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Ben Hollerbach

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For the first time in the 73 year history of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Best of Show was awarded to a preservation car.

At face value, this statement may not seem like much, but this presents a dramatic departure in the collector car community's way of thinking about "perfect" car examples. Historically the cars that win the Best in Show award are absolute perfection. Everything on the car has been restored, often to a level that is nicer than the way they were when they left the factory. Judging is hyper-scrutinizing with every little potential discrepancy being considered; down to the number of hand stitches on a door card, the proper use of something like Frearson screw over a Phillips, and even confirming that the clock on the dashboard is set to the correct time.

This year that all changed. The car that won, a 1934 Bugatti Type 59, had not been restored. It was not perfect, the paint was old and scuffed, the wood on the dash and leather on the seats were worn, and it was nowhere close to showroom condition. Instead it was a wonderfully preserved version of a fantastically rare and historically relevant car. This was not a car that was found abandoned in a barn as a shell of its former self and then brought back to life. This is a car that has been in constant and loving use for its 90 year history, being well maintained throughout its life as a running / driving piece of machinery first.

The selection of this Type 59 for one of the collector car's most coveted titles has been nothing short of controversial. It's worth noting that the preservation class has been a part of Pebble Beach since 2001, even then, many do not view it as a legitimate class for the Best in Show award.

 A note from famed car collector, Dr Fred Simeone:
"Having seen my dad's pensent for restoration in the 100 point era of the collector car hobby, an era which unfortunately still predominates, I soon developed latent observations that restoration in many cases was a form of degradation. And that original finishes, trim, and preservation of cars in an as found condition certainly supervened over glorious perfection. And replacement
in the name of restoration. Because we are dealing with objects that are defined by their past, that past cannot be erased to satisfy competitive imperatives. The preservation criteria that govern other major historical collecting must apply to noteworthy automobiles if we are to earn respect as connoisseurs, rather than hobbyists. These cars are real, they exude authenticity because they're nearly exactly the way they were built the way they ran and the way they'll remain forever. Like the Hippocratic Oath one should do no harm to historically accurate artifacts, we should reward the owner for preservation not perfection. Cosmetic perfection sometimes destroys originality in the process. While cosmetic perfection is very difficult to achieve, historic Perfection is even more elusive and therefore more desirable."
Dr. Simeone passed away a couple of years ago, but he would have surely been ecstatic to see the Type 59 win this years.

The Best in Show win has forced a re-evaluation of the concepts behind preservation vs restoration. Are these automotive treasures better when they're returned to pristine, factory condition, or is there something even more special about preserving the marks of time? There is much to consider here as a car is only original once, the evolution and preservation of an object allows us a better lens into history, not only of that single artifact, but also in relationship to over restoration. Over restoration has the potential to erase part of the car's original history and without well preserved examples it becomes harder to truly measure the authenticity of original examples, in time the restorations become more generic and cookie cutter.
 
Learning about this groundbreaking win, I could not help to recognize the parallels that exist in the ideas of restoration vs. preservation in golf courses. Especially the potential for over restoration leading to less and less authentic historical courses.

It does see too often too little credit is given to the well preserved courses, because typically the were too poor to "screw it up", and too much credit is given to the astronomically expensive, modernly playable, restorations who's cosmetic perfection is easy to recognize, often by compromising the historic perfection of that course.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2024, 03:16:52 PM by Ben Hollerbach »

Tom_Doak

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2024, 03:26:10 PM »
It does see too often too little credit is given to the well preserved courses, because typically the were too poor to "screw it up", and too much credit is given to the astronomically expensive, modernly playable, restorations who's cosmetic perfection is easy to recognize, often by compromising the historic perfection of that course.


Indeed.


Some courses that haven't gone through expensive restorations:


Royal Melbourne
The Old Course
North Berwick
NGLA
« Last Edit: November 11, 2024, 03:28:12 PM by Tom_Doak »

Ian Mackenzie

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2024, 03:41:25 PM »
My only relevant anecdote:


I first played Pebble in 1990 (August I think) during the Concours d"Elegance.
On the 3rd hole (big dogleg left par 4) I remeber commenting to my playing partner clearly after seeing the rows of priceless cars lining the cute white picket fence bordewring the rightside of the hole.


"Hey, do you think those people are concerned about errant tee shots? A high slice could really do some damage over there."
"Jeez, maybe", was his response.


We play on and, after the round, we are in the bar when we hear a table talking,


"Did you hear that 3 cars were hit by golf balls on #3 earlier?"
"Yeah, they had to run over and close the tee box until all the cars were moved. Caused a huge delay!"


 ;D ;D


« Last Edit: November 11, 2024, 04:32:01 PM by Ian Mackenzie »

Mike_Clayton

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2024, 03:42:46 PM »
Woodlands aside, Royal Melbourne was the only sandbelt club to avoid making bad choices in the 50 years after WW2.

Charlie Goerges

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2024, 04:12:58 PM »
This kind of thing is probably overdue. Not sure that it will represent a major change going forward though. It will only apply to truly extraordinary and historical pieces. There aren't many of them left. Just like the list Tom Doak provided above. It's a short list of exceptional courses that haven't been touched by extensive work.


A similar argument went on for a long time in my collecting bailiwick of antique tools. Honestly, at this point, I'd say the restorers have crushed the preservationists. Saving maybe the case of the extremely rare and valuable. Probably similar to how it is in golf.
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2024, 04:18:50 PM »
Another that hadn't been tinkered with much at all in the last 100 years is Oakmont, until whatever they did this past year.


You could also make the case for several Raynor courses, such as Fishers Island.

Jim Sherma

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2024, 05:10:07 PM »
But if the "intent" of the Bugatti's designers was to have the fastest and most elegant car on the road shouldn't someone have interpreted that intent and modified it accordingly? I don't agree with this, just asking for a friend.

Keith Phillips

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2024, 05:53:24 PM »
Another that hadn't been tinkered with much at all in the last 100 years is Oakmont, until whatever they did this past year.


You could also make the case for several Raynor courses, such as Fishers Island.


I guess with the exception that they let 1,000s of trees grow on the property before someone had the foresight to 'restore' what was there by mass removals. Oakmont is on Mt. Rushmore for me - love that place.

Blake Conant

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2024, 06:19:07 PM »
Thanks for sharing, Ben. What a cool story and very tangental here.


Brian Schneider talks about his time working maintenance at Shinnecock Hills alongside 8 or so Shinnecock Indians and a couple assistants. And he speaks of the course the way I wish it (and others) was spoken about now: imperfectly perfect.

SL_Solow

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2024, 02:06:55 PM »
Tom,  Did you leave out Crystal Downs intentionally or was work done there of which I am unaware>

Tim Gavrich

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Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2024, 03:12:57 PM »
One of the most enchanting golf experiences I've had in the last decade was playing Grand Beach Golf Course, in large part because its nine Tom Bendelow holes looked and felt like they'd been left pretty much alone since they were built in 1912. No matter how meticulous, big expensive restorations cannot restore good patina.
Senior Writer, GolfPass

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Something significant happened on the Pebble Beach fairways this summer
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2024, 05:53:21 PM »
Tom,  Did you leave out Crystal Downs intentionally or was work done there of which I am unaware>


I’ve done just enough work there that I disqualified it.

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