MICROCAR NEWS Online

The Hilton Head Island Concours once again had a MICROCARS class (thanks to J.C.O’Steen).
Invited participants included:

1938 American Bantam Boulevard Delivery -owner: Mark & Hilary Becker
1940 Bantam Riviera – owner: Buster & Brenda Tankersley
1952 Crosley Super Sport – owner: Ken Cahill
1954 Rovin D4 - owner: Lane Motor Museum
1956 BMW Isetta Bubble Window cabrio – owner: J.C. O’Steen
1957 BMW Isetta – owner: Frank Rabino Collection
1958 Messerschmitt KR201 – owner: Mac Jones
1959 New Map Solyto – owner: Lane Motor Museum
1960 FMR Tg500 – owner: Ralph & Wendy Hough
1960 Messerschmitt KR200 – owner: Buster & Brenda Tankersley

Best of Class went to Ken Cahill’s Crosley Super Sport
Palmetto Awards went to Mac Jones’ KR201 and Frank Rabino Collection’s BMW Isetta

As more Microcars are being restored to a higher standard and they are getting recognized by more automotive enthusiasts and collectors, expect to see more Vintage Microcars at Concours events across the USA in the future.

photo by Mike Harrell

Mike Harrell’s 1980-era KV won the coveted WORST OF SHOW at this year’s first ConcoursD’Lemons in Montery CA.

The Concours D’Lemons celebrates “The Oddball, Mundane and truly Awful of the Automotive World”

Mike had no idea what “class” was going to be registered in originally, but when he signed up the car he was eligible for:

• Umitigated Gaul, 1970-current
• Oil Burners
• Ass-Engine Sled, Non-Hessian

“I could only dream of winning such special awards as “Most Dangerous” or the doubtless highly coveted “WTF??? Award“ said Mike before the show, “I had a shot at “Most Effluent” but the local emissions facilities will only examine vehicles which are required to be tested under state law and the KV is exempt. Just as well, I suppose.”

What put Mike’s car over the top is its drive system which is “unique” to say the least.

click for larger image

The wheels are free-rolling but driven by a pair of stone cylinders pressing against them. Working much like the capstans in a cassette player, the stone capstan drive looks bizarre and even more bizarre is that it works!

The KV Mini was built in France by the same company that turned out the Rolux and the Solyto, but the market for this car was elderly people who were unable to deal with the formalities of a driver’s test. Power to the rear wheels comes from a mighty 125cc single cylinder 2-stroke motor. Top speed is an alledged 34 mph.

“It’s just an awfully, awful, awful French two-stroke car,” said Alan Galbraith, organizer of the show.

Congratulations Mike!

The 2008 Hilton Head Island Concours D’elegance featured a MICROCARS specific class this year
In attendance were examples of Messerschmitt Tg500, Messerschmitt KR200, Mochet Velocar, IOTA, Peel P50, Zündapp Janus, FIAT Jolly, Vespa 400, BMW Isetta 250, Berkeley and Scootacar MK2.

There were also a pair of Crosleys in another catagory: Outstanding Orphans.
(This was primarily because the “Microcars” class was featuring European Microcars and the Orphans class was featuring American Orphans, otherwise they would have been in the Microcars class)

David Anspach's Crosey HotShot won an award in another catagory.

Palmetto Awards went to Janice & Larry Newberry’s FIAT Jolly and to Kerry and Linda Erendson’s Scootacar MK 2. Best of Class went to Jim Garbo’s Messerschmitt KR200.

Although NORMALLY exhibitors are required to stay until 4pm for the benefit of those who paid to get in to see the cars, the weather turned to light rain in mid-afternoon and anyone who wanted to leave the grounds around 2pm did not get any resistance from officials. Otherwise it was a gorgeous event.
Because the turnout was so good, it is possible that the Microcars Class will become a regular class at this Concours D’elegance.

More info on this and other Concours events around the country in a future issue of MICROCAR NEWS magazine.

[UPDATE] Hilton Head Island Concours has posted a GALLERY of the winners this year.
Click the MICROCARS section to view the 3 winners, also click the ORPHANS section to see the winning Crosley.

Looking for the 2009 Hilton Head Island Concours winners for Microcars Class? Click Here

Vintage Microcars have started becoming a “must have” at Concours d’Elegance events since 1996 when Pebble Beach made a separate catagory for them and invited a number of owners to show their cars that year.

Amelia Island Concours also had a Microcar catagory in 2006 and smaller Concours events around the country appear to have taken a cue from this and decided that “it’s OK” to have Microcars at Concours events. The Milwaukee “MASTERPIECE” has had at least one Microcar in their show for the past few years and will continue to do so in 2008, Hilton Head Concours also featured Microcars in 2007.

This year the Forest Grove Concours in Portland OR had two Microcars; an Isetta owned by Phil Richardson and a Messerschmitt KR200 owned by Mark Hatten. Read more coverage of the event at the NEWS TIMES

more coverage of Mark’s Messerschmitt at the Concours is HERE