Star Report
The Place to Be
Must-see Concours of America at St. John’s brings MBCA members together
Article William West Hopper
Images Ingo Rautenberg and William West Hopper
The last weekend of July each year, MBCA members gather in Plymouth, Michigan, just outside “Motor City,” for the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s. This year was no different as the International Stars Section rolled out the red carpet to club members and others from around the country July 24-26 and welcomed them to the Detroit area for three days of celebrating all-things automotive.
The MBCA has been a Concours Partner during the five years the event has been held at the Inn at St. John’s, a partnership that involves International Stars Section members’ work in helping to produce this world-class concours for all to enjoy. Our members are part of the volunteer force that works tirelessly each year on the selection and field layout committees, on the advisory board, and so much more. Bringing the two organizations together to oversee this celebration was a major achievement.
The weekend started with Friday evening’s Autobahn Night, an informal display of German-marque cars in a cars-and-coffee-style event, where beer and picnic fare were served as live music entertained the crowds that arrived to view the display.
Saturday morning before the show, Hagerty Insurance sponsored seminars, RM hosted the Motor City Auction and several other car shows took place on the grounds of the inn. Saturday evening, International Stars hosted an MBCA-member dinner, this year with more than 40 attendees. Andiamo Trattoria was a great place to get everyone together for cocktails and a delightful dinner before the Sunday concours.
As a Concours Partner, MBCA has been the only car club to have a presence on the show field, including a display of Mercedes-Benzes. The club’s hospitality tent has become the center of social activity and a place to relax in the shade for members and friends alike. Again this year, MBUSA supplied a display of new automobiles, including an S63 AMG Coupe, and our partner Airstream joined us, displaying an Interstate Sprinter conversion next to two cars brought by MBCA members – Ted and Brigitte Gottfried’s stunning red 1958 190SL and the elegant 1967 300SE Coupe of Karl Heinz and Clara Bekemeier.
A long list of automotive legends judged the entries at Concours of America, including our own MBCA Concours Chairman Peter Lesler. MBCA National President Terry Kiwala was on hand with Pete to present the Most Significant Mercedes-Benz award to a magnificent blue-on-blue 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet from the Off Brothers Collection, shown by William Johnston and Ron Elenbaas of Richland, Michigan. The MBCA sponsors this trophy each year at both the Amelia Island and St. John’s concours events as a way to celebrate the history of the Mercedes-Benz marque.