Call Misselwood the best of shows; Kelly’s PD Harley
Misselwood: The name sounds like an exotic lumber used to make ceremonial spears or to launch mankind’s first forays into space.
Instead, it’s the name of the elegant estate on the Endicott College campus and the site of the only true Concours d’Elegance in Massachusetts and one of two remaining in New England (the other being Greenwich, Conn., in late May).
Misselwood is celebrating its sixth anniversary show this weekend, having established a national reputation as a boutique event, using its spectacular venue and limited space (120 vehicles) to its advantage.
Yesterday, some 50 of the concours vehicles took to the roads of Essex County in a Tour d’Elegance, gathering in downtown Newburyport for a mini-show, and then motoring along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway back to the college.
Thanks to navigation systems, Endicott isn’t as difficult to find as it was in the old days of folding maps. If you’re headed that way, plug in 470 Hale St. in Beverly as the destination.
Today’s Misselwood show will have vehicles from all New England states and most of the Northeast. Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz are the featured marques.
Maine’s Owls Head Museum annually participates in the event. This year, the museum is sending a 1904-5 Mercedes-Benz Simplex Tourer for the concours and its 1913 Rolls-Royce Tourer to take part in the tour d’elegance and also to be featured at the Aug. 13 Newburyport Downtown Legends show.
A key part of any concours is its location. Examples are Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Hilton Head, and one that’s on my bucket list, Villa d’ Este in Cernobbio on the shore of Lake Como in Italy.
Adding to the beauty of the cars is the ambiance of Misselwood, where show cars can be parked within 10 feet of the ocean. Misselwood is the waterfront estate formerly owned by Boston Brahmin Susan B. Cabot.
“The show is all about celebrating automotive excellence and style, and the Misselwood estate forms the perfect backdrop,’’ says Patrick Cornelissen, founder of the event, who left as director of operations at Endicott College to take over as general manager of Salem’s Hawthorne Hotel.
Taking over as chairman of the event is Darren Stewart, who has four years of experience working on the event. All proceeds benefit the Endicott scholarship fund.
Today’s event runs from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with VIP ticket holders having access to the show starting at 9 a.m.
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Iconic Ford cars and trucks through the years
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Accompanying events include a Concours Boutique and a fashion show at noon and 1:30 p.m., presented by Loraine Roy of Bella Sera Bridal. A Sam Adams-sponsored bistro is a new addition.
Trophy presentations will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Last year, the Ervin “Bud’’ Lyon III Best of Show award went to the 1914 Locomobile Model 48 Berline owned by Vermonter Bill Alley. General admission at the gate is $25.
Lynnfield’s Police Harley
Lynnfield Police Chief David Breen owns a personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle, but it’s the one that the Kelly Automotive Group donates to his department that makes a big difference in its daily operations.
Patrol Officer Patrick Curran joined his chief at Kelly Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Lynnfield earlier this month to officially take delivery of the bike, complete with lights, radio, siren, and department decals.
Curran had taken the bike through a police certification course at Seacoast Harley in Hampton, N.H.
“I was happy to bring it back unscathed,’’ he says. “A lot of bikes hit the ground each week during that training. It’s tough and demanding, even for experienced riders.’’
Curran says the Harley is effective in traffic enforcement but also gets used for ceremonial occasions and school education programs. “The bike gets kids’ attention,’’ he says.
Kelly president Brian Kelly says these are good days in the automotive business and there are plans to rebuild the Chrysler dealership on the same Rte. 1 location.
“This business is easy when things are booming like they are now,’’ he says. “Back in 2008, people would be turning in two cars to buy one; now they’re coming in and buying two at a time.’’
Etc.
Besides Misselwood, today features an interesting array of car shows. There’s the Day of Triumph at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) … New England Dragway in Epping, N.H., has a major swap meet … The Elm Bank Estate show, postponed earlier this summer, is today in Wellesley … And the Falmouth Classic Car Club has its show at Bigelow Marine Park at 10 a.m. … Thursday, Evan Ide, senior specialist at Bonham’s Auctions, is the “Under the Hood’’ guest at Sandwich’s Heritage Gardens and Museums from 6-7:30. He’ll be talking Bugatti with two on display, one his own and one the museum’s … Next Saturday (Aug. 1), will be VolksFair 16, an all air-cooled vehicle event hosted by The Bug Club at Herbert Candy Mansion in Shrewsbury from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. You have to like an event that honors best and worst of show cars.
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