Committee Members

John Nirenstein - Chairman
A car nut since birth, John restored his first car in 1972 while working at Gene’s Chevron on the Miracle Mile in San Anselmo. Since then he has owned, restored and sold many cars. After leaving a 20 year career in Silicon Valley he is now pursuing his dream of restoring collectible automobiles full-time. He has attended and shown cars in countless shows over the last 30 years and has a broad spectrum of interest. He is currently a member of the Chrysler 300 Club, The Kaiser Frazer Owners Club, The AACA, and a former member of the Porsche Club of America and CORSA. He has two great kids and lives in Tiburon. His business, Phoenix Restorations is located at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

N. Gary Cohen
As a little boy I was fascinated with the art of designing cars. Concours d’Elegance worthy cars have a style, elegance and sophistication that is unsurpassed. Growing up I watched my father fix his cars, and worked on them along side him as I grew up. I dreamt that one day I would own the most beautiful, exotic car in the world. Over the years I have visited and participated in many Concours events. Today, having lived my goals, I am filled with a drive to share my passion for classic cars with a new generation of car aficionados.

N. Gary Cohen
Former Owner and CEO of Golden Gate Electronics, Digital World, Golden Bay Sports, City Sports, Okidoke USA. Currently associated with Golden Restoration and Construction, Commercial and Residential Development and Remodeling in Marin County. Successful Entrepreneur, Marketer, and Business Developer.

Brian Douglas
Brian has driven everything with wheels during his career in the automotive technical, marketing and journalism professions. Following a management career in the automotive business, Brian operated his own repair business for ultra luxury cars. Then he began reporting on the automotive business on radio, television and in print. Brian is an automotive contributor for KGO and KQED radio and automotive editor for Gentry and Ranch & Coast magazines. Douglas has served as an honorary judge at Palo Alto, Hillsborough and Ironstone concours. His work can be found at www.autoeditor.com

David Devlin
Professional: Certified Mortgage Consultant with All California Mortgage, Larkspur, CA. 29 years in Mortgage Banking/Managed Mortgage Groups for Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank. President of The Americana Commemorative Co…. designs, produces and markets Americana theme gift items.

Automotive: Member of Buick Club of America, Member National Woodie Club, Member Santa Cruz Woodies. Have written articles for the national magazines of the Buick Club, National Woodie Club, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Own one, of only six known to still exist … 1952 Buick Super Estate Wagon with 3 Speed Manual Transmission. Have been an official “Car Nut” from the age of 13 years.

Alan Spencer
Having grown up as a car fan in England, Alan has a strong grounding in the history of European cars and their manufacturers. Since moving to the United States 30 years ago, he has broadened his knowledge to include American classics. He has owned several classic cars, and enjoys adding to his collection of automobilia. For 20 years, he has judged at Bay Area SCCA Concours d’Elegance, and he was involved in developing the judging guidelines for the Marin Sonoma Concours. Now in retirement from his career in IT, he is associated with a fellow enthusiast in a service that provides classic vehicles as props for photographers, filmmakers, and event planners in the Bay Area.

Michael Mackintosh
I was fortunate to have been brought up in a household where my mother and father both enjoyed old cars. They allowed me to have a car at home and I kept one around the corner before I could legally drive. The first engine I removed was from a supercharged Cord. I was 12 and it almost broke my arm. At 14, I bought my first car, a 1940 Ford Woody Wagon. By the time I was 15, I had painted and crudely restored my Woody and rebuilt a 1956 Continental. My driver’s license brought a whole new aspect to cars; with muscle under my pedal I tried modifications to cars and motorcycles. Multiple carburetors, cams, posi, it could all go faster; the need was speed Then came the tickets which helped me find my roots, of fine classic cars. There is no greater thrill then driving a car with power steering by your arm strength, with the sound of straight cut gears, and with the hope of mechanical brakes; hold on.

With the CCCA we toured the Sierras and the Pacific North West in a 745 Packard Phaeton. Instead of tools in our trunk we carried diapers for our son and blankets on the floor for our daughters.

When I think of thrills, I think of having that 745 Phaeton sliding sideways above the cliffs by Bernie Falls or trying to engage the supercharger on a 1929 Mercedes and see the floor boards float past me in the air exposing the screaming pavement below my feet. Cars are to be enjoyed!

But of all the cars that have come and gone, there was one that I wrapped my slinky around and cried. It is pictured above, a 1931 Chrysler Dual Cowl Phaeton. I was only four at the time.

Each car has unique sounds, smells, feels, and style. So enjoy your ride; it is the best one there is. Just grab your family and turn your key; the world is beneath your wheels.

Steve Bajor

Production Manager
CEO – Pacific Expositions, Mill Valley, CA

Senior Partner – Team Pro Event, Inc.. Mill Valley, CA

Steve Bajor jumpstarted his Event Management career in 1970, creating and producing the first Whole Earth Festival at Davis, CA. While with the Peace Corps in Africa from 1971-1973, Bajor designed and developed the trapezoidal brick, changing construction in West Africa. Closer to home Steve developed, produced and directed the Sausalito Art Festival 1978-1982. During this time he also developed and produced Huey Lewis & the News and other Marin based music groups. Bajor introduced and pioneered the sport of Windsurfing to the mainland United States along with producing the United States World Cup, 1984-1986. He pioneered Snowboarding in the Western United States, 1987-1988. Bajor has created and produced hundreds of Community Cultural Events both Locally and Regionally from 1990 to 2011.

