Concours Brings Vintage Cars to the Village

On a typical day in Scarsdale, village parking spots are aligned with SUV's and late model foreign cars -- but on Sunday October 4 the Village looked a bit different: A hundred vintage cars were on display at the Scarsdale Concours D'Elegance, a car show and community event for connoisseurs and novices alike. Though Hurricane Joaquin threatened to delay the show, the storm veered right toward the open seas leaving clear skies for visitors to enjoy the display.

The cars and owners hailed primarily from the Tri-State area. Many of the cars in the show would not only attract attention but also wreak havoc on NY's interstates as they were certainly not built for today's roadways.

The Scarsdale Concours has a history of young leadership, as Evan Cygler and Dennis O'Leary founded the show when they were students at Scarsdale High School. Before they even had their driver licenses, Cygler and O'Leary had developed a passion for cars and car shows and took the initiative to find supporters in the village. By reaching out to interested members of the community and local government, their idea grew into a popular event that has sustained interest over the twelve years since its establishment. According to O'Leary, what is most unique about this show is its venue. Car shows are traditionally on grass, but Scarsdale's has a prime location in the village, surrounded by local business to maintain a steady flow of guests throughout the afternoon. Cygler and O'Leary have passed the baton to new leaders to organize the event, but return every year to see their legacy in action, with the hopes that the show will continue to get people excited about cars and bring the community together.

This year, Scarsdale High School Senior Ben Hasson begins working on the show eight months before the event. Having participated since he was 13 years old, Hasson reflects, "Being on the board of the Scarsdale Concours has provided me with four years of an excellent learning experience... I have been learning how to communicate with companies and individual adults in a professional manner." He devotes time to attending other car shows to look for owners interested in displaying their "third child" at the Scarsdale show. While the Scarsdale Concours is a family event, it also has a solid reputation as a great car show among collectors. The community vibes and pleasant setting of the event appeals to many owners, while others enjoy competing. Sponsors like Black Rock choose winners to award its prize and professional judges, who evaluate the car's physical appearance and condition and award the Best Muscle Car and the Best Sports Car. Many of the owners return year after year.

Essential in its purpose is the show's commitment to serve local charities. Thanks to passionate and dedicated helpers like Hasson, the show has raised more than $300,000 for local charities over the past twelve years. This year, the money went to Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling Service, Warriors and Family Assistance Fund, and the Scarsdale Foundation.

Contributor Carly Glickenhaus is a Senior at Scarsdale High School. She is the goalkeeper on the Girls' Varsity Soccer team and enjoys writing and photography.

AWARD WINNERS - 12th Annual Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance
Scarsdale, New York - Sunday, October 4th, 2015

BEST IN SHOW: 1958 Jaguar XK 150-S Cabriolet, David Porter

BEST ITALIAN CAR: 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 CS Berlinetta by Pinin Farina, Michael Bruno

BEST AMERICAN CAR: 1958 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe, Kevin Kingsland

BEST GERMAN CAR: 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, Jerry Robinson

BEST ENGLISH CAR: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 by Carrozzeria Touring, Michael Odierna

BEST COMPETITION CAR: 1931 MG M "Boattail," Malcolm Pray family

BEST MUSCLE CAR: 1969 Ford Shelby GT 500 Sportsroof, Marcel Perlman

BEST BRITISH MUSCLE CAR: 1987 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, Tom Papadopoulos

BEST FERRARI: 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC, Bill Woodburn

BEST PORSCHES: 1965 356C Coupe, Joseph Catanzaro and 1973 911E, Dwyer Family

MOST EXCITING CAR: 1980 Ferrari 512 BB Berlinetta Boxer, John Curreri

MOST OUTSTANDING COACHWORK: 1972 BMW 3.0 CS, Gary Studnik

FOUNDER'S CHOICE: 1967 Sabra Sport made in Haifa, Israel; Elias Wexler

JUDGES' AWARD: 1936 Bentley Derby Drophead Coupe, Michael Fitzsimons

CONCOURS BOARD AWARD: 1932 Ford Model 18 V-8 Roadster, Michael DeAngelis

BLACKROCK BEST INVESTMENT AWARD: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette 348 with fuel injection, Larry Sachs

CHUBB COLLECTOR CAR INSURANCE AWARD: 1948 Pontiac 8 Woody, James Bruno

MAROON & WHITE COMMUNITY AWARD: 1968 AMC AMX Fastback, Robert Carlsen

PRESERVATION AWARD: 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special with 37,750 original miles, Leif Waller