Sisters car wins at Concours d’Elegance

A first-time car show entrant from Sisters won best in class at one of the most prestigious competitions on the West Coast. Since 1973, Forest Grove, Oregon, has hosted Concours d’Elegance. The phrase is French in origin and means a “competition of elegance.” It refers to an event where prestigious vehicles are displayed and judged. Every era of automotive history is represented, from the earliest horseless carriages to the latest sports cars.

Although most people know Brad Boyd as a bicycle man because he has owned Eurosports for 30 years, they might be surprised to know his long-time love affair with motorcycles and automobiles. At age 9, Brad got his first motorcycle. Over time, out of necessity he became a mechanic. This led to a skill he still uses today, working on his own vehicles and as a bike mechanic at Eurosports. All these years later, he is still hooked, working on and owning many cycles and cars over the years.

The Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance is considered the most prestigious car competition in the Pacific Northwest.

Although never having entered a car show, Boyd thought his family had a special automobile that just might get some attention – and had some serious history to it.

He submitted a car that has been in his family for 42 years and the jury selected it to compete.

His father, Bob, bought the black with red interior 1960 Mercedes SL convertible in 1977.

The first owner bought it in Germany in 1960 for 18,453 deutschmarks.

Boyd has that bill of sale and all of the original receipts — including a clutch replacement, parts and labor, that cost $160 back in the day.

Having such a detailed provenance is rare and adds value to a vehicle.

“I entered the ‘preservation class,’ which means everything on the car is original, and not restored. There was some stellar competition, including an old ‘Woody’ — a Suburban that seats nine and had suicide doors,” Boyd said.

The judges not only check to make sure everything on the car works and look for detailed cleaning, they also want to know the stories behind the cars, similar to an antique road show. Three judges with many years’ experience are assigned to meticulously go over each car.

“Never having entered a car show of any sort, let alone something that is considered one of the superbowls of auto competitions, I burned the midnight oil,” Boyd said. “We have a great resource at the Sisters Classic Car Storage, and I really appreciated having the washing bay so that I could work late into the night. I even polished the door jams.” Although the judges were extremely thorough, they didn’t look at the jams. Boyd was uncertain how a black car would stack up against the other cars. Black is the most difficult color to keep looking new, because it shows all imperfections.

More than 350 cars, some valued in the $1 million range, gleamed under the big trees planted in 1848 at Pacific University in Forest Grove. Thousands of attendees strolled in the shade and shared stories of favorite cars from their past. One of the most unique vehicles was a 1919 school bus that still runs and is considered the oldest school bus in the United States.

Several competitors remarked to Boyd that they couldn’t believe he drove the car over 150 miles to the show. Many people trailer these unique vehicles to protect them. The car drove beautifully, even thought it is 60 years old.

The event included an optional 50-mile driving tour of nearby wine-country vineyards. People lined the streets to wave at Boyd’s convertible, two 1920s Packards and various other rare and vintage muscle, foreign, collector and sports cars.

Cars are a family affair for the Boyds. Former Sisters resident, now deceased, Bob Boyd, was Brad’s dad. Bob’s first car was a 1953 MG TD. Boyd describes that car as “red, looking like a miniature Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Bob also owned a Mercedes Gullwing at one time – valued at over $1 million on today’s market. Brad’s daughter Alex has a 1967 MGB. Alex was on hand to watch her dad garner the trophy. Boyd got to drive his winning car onto the podium to accept the award and be interviewed

Boyd said, “It was almost more than one could hope for, to enter your first show, meet such an amazing group of people, and to take home best in class.”