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by Rafael Migoyo (with some edits and corrections by Bernard Martin) This is just the beginning of the story...  On a night that seemed like any other, beneath the shimmering lights of Pittsburgh, a city known for forging dreams as tough and enduring as the steel it’s famous for, two paths were destined to cross in a manner most extraordinary. The scene was set at Mario's East Side Saloon, a lively venue chosen to celebrate not just one, but two momentous occasions: an early preview of an episode hosted by a mutual friend, Racheallee Lacek, for American Dream TV, showcasing Pittsburgh's vibrant spirit, and my own 31st birthday. The air was electric, charged with the excitement of new beginnings and the joy of shared success. The celebration carried us to Girasole, a restaurant where the ambiance of warmth and the aroma of exquisite Italian cuisine wrapped around us like a welcoming embrace. It was here that fate decided to play its hand.  Introduced by Racheallee, the star of the evening, Bernard and I found ourselves seated across from each other, and within moments, a spark was ignited. A casual conversation about racing and my homeland, Cuba, blossomed into an engaging dialogue, compelling us to dine together and delve deeper into our shared passions. As music filled the air and laughter mingled with the clinking of glasses, a wild idea took root in my mind. Turning to Bernard, I ventured, "Hey, what do you think of having a race in Cuba?" Bernard, always known for his unique way of articulating thoughts, paused, a glimmer of interest in his eyes, and responded, "You know that there where several famous races in Cuban in the lates 50's. Fangio was kidnapped by the Cuban Revolutionaries. It was a big deal" Bernie texted Rafael some wikipedia links at that point. "That’s an interesting idea" he continued, " If we did it would have to be on the exact same course as back then, if it's still there and possible" My heart raced as I contemplated the audacity of the suggestion. "Give me a minute," I replied, the wheels in my mind turning furiously. Excusing myself, I navigated through the lively crowd, accepting a glass of wine from a friend with a smile, and stepped outside. The night air was cool against my skin as I dialed my father’s number, the idea burning brighter with every ring. "Papi," I began, my voice a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, "I'm here having dinner with some friends, and I've met someone remarkable..." I shared the bold proposal, the silence on the other end of the line stretching on as my father pondered the possibility. Finally, mirroring my earlier interaction with Bernard, my father responded, "Give me a minute, let me make a call." The wait was agonizing, yet when he called back, his words sparked a surge of hope. "Keep the conversation going," he advised, "there may be a possibility, but it requires work to ensure it’s not only feasible but done right." With renewed determination, I re-entered the restaurant, the music greeting me like an old friend. The sight of the waitress singing accompanied by a guitarist added a layer of magic to the evening. I returned to my seat, the idea now shared between generations, and said to Bernard, "Let’s talk."  This was the beginning of a journey neither of us could have anticipated, a tale of ambition, camaraderie, and the pursuit of a dream that would bridge continents and cultures. From that night forward, our lives were entwined in a project that was as daring as it was inspiring, all sparked by a conversation over dinner, under the stars of Pittsburgh. A few weeks had passed since that memorable evening at Girasole, when Bernard and I decided to reconvene, this time at my place. True to tradition, and perhaps a bit ambitiously for his caffeine tolerance, I served him a mug of my Cuban coffee. This wasn't just any coffee; it was a brew that had slowly been making a name for itself among friends and family, a recipe I've perfected since I was a kid, sneaking to the coffee maker before my parents could wake up on weekend mornings. As we settled in, the aroma of the coffee filling the room, we dove back into our conversation with a sense of purpose and excitement. I had news to share, updates that could potentially move our project forward, and Bernard was equally prepared, his own updates adding to the growing momentum of our plan. The dialogue flowed effortlessly, as if picking up right where we left off. With every new idea, we found ourselves on the phone, verifying claims, seeking advice, and, most importantly, making connections. Our meeting turned into a brainstorming session, with each phone call opening new possibilities and each introduction expanding our network. The energy was palpable, a testament to the synergy between us and the potential of what we were setting out to achieve.  