Show coverage: Classics at Lee Hall

Published by Mike on December 30, 2009

Can you tell we’re having an end-of-the-year inbox cleanout? I usually find room for the annual fall show at the antebellum mansion in Newport News, Virginia, but this year the news pages in the magazine were just too full.

That didn’t stop Colin Romanick, the city employee and Sports & Exotic subscriber who organizes the show, from sending up a report on what he’s been building into a nice little show over the years. Thanks, Colin!

The Rolls Royce Owner’s Club and the Williamsburg British Car Club were just two of the clubs present. The 1958 Lotus Seven of Dean Giacopassi and the 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud of Fred Siegel (see image) both won class awards and represented the British contingent well. Rolls Royce Owner’s Club Regional President Charles Nash brought out his pristine example of a 1990 Bentley Turbo R with original sales literature, also.

The Italian makes were present with Lamborghini and Ferrari owners bringing out some great cars. The 2001 Diablo of Edward George was a class winner and the 1969 Ferrari 365GT of Martha Glasser captured the Sponsor’s Choice Award. The Ferrari had been originally owned by Nancy Sinatra and had just recently been certified by the Ferrari Classiche program. Martha’s husband Richard Glasser made the show a family affair and brought out his 2005 Ferrari Super America. Mercedes-Benz was represented by a few SLs, including the newly restored 1984 380SL of Patricia Nash. A few Japanese cars were entered this year and the supercharged 2001 Mazda Miata of Wayne McCann received a class award.

The quality of cars and the variety just keeps getting better each year. There are so many great stories behind these cars that really make for a special time. This year’s show had a record number of visitors tour Lee Hall Mansion. A testimony to how a great historical site can bring a wonderful group of automotive enthusiasts together.

c. 1976 MGB, and some sort of Italian car.