The event celebrates “Willie K’s” contributions to American motor sports with the conferring of the Vanderbilt Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney at a Legends of Racing Dinner at The Breakers.

The weekend celebration of all things automotive, sponsored by Bentley, Breitling and Grenon’s of Newport, will include legendary drivers, competition cars, and grand classics from all eras. The festivities will take place at the Newport Mansions and will be hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County, one of the nation's largest private custodians of National Historic Landmarks, including The Breakers (1895), Marble House (1892) and Chateau-sur-Mer (1852), which will host the various Concours events.

Modern racing legends DanGurney and Sir Stirling Moss will each receive the first William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Awards for Lifetime Achievement at a Racing Legends Dinner on Friday, July 27 at The Breakers. The awards will recognize annually an American and an International auto industry figure. The awards celebrate “Willie K” Vanderbilt’s contributions to American motor sport as a World Land Speed Record holder, his 1904 creation of the Vanderbilt Trophy, and his conferring the sanctioning authority for the trophy on AAA.

“Dan Gurney and Sir Stirling Moss are racing legends, and we are absolutely thrilled to have them join us for this premier event,” said Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Trudy Coxe.

ABOVE: William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. with one of his cars. "Willie" as he came to be known, was an accomplished sailor and yachtsman but it was automobile racing that was his true passion.

LEFT: Chateau-sur-Mer, where the main Concours activities, including the displays of classic cars, will take place.

“I'm touched to be honored alongside my friend and former teammate Stirling Moss,” said Gurney. “We have toured the great houses of Newport with our children; it was a fantastic experience and a beautiful setting for a great classic car event.”

“I’m not old enough to have competed for the original trophy, although some people think I am,” said Moss. “But I'm very pleased to accept this recognition in the tradition of that first Vanderbilt Trophy.”

The Vanderbilt Concours weekend will begin Friday, July 27 with a Tour d'Elegance along the scenic roadways of Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, followed by the Racing Legends Dinner.  On Saturday night, July 28th, there will be a Black and White Ball at Willie K's childhood summer home, Marble House. The Concours will begin on the 28th and judging will take place on the 29th at Chateau-sur-Mer. Exhibition and judged classes will include some of the finest automobiles from all eras up to 1970. In addition to those classes, a racing legends exhibition class of competition cars with demonstrated racing history will be on display throughout the weekend at The Breakers. 

The proceeds of the weekend will benefit The Preservation Society of Newport County, a non-profit educational organization accredited by the American Association of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts.  Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

General admission to the Concours exhibits is $25 for adults and $5 for children 6-17.

For more information, visit: www.VanderbiltConcours.org

© 2007 Newport Harbor Guide. All rights reserved.

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