As our calls wrapped up and the hours ticked by, Bernard and I were riding a wave of enthusiasm and determination. We weren't ready to call it a day just yet. Seizing the moment, Bernard reached out to Nate and John, people he deemed a perfect fit, suggesting a casual meet-up at their local haunt to keep the momentum going. The place of choice was "The Pub at 333," a spot known for its laid-back atmosphere and good vibes, the perfect setting for the kind of conversation we were looking to have. I decided to bring along a special touch for our first official gathering—a selection of Cuban cigars I had saved from a time when bringing them over was still on the right side of the law. It was a gesture of goodwill and a nod to the roots of the idea that had brought us all together. Nate and John appreciated the gesture, and as we settled into our seats, surrounded by the ambient noise of the pub, the project began to take on a new dimension. Over drinks, the conversation flowed freely. We laid out our vision, the challenges we anticipated, and the dreams we harbored for making a race in Cuba not just a possibility, but a reality. Nate and John brought fresh perspectives to the table, their expertise and excitement adding layers to the plan that Bernard and I had not fully considered. It was a meeting of minds, each of us bringing something unique to the table, yet all of us united by a common goal. A couple of hours later, we left "The Pub at 333," the energy among us was undeniable. Our project, sparked by a simple conversation, had grown into a shared vision. We're not just planning a race; we're aiming to create an event that sticks with people, not only for the thrill it promises but for the connections it seeks to build. Our goal is to craft an experience that's remembered for how it brings cultures together, supports dreams, and perhaps, creates a meaningful legacy for everyone involved. Our focus is to create an event that is worthy of being remembered, not only for its excitement, ambition, and passion but also because it provides a platform on which culture can be expanded, people's dreams and ambitions can be supported, and a legacy can be built. Like all things, it began with a thought. Help us make it a reality, one worth living and holding positive memories in our hearts. Everything in life takes work. Help us make the work worth living.  The last time a cuban Grand Prix was held was in 1960
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 Concours LLS produced a home-grown Amelia Island “Coastal Motoring Tour,” on May 20, 2021. Launching from the legendary Brumos Collection, and running through some of the area’s most scenic highways and byways, the Coastal Motoring Tour will arrive just in time for the Hangar Night Film Festival.
The mid point of the trip featured an auto ferry ride across the St John's River. Then we continued on the final leg of the coastal drive to dinner and movies. The evening took flight at the Fernandina Municipal Airport with hors d'oeuvres, a special 'Floribbian' dinner, a cash bar, and most importantly, a beautiful display of our touring cars at the Amelia Aerodrome as the sun set at the airport. We where served dinner before the public arrived which gave our touring group plenty of time to take in the cars and ambiance. The evening culminated at the Amelia Aerodrome with a unique experience for automotive enthusiasts as we enjoyed the Grand Motoring Hanger Night Film Festival! The 2021 Tour Itinerary A very special Thank you goes out to Justin Flagg for developing all of the art work for our 2021 Event! Give Justin a follow in his Instagram @jflagg! Our Inaugural Rock N Rad show was held on August 29, 2021. We chose Hartwood Acres in Pittsburgh, PA to launch this 80's & 90's Car Show. We chose the iconic DMC DeLorean as our poster car and focus for our first year of the event! Back in May 2021, the The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) had announced the newest car to be acknowledged in its National Historic Vehicle Register, an inventory and collection of documentation of historically significant automobile, was the DeLorean DMC-12. And not just any DeLorean, but the DeLorean time machine car from the well-known sci-fi movie “Back to the Future”. Because of Covid, our inaugural event was delayed by more than a year, so all of these things: The HVA designation, the DeLorean "screaming" and 80's & 90s vibe and us getting "back the the future" is why we featured special DeLorean display smack dab in the center of Rock N Rad 2021! what's Rad and What Isn't?In creating this first time event we where asked what qualifies as a Rock N Rad era Car? Does it have to be built between January 1, 1980 and December 31 1999. Our Answer was "No". Emphatically, NO. From the outset our entire team agreed that certain vehicles that where iconic in the 80's actually had their roots in earlier years. And certain cars that became iconic after the year 2000 where created in the 1990's. So we knew we had to extend a bit backward and a bit forward in time.  1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am