This may very well be my favourite day of the year, I love the constantly evolving philosophy of restoring cars. Not so long ago (1951 - circa 2000) it was an orgy of chrome and whitewall tires but ever since 2003 originality, whatever that may be, seem to matter as much to the owners as to the judges. And some spectators.

And no collector has grown more than Arturo Keller ; his W.O. Bentley entered in 2010 was a study in understatement - wonderful. And in 2006 his 540K Autobahn Courier (sic?) came second to the Corsica Daimler, since then this car has won every event except Pebble Beach. Some called 2006 a travesty. This is wrong, 2004 was the travesty.

Of course last year was most upsetting, the winning Delage did not give me a stroke and/or heart failure, I miss the sense of joyful outrage at the judges' decision, to whit : "That is the ugliest Horsch EVER. What the F...k do these bloody enemies of motoring think they're doing!!??!!! And speaking of Americans ............ etcetera."

No-one can possibly be offended by that white Delage, it is elegant and my only response was, and is : You picked that? Seriously? Did you miss Sam Mann's Duesenberg?

Just a thought, you know the Tulip-wood Hispano with it's "interesting" brass accents? Saw a photo taken during the thirties of it at Brooklands in all its understated magnificence, would make a glorious Pebble Beach entrant no? Indeed I can think of at least twenty candidates for Best Of Show, but no-one has ever consulted me - the fools!!! Speaking of Americans ......... etcetera.

And finally, last year this forum published a picture of the winner first. By one of the French contributors if memory serve correctly. Speaking of Europeans .................. etcetera.

I Remain
Johan

PS. Anyone feel like posting some predictions and/or comments on this year's crop?

1. Autobahnkurier

2. Horch

best in show:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/21/pete ... ble-beach/

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"Barttore has left the forum"