Classic cars make a pit stop in Sisters

Millions of dollars worth of rare automobiles graced the parking area at Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes as motoring enthusiasts made their annual pilgrimage from Kirkland, Washington to Monterey, California, last week.

Aspen Lakes is a traditional stop along the route to the legendary Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach. The trek is an opportunity for the owners to enjoy their vintage cars and for folks in Pacific Northwest communities to get a glimpse of historic automotive art.

"It gives the owners of these beautiful cars a chance to get them out and exercise them," said Dominic Dobson, of Tacoma's LeMay - America's Car Museum.

Dobson reckoned that the oldest car on the tour was a 1923 Bugatti - also deemed "the loudest car on the tour."

Al and Sandi McEwan of Kirkland, Washington, were driving a 1931 Pierce Arrow dual-cowl phaeton that Al had received after restoration just three weeks ago. He was on and off his cell phone during the stop at Aspen Lakes, talking to a friend who was working an eBay auction for some correct horns. He just missed.

"We believe only five of these exist today," he said. "I don't know how many were made."

McEwan's car is special in part because it has stainless steel artillery wheels, which are quite rare for the period.

Sandi was still marveling at the transformation of the car. When Al found it in a warehouse in Massachusetts, it was so dirty she couldn't tell if it was supposed to be black or blue, and there was mold on the leather.

After restoration, she said, "I didn't recognize it, it looked so great."

The car runs well, too.

"We went over Cayuse Pass with it; we went up to Timberline with it," she said.

Al McEwan has an important role at the Concourse d'Elegance. For many years he has been the class judge for pre-World War II European vehicles. These cars have been his passion since he was a teenager in the 1950s. Back then, the "classic" cars were cars of the 1930s, and he fell in love with them.

The Pierce Arrow is just the latest part of a collection of classics, but it is uncertain whether there are more in the offing.

"His toys are getting to be more than the toybox will hold," Sandi said with a smile.

For more information on the Concours d'Elegance, visit http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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