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Planning the annual concours is no easy task with plenty of details to work out but when the location is hit by two major hurricanes within weeks of the big day, it makes things a little more complicated... This is exactly what concours chair Bob Scibelli had to deal with, including the host hotel remaining closed for post hurricane repairs. To make matters worst, the Palm Beach Marathon scheduled for that same week end attracted thousands of visitors and finding replacement rooms for out of town entrants was no easy task. But despite this, along with the endless construction and road closures West Palm Beach is now getting famous for, FUN was the goal of this 2004 SFJC Concours and that goal was reached. A great location along the Intracoastal Waterway, plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby and a casual post concours buffet dinner overlooking the field were the key ingredients to making our concours a fun event. Festivities kicked off friday night with a dinner at a latin restaurant in the heart of West Palm Clematis district, the city's night life center. Sangria and Mohitos helped warming things up and set the mood for the rest of the week end... Saturday morning, the serious concours entrants were on the field as early as 8am, armed with rags, toothbrushes and Q-tips detailing away at their Jaguars... The SFJC concours was the last sanctioned event of the year and that meant las chance for points and a North American or Regional award. Turnout was lighter than previous years with a little over 30 cars on the field with most of Jaguar's history represented: XKs, E-types, XJS, saloons and the latest modern cats including new XJR, S-Type R and XKR... Concours judging is taken very seriously in South Florida, thanks in part to Chief Judge Russell Glace attention to details and originality and the judges briefing was very thorough. Rags down was called for at 11am and judging begun. While judges did their things on the field, other club volunteers were busy helping out with the boutique set up by MaryAnne Finnegan and Thomas Lanahan. Once scoresheets started coming in, they were checked and tabulated so that results could be announced immediately after judging ended. Once again, awards were presented just like they do it at the big shows, with the owner driving his or her car up to the presentation area. We may not be Pebble Beach or Amelia Island but we're trying and presenting awards on the field ensure all get to admire the cars. This is turning out to be a very popular time and oddly enough most think that looking at the car is more interesting than looking at the car owner! In addition to the class awards, two special judges choice awards were presented for the Best Sports Car and to the Best Saloon on the field. Best Saloon when to a very nice 1968 Jaguar 340 owned by David and Elsa Roth of New Hampshire while Best Sports Car went to another New England couple, Gary and Sue Hagopian for their race modified 1962 E-type Coupe, a now familiar sight at our concours. Another very special car on the field was Jaime Del Valle's 1963 Alloy E-type Coupe who received the Best Sports Car award last year. Not only very rare, this factory prepared alloy bodied E-type has an amazing race history in England. Originally purchased and raced by profesional driver John Cuff, the car was upgraded by the factory in 1966 with its current 4.2 litre engine. In 1967 it was purchased by Sir William Lyons son in law who continued racing it until 1970. (click here to view details of the car's history). After the award presentation, we all gathered across the street at ER Bradley Saloon for an early dinner on their patio overlooking the concours field and Intracoastal Waterway. This was the 3rd year we opted to have an informal early dinner immediately after the show, instead of the more formal setting later in the evening, a choice that most participant seem to enjoy more. Special thanks must go to the SFJC volunteers who made this fun week end possible, especially Bob Scibelli and Russel Glace who has concours chair and chief judge shared the responsibility of putting together this Annual Concours.
Click here for complete results
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