What we came up with was that If the vehicle model was sold in the 1980's or 1990's an didn't have significant design changes prior to or after that period, then we would welcome it to Rock N Rad. The Trans Am Gen 2 shown above was sold in the early 80's before the Gen 3 was introduced. The Gen 2 underwent several facelifts and that's where it gets a bit tricky. Ideally we wanted 80's and 90's cars in the show but if it's on the edge or the model has not have any significant changes from an earlier or later period, then it is welcome to be in the show. Pre-Registration Had its benefitsCreating a first year event is always tough because you don't know what you don't know so we really wanted to incentivize early registration and keep our costs under control. Folks who pre-registered online for by midnight Wednesday August 25th for the inaugural Rock N Rad event on Sunday August 29th got the VIP treatment! For starters, Gates opened at 11am for parking tor Pre- registered cars ONLY . Pre-Registered vehicles will got some of the prime parking locations for the show, the concert, AND exiting after the concert! Here's some other things that the early birds got:
All registrations, both pre-registered and on-site WILL get ONE Door prize ticket. We've got a lot of cool door prizes that will be awarded at the top of each hour! For anyone driving up for on-site registration, the gates will open at NOON for parking NON-Preregistered Show Cars for parking. That means that if you have not registered by Wednesday August 25th at midnight, you will not get a t-shirt The Music There had to be some Rock to go with all the Rad so the Rock N Rad Team in conjunction with Allegheny County Parks was excited to host Gen the Wearwolf who opens for Spin Doctors as the featured band the evening of August 29 after the Rock N Rad Car show.  Bernard Martin talking to Tom Bungay at the Brumos Collection entrance in front of the Large photo of the Ford Plant in Jacksonville, FL Tom Bungay talks about some local Jacksonville History and one of the original cars built at the Ford plant on display at The Brumos Collection Museum. Opened in 1924, Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant in Jacksonville Florida was designed by internationally recognized industrial architect Albert Kahn. The 165,000-sqaure foot assembly plant remained in operation until the late 1960's. It's was known for having a pair of 800' skylight panels that provide natural light into the industrial plant below. At one point, Ford employed over 800 workers who spent their time manufacturing 200 Model-T and Model A cars and trucks a day. The Brumos Collection Museum is building was designed to emulate the historic Model T plant. This very unique unrestored Model T was built in the Jacksonville plant and remained in the Jacksonville area it's entire life with the original owner family! Tom tells a great story about acquiring the car and it's very fast journey to grace the entrance of the Brumos Collection. It's truly a wonderful way to to be welcomed to the Brumos Collection. by Bernard Martin What's our first video on "Through the Gears" all about? It's about artist Kelly Telfer. From an illegal drivers license and t-shirt design to the poster artist for the Werks Reunion and a special preview of his oil on canvas that he and Bill Warner presented to Lyn St. James at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Kelly talks about his love of racing, cars and his finely honed skills as an artist. You're going to enjoy this lively and candid discussion with Kelly Telfer about his start down the automotive art path and his success to date. About Kelly Telfer
Kelly Telfer is the Official Artist for the Porsche Club of America, Porsche Werks Reunion Amelia & Monterey. Kelly's art is available at the Petersen Automobile Museum, in Los Angeles, CA. ... Kelly was the official artist for the 2019 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Kelly Telfer was born in San Jose, California in 1955. About Through the Gears The "Through the Gears" video series captures the history and backstories of people and cars in the Concours, Car Show and Racing Communities and is produced by Concours LLC . Concours LLC provides a level professionalism and best practices to those people and organizations seeking to create a successful automotive event. We offer our clients a wide range of services from Strategy and Planning to complete marketing, design and management of the event for you. From a complete Conours multi-day event to a car show or road tour, Concours LLC has an expert we can tap into to add a level of professionalism to your automotive event. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Bernard Martin MORGANTOWN, WV. - Concours LLC is excited to announce the launch of a new ongoing series of videos entitled "Through the Gears". The video series captures the history and backstories of people and cars in the Concours, Car Show and Racing Communities.
