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Royal Concours at Woodcote Park - a report
The Automobile Club of Great Britain, founded in 1897 and renamed a decade later as The Royal Automobile Club at the behest of King Edward VII, has long been at the forefront of British motoring. It has championed the interests of motorists alike, while also setting the standards and regulations for motor racing. Given this rich heritage, one might expect a concours event at Woodcote Park—the Club’s magnificent 350-acre estate in Surrey—to have been a fixture on the calendar for many years. Yet, surprisingly, this has not been the case. This week’s event, sponsored by RM Sotheby’s among others, marked the first of its kind hosted by the Club.
The setting—a stately house, adjacent cedar lawn, fountains, and manicured parkland—seemed purpose-built for such a spectacle. A wide range of motor cars was on display, spanning from a nineteenth-century Benz to a brand-new Rolls-Royce that likely left the Goodwood factory just weeks ago. There were seven Concours categories: Grand Tourers, Mille Miglia, Limousines, Pioneers, Riviera, The Coachbuilder’s Art, and Motorcycles. These were complemented by special displays, including Formula 1 cars, 100 Years of the Phantom, the 1000 Mile Trial, 75 Years of BRM, 120 Years of the Tourist Trophy, and 75 Years of British Motoring. In fact, visitors could admire numerous motoring gems just by strolling through the car park, where Aston Martins abounded and splendid pre-war Alvis tourers were well represented.
There was also a strong showing of pre-1905 veteran cars. Notably, Tom Parrott and his father Nigel presented a handsome CGV and a particularly desirable 1904 twin-cylinder De Dion Bouton rear-entrance tonneau. I’ve no doubt they had a busy day, welcoming a steady stream of recent buyers and long-standing clients.
In true Concours tradition, champagne flowed throughout the day, helping to offset the effects of the hot July weather. The afternoon concluded with a prize-giving ceremony. In the Grand Tourers category, Gale and Michael Barton’s unique 1958 Bristol 406S earned the winner’s rosette. The 1938 Talbot-Lago T15 Cabriolet triumphed in the Riviera category—an elegant machine the writer would have gladly driven home in. Few cars could match the presence and grandeur of the 1936 Packard 12, originally owned by Charlie Chaplin and now part of the Jack Boyd Smith Collection in the United States; it was a fitting recipient of the Chairman’s Choice award.
Photos by David Clark and Milton Laarman
Published:
Friday July 11th, 2025
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