The 12th Annual Colorado Grand was held September 11-14, with this year’s rally through the majestic “western range” of the Colorado Rockies playing host to over 83 historically significant racecars, sports cars and tourers. This year’s event was significant in that it was the first since the death of the event’s founder, Bob Sutherland, in November of ’99.
As has become tradition, the event started with registration and a welcoming dinner at “The Charter” hotel in Beaver Creek. In the absence of its founder, a “guest host” will be selected at all future events. This year’s host was Steve Earle.
The first three days of driving took participants through some of the most breathtaking areas of the Colorado Rockies, including Crested Butte, Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, Telluride and Durango. Each day included unique lunchtime stops such as a home-cooked lunch in the Ridgeway city park and first class accommodations at places like the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Grand Junction.
The fourth and final day contained the most beautiful fall colors of the event and started by the participants passing through the rugged western town of Silverton, up over the “Million Dollar Highway,” across Red Mountain and down a dauntingly steep, winding and narrow grade into the hot springs resort town of Ouray. Lunch was hosted in the new and very hospitable location of Paonia. The gorgeous afternoon drive that awaited the drivers and their copilots took them through Somerset (scene of bitter coal miner/union wars in the recent past), over McLure Pass, into Glenwood Springs (the burial place of Doc Holliday), and back onto I-70 for the return trip to Beaver Creek and the finishing banquet followed by the “Concours NON-de elegance” held on the hotel lawn Saturday morning before departure.
All in all, this year’s Colorado Grand was filled with fun, friendship, fine old cars and a fitting tribute to a man who is and will continue to be sorely missed by all who love cars and driving them. (See this month’s Photo Gallery pg. 38 for more)
Submitted by Bob Dunsmore
