Sixth Edition of Prestigious Event Comes to Lacy Park June 11 & 12
The San Marino Motor Classic has raised more than $1 million for local charities in its first five years, but that is just the beginning. Welcome to Lacy Park ‘Design In Motion,’ version 6 of the meteoric event that comes to town annually in early June.
More than 250 classic and collector cars, spanning more than a century, will be available for public view on Sunday, June 12 at Lacy Park. Gates open at 9 a.m.
The 2015 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park was the most successful “concours” car event in Southern California, generating $280,000 for area charities while hosting over 270 concours-level collector vehicles and attracting more than 7,000 spectators.
The 2016 show features a comprehensive range of collector automobiles from Brass and Nickel Era cars to American Muscle cars, Hot Rods and everything inbetween. Staples such as Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz will be showcased alongside Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and Rolls-Royce.
A pre-event evening gala, ‘A Symphony of Cars: The USC Trojan Marching Band in Concert,” will be held on Saturday, June 11.
Eight cars, spanning over a century, will glide down an elevated runway, accompanied by music of its representative era as performed by the USC Trojan Marching Band.
Since its inception in 2010, the concours-level car show has raised over $1 million for local charities. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and the Rotary Club of San Marino. Gala proceeds will go to the USC Trojan Marching Band.
“The San Marino Motor Classic is more than just a car show,” says San Marino resident Aaron Weiss, event co-founder and co-chair. “It’s an opportunity to learn about automotive history while supporting worthy causes.”
Last year, Weiss was recognized by the Rotary Club of San Marino as an honorary Paul Harris Fellow, the most prestigious acknowledgement dished out to non-members.
Top marks at the 2015 event went to a 1913 Mercedes Benz from the Nethercutt Collection and a 1950 Ferrari 150 owned by Don Williams.
Car enthusiast and ABC 7’s Automotive Specialist Dave Kunz and “racing royalty” Ed Justice, Jr. return as emcees this year.
Tribune subscribers will receive special treats on the day of the event.
The San Marino Motor Classic has grown to such an apex that it is frequently referred to as “Pebble Beach South,” an homage to the world-famous Concours D’Elegance that takes place every August in Monterey Bay.
Weiss co-founded the event with Paul Colony and Ben Reiling, none of whom make a cent off the event, which will be next held on June 12, 2016. One local philanthropist is so solidly behind the idea he has personally guaranteed it will not lose money.
Weiss – an automobile enthusiast for all of his adult life – acquired his first collector car, a 1979 Rolls-Royce Camargue, in 1999. He has exhibited his cars at over 100 Concours and Club events throughout the United States, including the aforementioned Pebble Beach event.
Aaron is a member of Checkered Flag, a support group for the Petersen Automotive Museum, and is director of the Southern California region of the Classic Car of America as well as a member of its national board of directors.
Aaron and his wife, Valerie, have four sons and a daughter, all of whom graduated from San Marino High School. Aaron was active in Boy Scouts and Valerie was The Tribune’s 2009 “Citizen of the Year.”
Advance tickets are available online for $25. Tickets the day of the event are $30. Children 12 and under are free. VIP spectator tickets are also available for $125, which include a gourmet lunch, wine and beer. Gala tickets are $250 per person and include general admission to the San Marino Motor Classic. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sanmarinomotorclassic.com.