"Wayne's spot on," says Bernard Martin, "and then the idea evolved, Given what we do, we are often privy to some wonderful stories and anecdotes that later become the stuff of legend. Ferrari's adoption of the Cavallino Rampante is a great example: Many are familiar with the story of how Ferrari was given the emblem of the fighter ace but few know the connection it has to Porsche. In this series we're not going to just talk cars, we're going to take a page out of James Burke's "Connections" series from the 1970's." On "Through the Gears" your hosts will talk about the stuff that most others forget to ask or don't think it's important to talk about. How did you family become involved in the industry? What where your influences? How did this come about? Why did you do this? The series will also take a deep dive into some iconic collector cars and the people who own them. And , yes, of course we will still talk about cars!! Look for these up coming shows:
ABOUT CONCOURS LLC Concours LLC provides a level professionalism and best practices to those people and organizations seeking to create a successful automotive event. We offer our clients a wide range of services from Strategy and Planning to complete marketing, design and management of the event for you. From creating and managing every aspect of a Concours to developing a touring series, we have a product specialist at our disposal that brings years of experience to the effort. Car Clubs, Racers and Supporters Raise $60,000 for PVGP Charities with Shifting Gears Campaign12/16/2020  Bernie Martin, Media Director, explains that the idea for the Rallies started with a conversation at Amelia Island Concours as Covid was breaking out. It also led to Bernie's involvement in Rally Accross America. PITTSBURGH, PA (December, 2020) Like many large-scale events this year, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix was affected by the pandemic. Ten days of car shows, races and motorsport parties were canceled, but that didn’t stop the Grand Prix from delivering a meaningful donation for our charitable partners. This past May, the PVGP announced it was canceling its 2020 Race Week events and “Shifting Gears” to encourage its car club partners to get out on the road in the safety of their own cars. The result – more than two dozen events were held throughout the summer and fall, raising $60,000! We applaud our racers, volunteers, car club partners and event participants who got involved and made incredible efforts to keep the Grand Prix spirit alive. From staging events to donating their 2020 registration fees, the response was overwhelming and vital to our charity mission.” said Dan DelBianco, PVGP executive director. Joseph S. Martz, president of Merakey Allegheny Valley School, said, “thank you for all you did to make lemonade out of lemons, we are incredibly grateful to the PVGP and its supporters for putting your hearts and souls into the “Shifting Gears” campaign.” Jesse Torisky, CEO of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh, exclaimed “during this pandemic autistic people haven’t stopped being autistic and they need our services now more than ever and likewise, the PVGP supporters have not stopped working – we are humbled by their tireless efforts. Sixteen racers generously donated their 2020 race entry fees, crossing the finish line with a whopping $10,450 donation! PVGP Chairman Jim Dolan was the first racer to make a donation and said “this has been an unprecedented display of what community involvement is all about and I thank everyone”. Stu Long and the team at Nelson Ledges staged a Test & Tune in August to benefit the PVGP and added $1,150 more! The Porsche Club raised $6,100 with Parade Laps in Schenley Park on our normally scheduled Race Day on Sunday, July 26, and they also held several driving tours. The idea to get together was the mastermind of Ed Rice, President of the Allegheny Region Porsche Club. “The impromptu event was a stunning success”, according to Ed “I was in a melancholy mood when the event was canceled and I just didn’t want to sit around and do nothing that weekend. Then I thought, what the heck, every year in the days before Race Weekend in Schenley Park I drive the racecourse to get into the vibe of the PVGP. I decided I was going to invite all of my Porsche Club friends to join me.”
