Colossal Convertibles owners with their Certificates of Appreciation

After back-back years of historic inclement weather that impacted our fall car show, we finally had a more typical fall day: cool, dry and beautiful.  As a result, we were rewarded with 93 cars in attendance for our Colossal Convertibles event!  The event honored the late Henry Ruby, long-time CLC Potomac Region Car Show Coordinator, and the 60th anniversary of the 1953 Eldorado.  Specifically, Cadillac and LaSalle roadsters, phaetons, open cars and convertibles from all model years were honored at the show and the turnout was fabulous.  From a 1929 Cadillac 341-B Dual-Cowl Sport Phaeton to a 1993 Cadillac Allante, over 40 convertibles were on display, including Henry Ruby’s 1958 Eldorado Biarritz and Scott Milestone’s factory-built “super-charged” 1953 Eldorado and 1953 Cadillac LeMans concept car.  

The car show dash plaque was especially appropriate because it honored the late Henry Ruby, a devoted club member who played a key role for many years in these shows at Capitol Cadillac, along with the 1958 Eldorado Biarritz that Henry drove for as many years.  With proceeds from the sale of items donated by Scott Milestone and Jay Adams, the club has commissioned artist Dan Reed to paint this image for display at future car shows at Capitol Cadillac.

Another fine person who appreciated Colossal Convertibles was Bart Mitchell, who unfortunately passed away just three weeks prior to the event.  Bart was a fine gentleman and a real class act.  He owned, among many other collector cars, a national-award-winning Azure Blue 1953 Cadillac Eldorado (pictured below) that he was kind enough to display at our show year after year.  His son Jim and Bart's long-time friend Mike Jones made sure that the car was part of Colossal Convertibles.  Bart's car was a sure-fire Best of Show winner, but for the last several years, Bart insisted that his car be entered for display only, so that others could win the top awards that otherwise may have gone to him.  Pictured above Dan Ruby (left) presents Mike Jones (middle) and Jim Mitchell (right) the Henry S. Ruby Memorial Award to honor Bart Mitchell.

Like other fall theme car shows, the weekend began with a Saturday evening dinner for out-of-town guests.  The dinner was held at the host hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, and to be honest, the food and service was less than stellar.  We apologize to our dinner guests.  For next year, we plan to try a restaurant in the area that a few of us dined at Sunday evening after the show with much better results.  Also by Saturday evening, the showroom at Capitol Cadillac was ready with most of the cars already in place for Sunday’s show.

Six decades of Colossal Convertibles

On Sunday morning, a few more cars were added to the showroom to result in a fine display of convertibles spanning six decades.  As the case with previous shows, the crew of volunteers arrived by 8:00 AM to register and park the cars.  Of the 93 cars that participated, 58 were from Maryland, 17 from Virginia, nine from Pennsylvania, five from the District of Columbia, three from New Jersey and one from Delaware.  By the time DJ Mikey Veilleux of Music Madness played the National Anthem, which has become a tradition at our show, at 10:00 AM to officially open the show, the showfield was just about full (pictured below).  Participants who arrived shortly thereafter wondered what the official start time was because it looked like the show had been going on since the night before with the sizeable number of vehicles already in place. 

Following the Potomac Region’s current practice, the judging was done by the owners of the cars registered in the show (peer judging), except for the Dealer’s Choice Award and Car Show Coordinator Award.  Throughout the day, many of the owners could be seen walking among the cars with their pencils and ballots in hand.  When the deadline for voting was reached, over 75% of the attendees eligible to vote had submitted a ballot. 

Past CLC President Richard Sills (pictured right), who served as the Master of Ceremonies, began the awards presentation by paying tribute to the Colossal Convertibles (below is an excerpt).

“When I was growing up, if there was any car that epitomized a person who was not only successful, but also had a special flair, or a zest for living, it was a Cadillac convertible.  You could put the top down, see everything around you, and turn heads in the process.  You could enjoy the warming sun in the daytime, or look up at the stars at night, while driving one of the finest cars on the American highway.  If you were an entertainer, or a sportsman, or a night club owner, or a man-about-town, you probably drove a Cadillac convertible.  And I don't mean to suggest that only men drove Cadillac convertibles.  Shortly after I moved to Washington, I used to see a beautiful blonde woman driving a new 1971 Eldorado convertible, red with a white top and white leather interior.  The car had a Maryland vanity plate with two letters on it -- "NO".  I never found out whether those were her initials or whether she was answering in advance a question that she expected to be asked -- but when you drove a Cadillac convertible, you expected to be noticed.  Yes indeed, a Cadillac convertible was truly the cat's meow of automobiles.”

After the introductory remarks, the 50/50 drawing and special auction of the one-week stay of Scott Milestone’s beach home took place.  Thanks to Scot Minesinger for selling the 50/50 raffle tickets and to Bob Norrid who won and donated his entire portion back to the club.  At the end of the auction for the one-week stay at Scott Milestone’s beach home, Scott graciously offered the beach home to the top-five winning bidders who were Joe Palmore, Daniel Jobe, Jack McClow, Tom Alsop and Vince Taliano.  Scott also donated a crystal ring tray that was auctioned to the high bidder.  As mentioned, proceeds from the auctioned items will be used to support the membership locally and to fund a Dan Reed illustration of Henry Ruby and his ’58 Eldorado Biarritz that will be on display at future shows. 

Following the drawing and auction, Richard announced the winning cars while Daniel Jobe presented the awards.  In addition, Daniel presented his choice for the Dealer’s Choice Award and Holly Smith announced the Ladies’ Choice Award donated by Brenda & Jim George. Lastly, Richard asked for the audience’s help in identifying the car that was registered and driven – not trailered – the longest distance to participate in the show.

Special thanks to Daniel Jobe and Capitol Cadillac, Dan Ruby and Scott Milestone for helping us assemble one of the greatest collections of Cadillac and LaSalle convertibles in recent memory. Their efforts along with all the volunteers who worked the event from pre-show promotions to day-of show registration and parking to after-show clean up (thanks volunteers!) made this a truly special event for all of the participants who traveled near and far (thanks participants!) to attend.