By Bill Stansbeary
Following a flyby, Jack Wilhite, Red Storm Air Shows, LLC, waves from the cockpit of a two-seat MiG-17 painted in the colors of the Russian Air Force “Red Falcons” jet demonstration team.
The 3rd annual 2005 Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance featured an incredible static display of aircraft as well as collectible, rare, vintage and exotic automobiles, a flyover, silent and live auctions, live music, cocktails and food from some the area’s finest restaurants and caterers.
The event was held on August 27, at the Denver jetCenter and Mayo Aviation hangers at Centennial Airport. Gary Shapiro, Channel 9, and Matt Iseman from E! Entertainment Television were the co-hosts.
This year’s event was marked with a note of sadness, as one of the original event cofounders and organizers, 28-year-old Brett Derosier, was killed in a tragic airplane accident that took place on approach to Centennial Airport on August 13. Derosier loved rare and exotic cars and planes, and thought a combination of both could be used for a good purpose.
Joan Slaughter and husband Steven Adams founded the Morgan Adams Foundation in 2003 to improve the quality of life and survival rate of children diagnosed with pediatric cancer. The foundation, which has raised over $650,000 for pediatric cancer research at The Children’s Hospital and elsewhere, was inspired by the memory of their daughter, Morgan, who died at the age of 6, in 1998, after developing a brain tumor.
“Although Brett Derosier never met Morgan, he dived into the event,” Slaughter said. “It speaks of Brett’s character. He was passionately dedicated to the things we’re doing.”
The event committee conducted a live and silent auction that included aircraft and automobile rides, and travel and lodging packages. Special events included a 2005 Morgan Adams Media Challenge, an exciting remote control car race among Denver media representatives, event sponsors and entrants, alongside patients from The Children’s Hospital Cancer Center. The event participants helped light up life in the fast lane toward a cure for cancer.
For more information, visit [http://www.morganadamsfoundation.org].
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- Nicholas and Brook Dodgson, from Cheyenne, Wyo., in their 1930 British Morgan Super Sports Aero Cyclecar three-wheeler, in front of a 1945 British Supermarine Spitfire MKIX.
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- Taking top honors were flight crewmembers from the “Yellow Rose” B-25 Squadron, Midland, Texas. CAF colonels in front row, L to R: Greg Young, Dave Howard and Mike Francis; in rear row, Ron Dietes, Julie Pulcipher, Bob Gardner, Grant Lannon and Jim Liles.
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- Roland Linder and Kristina Lauren greet participants at the Concours d’Elegance, near two Ferrari F40 supercars, with stunning looks and tarmac-ripping performance.
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- The nose art on the B-25 “Yellow Rose” represents the most widely used American medium bomber of WWII.
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- Volunteers in a 1912 Renault Towncar shown at the Concours d’Elegance by Steve Arnold and Sharon Walsh. A $265,000 replica of this type vehicle was in the movie, “Titanic.”