The Pittsburgh Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club matched the first $1,000, of member donations for a $2,555 donation and added $1,000 with a fall road tour to Moraine State Park. Jason Uhler and the Greater Pittsburgh Mustang Club raised $2,137 while touring the countryside in their pony cars in our Orange Belt Tour in July. The Marque of the Year Corvettes, led by Jim Kinest, staged a Corvette Club Caravan Challenge in May and donated their 2020 registration fees, $1,448!
Karen Hanchett and Patrick Martin staged two Motorbike Tours to Jamison Farm in Latrobe that raised $1,200. Bud Osbourne and the Western PA Triumph Association worked on these tours and the PVGP July Countryside Tour that raised $2,030.
The Rolls Royce & Bentley Club raised a grand total of $14,080 through three separate events. Greg & Christie Farrell hosted a party at their home in June, raising $1,400. Bentley Pittsburgh hosted a car show at their dealership in Wexford in September that brought in $7,950. With an auction of her Handmade Glass Art Terri Hohmann added $3,530, and Rolls Royce Club President Chris Davis’s neighbors’ “Little Miss Cookie Squad” baked and sold cookies weekly this summer for $1,200. The ALFISTI Alfa Romeo Club pledged $1,000 from its July Over the River Tour. West Penn Miata Club raised $800 with its own kick-off style Rallye. Jack and Cathy Dernorsek led the 3 Rivers Region Model A Restorers Club on a Red Belt Tour in August that brought in $465. Land Rover North Hills sponsored the October 24/25 Fall Car Show at Pitt Race Complex that raised $2,100 the same weekend that the Western PA Triumph Club and Gary Fredo hosted a road tour netting $1,555. To get the PVGP over the $60,000 mark the Greater Pittsburgh MG Club donated $1,000 from its membership. Bernard Martin's Pro Bono efforts to raise money for charities across the US during the pandemic6/24/2020  Bernie Martin, Dan DelBianco, Jason Moka and JIm Neville hosted a Rally to raise money for the PVGP charities With the pandemic raging around the world and most car events cancelled for the foreseeable future many charities are being left with no fundraisers. Concours marketing leader Bernard Martin recently stepped up to the plate to offer his services to help charities across the country. According to Bernie, "The conversation actually started at Amelia Island early this year. Dan DelBianco and I where sitting at the pool late Sunday afternoon and we where more or less reaching the conclusion that we may not be able to hold any. PVGP events this summer. I suggested that we get all 17 car clubs and encourage them to drive their cars in a series of fundraising rallies. We had just completed hosting the 2019 Alfa Romeo Owners Club convention and had used the belt system around Pittsburgh for a number of the driving tours so we had a ready made tour route with signage already in place." The Pittsbrugh Vintage Grand Prix has renamed this year theme to "Shifting Gears" as a result of that conversation. In early Spring Lilly Pray approached Bernie about a project that she had become involved in called "Rally Across America". Lilly has been a highly respected concours judge for many years and she was the first Ambassador for the effort. The founders of "Rally Across America", Jim and Wendy Petty, wanted to create a website and social media for their concept of raising $1 Million for charities across the United States by helping car clubs and car aficionados host driving events for their local charities. Bernie told Lilly that this project was right in his wheelhouse as he was already planning events for the Three Rivers Alfisti to raise money for the PVGP. Bernie created the website and social media for the organizations and also create all of the "Rally-in-a-Box" tools needed to ambassadors to create their own driving event. He tested a number of auto touring and rally apps for mobile devices and included the functions for the Rally Ambassadors.  Lilly Pray, Rally Across America Ambassador & Joan Slaughter Founder of Morgan Adams Foundation Lilly Pray has a passion for cars, she’s been channeling that energy into an organized drive that will give back to the community. Lilly, a nurse in Boulder, Colorado, serves an ambassador for Rally Across America, a grassroots organization whose goal is to raise more than $1 million for nonprofit groups across the U.S.
