RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
FARMINGTON, CT – Load-in for the first-ever New England Concours d’Elegance commenced on Friday. Early arrivals were deposited on the massive field at the Farmington Polo Club. The exclusive car show will be staged from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It will benefit The Hometown Foundation and the Klingberg Family Center and also celebrate the 70th anniversary of Hemmings.
Getting driven off a trailer in mid-afternoon by Jake Cichy of The Paddock Classic Car Restorations in New Britain, CT was a black 1954 Jaguar XK120. (Photos at top and below.). It’s one of seven vehicles brought by the business.
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“This was found in Middletown (CT). It was parked sometime in the early ’70s, late ’60s. It has somewhere around 30,000 original miles on it. It was parked next to a Buick Riviera that was in the same condition – time capsule condition,” said Cichy.
“It was stored properly. This car is exactly how we found it other than we rebuilt the carburetors when we found it. We dropped the fuel tank, cleaned it and sealed the inside of it. Besides that, the car is exactly how it came from the factory.”
Dozens of exquisite models will be displayed at the event. There will be displays of supercars, vintage tractors and new John Deere tractors, and vintage Connecticut-built drag cars. One section will be devoted to early car models that were manufactured in Connecticut. Among them will be a 1912 Corbin, a 1917 Locomobile Model 48, a 1906 Locomobile, a 1909 Pope-Hartford and a 1907 Columbia.
At least three cars (and their owners) that have been profiled by RIDE-CT will be shown. They include a 1973 De Tomaso Pantera owned by Jeff Tencer of Unionville; a 1972 Datsun 240Z owned by Ken Griffin, also of Unionville; and a 1961 Daimler SP250 owned by Al Warner of Bloomfield.
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Admission to the New England Concours d’Elegance is $25 in advance via online purchase and $30 the day of the show. The show will also offer new-car displays and food.
Vehicles will be judged in eight classes – American Classics (1920 through 1950s), European Super Cars (from 1950 – 1999 and 2000 – present), American Muscle Cars (1950 – 1973), Jaguar, Porsche (1950 – 1999 and 2000 – present), Modern Classics (prior to 2000), Mercedes Benze (1950s – 2000) and British Sports Cars (except Jaguar, 1950s through 1970s).
The Farmington Polo Club is located at 162 Town Farm Road in Farmington.
(Photos by Bud Wilkinson)
