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Automotive Lifestyle
AUTOS: Copperstate Cars Buffeted By Sandstorm
Valuable rally cars get instant patina from gritty winds; winners announced after four-day Arizona tour.
Vintage Motorsport Staff  | http://www.vintagemotorsport.com  |  Posted April 16, 2010   Phoenix, AZ
Tom Mittler's '55 D-Type Jaguar shows some new sandblasted patina on its nose and plexi headlight covers. (Photo: Vintage Motorsports)
Mother Nature in Arizona now has two strikes against her, as far as the collector car hobby may view it. Following record windstorms in January that uprooted tents and damaged a couple hundred classic cars at the Russo and Steele auction in Scottsdale, participants in the Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000 road rally on Monday afternoon encountered fierce winds and sandstorm conditions that pelted their paint jobs, fogged Plexiglas headlight covers and pitted windshields on the 202-mile Northern Arizona run from Lake Powell south to Flagstaff.

Indicative of the spirit and camaraderie of Copperstate participants, however, the buffeting (and subsequent buffing) was more of a bonding experience for most. "Nobody even complained about it," said Jaguar driver Bruce Meyer. "They just chalked it off to one of life's experiences. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Forecasts had initially predicted the remnants of a California storm to bring rain. Instead, it cued 60 mph winds and blowing sand and dust, which choked off a number of Copperstate cars' engines whose owners did not have air filters in place on carburetor intake trumpets. One participant in a roadster said, "It was a brutal day... rain would've been better." Visibility was severely impaired at times as the blowing sand obscured the roadway.

Indicative of the sand's invasiveness, one Copperstater explained that their digital camera was frozen/inoperative with sand clogging the zoom lens mechanism. The camera, he noted, had been inside a closed glove box and in a closed camera bag. Vintage radiator paint was pelted down to the underlying brass in some cases, but most with damaged finishes were likely to only need a fresh application of clear coat.

A spokesman for Hagerty classic-car insurance, which had a representative on the rally, said that most of the cosmetic damage to Copperstate cars would likely be covered under the comprehensive section of their policy, since the sandstorm was "a one-time event that caused direct and accidental loss" to some vehicles, versus normal wear and tear over time from driving a collector car on the road. He added that any mechanical damage from sand getting inside the engine would also be under comprehensive coverage, subject of course to verification by an adjuster.

But Monday was a mere sideshow for the enthusiastic participants. The 20th annual Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000 boasted a record 90 classic cars and 26 makes from Alfa Romeo ('54 1900 SS) to Toyota ('67 2000GT). About one-third of the field comprised rare Ferrari and Jaguar models.

Following a Saturday night cocktail reception and dinner at the downtown Phoenix Art Museum (the museum's Men's Arts Council hosts the rally to raise funds for the PAM and its programs), the public was invited (free!) to view the exquisite chariots before their 10 a.m. Mille Miglia-style launch from Tempe Diablo Stadium, spring training home of the California Angels.

Nearly 1,000 fans cheered the takeoff, and a spirited sprint up the twisty grades of Yarnell Hill and Route 89 to Prescott saw the big V8s acting like they were trying to beat Moss and Jenkinson to the ample buffet line at Hassayampa Golf Club. Gamely showing them the way was the 2.5-liter V6 of Bennett Dorrance's '56 Lancia Aurelia B-20S, all under the watchful eyes of Arizona DPS motorcycle escort.

After an overnight Sunday at the Grand Canyon and the Monday trek to Sedona's Enchantment resort, weather was perfect for open touring the rest of the way. Copperstaters raved about the road to Bagdad and back on Tuesday, and Wednesday included lunch at Saguaro Lake Ranch before the awards banquet finale at the Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley.

20th annual Copperstate 1000 Award winners:

• Louis E. Laflin III Spirit Award - Brent Berge ('60 Aston Martin DB 4)
• Good Samaritan Award - Colin Comer ('64 Shelby 289 Cobra), Mike Dopudja (Rally Mechanic)
• DPS Motors' Award - Jere Clark ('65 Shelby GT350)
• Condolence Award - Jack Thomas ('55 Ferrari 375), Bob Griffin ('55 Austin-Healey 100S)
• Fur Piece - Jaime & Cecelia Muldoon ('54 Jaguar XK120 SE roadster)
• Immaculate Presentation - John Barrett ('72 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona)
• Kill For - Bill Pope ('52 Fiat 8V Zagato Elaborata)
• Arizona Jeopardy Winners - John & Peg Leshinski ('71 DeTomaso Pantera)
• Directors Award - Sam & Emily Mann (Bugatti)
• Arbitrary & Capricious Award - Bruce Meyer ('64 Jaguar Semi-Lightweight E-Type)
• Dan Rowan Memorial Award - Joyce Giles ('66 Chevrolet Corvette convertible)

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