Lilly jumped at the opportunity to help Rally Across America, which hosted its inaugural drive on June 7, with proceeds going to the Connecticut Foodbank. A total of 41 cars took part, with each driver donating the suggested $100. New Record $410,000 Donation – the 7th Record Donation in the Last 8 Years! The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP) and its presenting sponsor, the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association, (GPADA) presented a record $410,000 check to the PVGP Charities. The presentation took place on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at the “Dancing with the Cars” party – the opening preview of the Pittsburgh International Auto Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The check represents the funds raised by the PVGP throughout 2018, combined with the proceeds from the GPADA’s Dancing with the Cars party that night.  (left to right) Unveiling the donation check are John Putzier – CEO Greater Pittsburgh Automobile dealers Association, Brian Urban – PVGP Assistant Race Director, Bernie Martin – PVGP Cortile and Social Media, Elizabeth Humphrey – Merakey AVS Ambassador, Anita Iyengar – Autism Society of Pittsburgh Ambassador, Dan Wind – President GPADF, Matt Diehl – President GPADA and Dan DelBianco – Executive Director PVGP. Photo by Amy Rocini. “This was the 7th time in the last 8 years that we were able to set a new record for fundraising and the 11th time in the last 14 years.” said Dan DelBianco, Executive Director of the PVGP “we are proud of our growing success and we are so appreciative that the GPADA’s Foundation holds this event and donates the proceeds to our charity partners. John Putzier, CEO of the GPADA said “our partnership with the PVGP has turned out to be a win-win-win for the GPADA’s Foundation, the PVGP and for the charities. Together we can do so much good by combining the two biggest automotive events in Western PA to generate funds for autism and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” According to Bernie. "I was invited up on stage to present #PVGP check to the charity ambassadors. I’m was quite honored to there, to be associated with so many fine people and humbled to be on the stage for such a great event" while attending the 2019 Dancing with the Cars Charity Preview at David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Bernie and Wayne where invited to assist Stuart Sobek, the Founder of the upcoming Las Vegas Concours d' Elegeance and Vance Walker, the LVCE Managing Director, in some of the planning and logistics for their first time event. Sometimes getting an experienced set of eyes on a new event is a good idea and the guys in Las Vegas have all the trappings needed to host a truly stellar concours. Before we delve into the details, there's a few things you should know like when is it and what is the story behind the cool art deco logo.
The Helene Award will be presented each year to deserving innovators in the automotive industry for outstanding achievements in the design, development and future of the automobile. Dragon Ridge - The Concours Location Stuart, Vance & Wayne are looking down at where the LVCE Awards Stage will be located. The views are AMAZING! The Concours happens on Saturday, October 26, 2019, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Dragon Ridge Country Club. which is about a 20 minute drive from the Bellagio host hotel for the Concours events. Much of our time was helping develop the field layout, shuttle stops locations, trailer parking locations and discussing how to plan for traffic flow and staging.  When Bernie said "How can you go wrong with view like this?!?!" It brought a big smile to Vance. Dragon Ridge Country Club has a bit of a Scottish Highlands feel to it. It's located in the MacDonald Highlands, which are a series of highly affluent residential neighborhoods in Henderson, Nevada in the foothills of Black Mountain. The neighborhood is part of the Las Vegas Valley and it sits on the edges of the McCullough Mountains and overlooks much of Henderson and Greater Las Vegas including the Las Vegas Strip. Dragonridge Country Club is one of the highest points of Greater Las Vegas. Guard-gated, it is more than 170 acres of rolling hills overlooking the Las Vegas skyline. It's quite a sight to behold and promises to be an amazing location for a Concours. Take a peek at the slideshow below and check out some of the initial planning that is being worked on! |
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