Page 161 - Paddock Life Issue 13 ADRENALINE

As we arrive at this years event the sun is out and the approach to the Palace is full of supercars, the Palace is open for business as usual so a mix of tourists in their summer shorts and well dressed Salon Privé guests fill the scene, an entrance to the side of the palace is marked with a red carpet, but still has that “secret door” feel about it as we walk through and pick up our passes. Following the topiary garden around to the rear of the palace we can see the pointed tops of the white tents that boarder the Salon Privé lawn. Another red carpet to the main entrance is flanked with supercars and two helicopters. Even before we are through the door we meet our friends from Heli Group, they had “parked” their chopper at the nearby heliport and taken an uber. Once inside the vista is familiar, the outer perimeter is taken with car company displays central marquees house Boodles, Pirelli and Chubb. Between the entrance and these are various super cars, two Champagne bars and a large tabled alfresco dinning area with umbrellas, so it’s fair to say it’s a good view. The far side of the Chubb marquee is the Concours lawn with a fabulous display of cars and motorcycles, two covered dining area and artist tents, oh, and another bar... all very civilised.
Thursday is Concours d’Elegance day so the cars parade from the lawn around past the marquees, where the judging panel sit, and out of the gate. My personal favourite was the White 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400, it looked so pure in white, parked next to the Miura was the original road prototype ’67 Ford GT40 MkIII, personally I don’t like the backend of the MKIII, but the GT40 is a close contender to the Miura as one of my all time favourites. Both cars took home trophies. For sheer noise and presence the 1932 Alfa Romeo P3 driven by the amazing Jennie Taylor, the car taking home the visitors choice award was the jaw dropping 1960 Alfa Romeo 3000CM Superflow, whose glass canopy looked like it had driven directly off the Captain Scarlet set. A great day, despite a few lunchtime rain showers, spent catching with old friends and a perfect English afternoon Tea to round off the day.
IMAGES JOHN J BREEN
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