie | 
Sebring 2a serie |
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Ghibli | 
Mistral Spyder | 
Quattroporte I - 1a serie |
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Merak | 
Indy | 
Ghibli SS |
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Merak | 
Merak | 
Ghibli Open Cup |
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| THE GHIBLI OPEN CUP |
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I wonder if this key will fit? |
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| THE GHIBLI CUPS |
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| A CLASS WINNER! |
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The 4.2-litre V8 produces 390bhp! | 
Superb bodywork! | 
Tasteful "Officine Alfieri Maserati" interior. |
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| THE BITURBO ERA |
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430 | 
Biturbo Spyder | 
Biturbo II |
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Shamal | 
228 | 
Quattroporte IV Evo |
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Biturbo Spyder |
Ghibli Cup | 
222 4v |
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Quattroporte IV V8 Evoluzione | 
Biturbo Spyder | 
Biturbo S |
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| THE GHIBLI II |
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Ghibli MY94 |
Ghibli GT | 
Ghibli MY94 |
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Ghibli GT | 
What's this doing here?? | 
Ghibli 1a serie |
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Ghibli GT | 
Ghibli GT | 
Ghibli GT |
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| MASERATIS OF THE NEW MILLENIUM |
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GranSport | 
Quattroporte | 
3200GT |
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GranSport | 
3200GT | 
Coupé |
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Coupé | 
3200GT | 
3200GT |
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GT | 
3200GT | 
Coupé |
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GranSport | 
3200GT | 
3200GT |
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Spyder | 
Spyder | 
Quattroporte |
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Coupé | 
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Coupé |
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| A MASERATI POT-POURRI ! |
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A Merak by Chopard?? | 
Members take shelter from that cold wind! | 
Front and rear ends!! |
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| THE CITROEN SM |
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It's never a Citroen! - Look behind you!!! | 
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| ROGER'S REGALIA! |
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Maserati Shirts and Polo Shirts... ...Overalls... | 
...Jackets and Ties... ...Earrings and Cuff Links... | 
...Books and even a Maserati Kite for the children! |
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| BACK TO CLUB EVENTS |
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