ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The 11th annual Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan attracted 3,000 visitors to Lake Bluff Park in downtown St. Joseph, Michigan on Saturday, August 8. With comfortable temperatures in the low 80s and mostly cloudy skies, photographers were happy and spectators cool. Nearly 100 automobiles were on display including a section for “special interest” cars not included with the 80 Concours competition.

For 2015 the Concours committee established a variety of featured classes: 1965 full-size cars celebrating “The Class of ’65;” a station wagon class called “Groceries, Kids and Vacations;” and “Showroom Showdown” featuring Cadillac and Lincoln models from similar years to show the differences in style and design between the two major automakers.

Roy Sjoberg, known as the “Father of the Viper” was special guest at the show and presented a talk at the Friday evening reception dinner. Sjoberg was chief engineer for Viper and many of his original team attended the dinner and the Concours. More than a dozen special Vipers were on display in the Special Interest area.

All vehicles in the show participate in a “pass-in-review” with introduction and narration by famous classic and collector car expert, voice of many of the most prestigious Concours events in the county including Amelia Island, Ed Lucas. Lucas has been with this show from the beginning and offers a rich and colorful commentary on every car.

Next year’s Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan is planned for Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. Owners with unmodified production vehicles in very good condition built before 1981 interested in having their automobile considered for next year’s event should email their contact information to Dar Davis, Entrant Liaison, Founder, and Chairman Emeritus at drd43@sbcglobal.net before Dec. 31, 2015. Invitation and application information will be then mailed in mid-January.

The Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan is a highly-regarded invitational auto show featuring automobiles from the Brass, Classic, Vintage, and Muscle Car eras, as well as an array of special-interest vehicles. Net proceeds from the event benefit Hospice at Home, a Lakeland HealthCare Affiliate. More information about the event can be found at www.ConcoursSWMI.com and http://facebook.com/ConcoursSWMI.

 

The Concours presented 15 awards for outstanding entrants in this year’s event.

The 2015 award winners are:

 

Best of Show — 1934 Packard 1100 Convertible Victoria owned by Dennis Sobieski of Downers Grove, Illinois

Chairman’s Choice — 1956 Lincoln Premiere two-door Hardtop owned by Richard & Val Parrette of LaPorte, Indiana

Featured Guest Choice — 1948 Cadillac Club Coupe owned by Charlie Saganek of New Boston, Michigan

Outstanding Open Car — 1931 Cadillac V12 4702 Roadster owned by Michael Lebovic of Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Outstanding Closed Car — 1955 Cadillac Coupe deVille owned by Rick Payton & Christian Mendez of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Most Elegant — 1959 Imperial Crown four-door Hardtop owned by Orrin & Fay Dorr of Lawrence, Michigan

Engineering Excellence — 1967 Porsche 911S Coupe owned by Terry & Dorilee Schieble of Portage, Michigan

Best Unrestored Vehicle — 1948 Hudson Woodie Station Wagon owned by Eldon & Esta Hostetler of Goshen, Indiana

Best Import — 1955 Jaguar XK-140 MC Roadster owned by Bob & LaDonna Danielson of Niles, MI

Most Unusual — 1947 Studebaker Champion “Woody” Deluxe Station Wagon owned by Studebaker National Museum of South Bend, Indiana

Working Class — 1911 Ann Arbor Crossover (Touring, Convertible, Pickup Truck) owned by Arthur French of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Honored Marque — 1965 Cadillac De Ville Convertible owned by Scott Doherty, Bolingbrook, Illinois

People’s Choice — 1934 Packard 1100 Convertible Victoria owned by Dennis Sobieski of Downers Grove, Illinois

Steve Sizer Memorial — 2014 Viper GTS Coupe owned by Ross Schondorf of South Bend, Indiana

Best Two Seat Sports Car —w 1960 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 Convertible owned by Gerald Klobucher of Kalamazoo, Michigan