Steve Bajor, a Marin Native, has designed and produced more significant Marin County based events than any other individual or company between 1975 and 2011. He was presented the “Milley Award” for “contributions to the creative life of Mill Valley,” by the City of Mill Valley in 2009. Steve Bajor’s priority schedule for upcoming 2011 will be spent managing or producing over eight events for non-profit clients, including: The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, The Marin Home & Garden Expo, and The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival as well as three independently owned events.

Steve has been “Car Crazy” since the age of eight. In the late 50’s and early 60’s he built over 20 prize winning model cars, capturing the coveted “Best in Show” at the 1961 Bennett’s Variety Store Model Car Competition in Mill Valley. He won the Unlimited Class Slot Car Championship, Playland at the Beach, in 1964. In the early Eighties, Steve designed marketed the “Vanguard Air Dam.” This product improved the ride and handling of Type 1 VW’s. Bajor has personally rebuilt over two dozen engines, restored 18 Autos and Motorcycles, and repaired over 1,100 vehicles between 1974 and 2003.

Mogens Bach

As a kid back in my native Denmark, I was always taking my toy cars apart and putting them back together again to see how they were made and if I could master the machine. I built many model car and airplanes, and when old enough, tinkered with real ones. My first “wheels” were the three on an old Messerschmidt. Then I moved up to a 1938 MG-TA, which I restored into a very presentable automobile. Over the years I have also had a Triumph TR4, a Jaguar E Type, and an MGB, all indicators of my lasting love affair with British cars and what the Brits call motoring. My latest restoration was an Austin-Healey 100-BN2 that I enjoyed for many years. Over the years I have participated in many rally’s and classic car shows, and help establish the Tiburon Classic Car Show. After owning and running a construction management and development firm for the past 34 years, I am semi-retired and finally have the time to devote to my favorite hobby, Cars!

Bob Capurro has been working on cars, since he was 13 years old, rebuilding his first Model A at age 14. He helped build, and drove his own Dragster before the age of 21.

His passion and love for the automobile started a career that spanned thirty five years in the automotive parts distributing business. Bob helped to Pioneer the car-quest franchise, a buyers group, which is now throughout the United States.

Bob has owned a variety of classic cars over the years, presently owns a 1937 Cadillac LaSalle, two door convertible. Bob helped produce the San Anselmo Car show in 2007 and 2008 with his high school friends, Lorry Azevedo, Will Costa, Tony Damato, Eddie De Masistri, Bernie Del Santo, Larry Galetti, Marty Marcucci and Marvin Giambastiani. Bob has also helped in other car shows and events, recently working on the 100 year celebration for Larkspur. For many years Bob has helped his friends and acquaintances’ in buying and selling classic cars. He enjoys helping them find car parts they need and are having trouble finding. Bob’s 35 years of experience in the auto parts business has helped him to help his friends. He is a community spirited person and likes to work with the same kind of people.

Bob states, ” I was asked by Greenbrae Car show to expand the space and do the staging of the cars. This event, in September of every year, shows cars on the sidewalk throughout the shopping center only. They contacted me to have the North Bay Car Committee stage the car show and expand it into the parking lot. We sold out earlier than the date of event and it had great response from car owners who wanted to be invited back next year and we expect to double the show next year. The North Bay Car Committee is working on three different event projects to serve the community, and has been staging the cars for the Marin Sonoma Concours de Elegance since it’s inception.”

Pete Herley

Automotive: As a classic car enthusiast, I am delighted to be involved on Planning Committee of this Concours for the benefit of Hospice. I “cut my teeth” on a slow ’53 Chevy in high school and “upgraded” to an even slower ’57 Volkswagen I drove during my college days. After college, during my years in law enforcement, I found I could afford better cars. My dream, however, always was to own an older classic Corvette. Finally, prior to retiring from my 35-year law enforcement career (the last 14 as the Chief of Police in Tiburon, CA), I acquired my dream car – my ’67 Corvette. It’s been a continuous process of “improving” it over the years – a source of great satisfaction. I’m also a proud member of the North Bay Corvette Association (NBCA).

Professional/Personal: Professionally, though retired since 2001, I continue to consult in public and private industry, providing guidance to both administrators and managers. I serve on the University of San Francisco’s advisory board for its criminal justice program. I am also an “emeritus” member of the Board of the California Police Chiefs Association, having been its President prior to retirement.

My wife, Susan, and I have lived in San Rafael for the past 24-years, where we raised our two fine sons. I’m proud to be able to assist various non-profit organizations, particularly Hospice. My family and I have had personal experience gratefully using Hospice’s unique services and are well-aware of the important work it does.

Gary O. Phillips heads DZH Phillips’s Management Consulting Group, and is a partner in DZH Phillips LLP, a San Francisco based CPA firm,. He recently retired as a 12 year San Rafael City Councilman. During that time, he and Al Boro, the Mayor of San Rafael, participated in the cross country Great Race (driving his restored 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe). The race started in Philadelphia with 103 antique and historic vintage cars, including one driven by the Concours’ Chairman, Charlie Goodman, and ended in San Rafael for most of the participants – those not breaking down on the over 4000 mile trip.

In college, he was the proud owner of a 1959 Corvette, and to this day enjoys one of the Concours’ marques – a restored 1968 Corvette with an original, matching numbers 427. Also, he owns and enjoys a British sports car. He is an avid “old car” enthusiast and he is a member of the North Bay British Car Club and the North Bay Corvette Association He has attended many Concours’ events and looks forward to the Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance as one that will bring remarkable cars to an appreciative audience.

Stephanie Dunn is the owner and CEO of .Ink [mgmt], a communications and publishing project management company based in Sonoma County. Ms. Dunn also serves as publisher of The iS Collection, a magazine focusing on insights, whims, impromptu replies, issues of little moment, subjects that shouldn’t be touched and those that should, rogues, assassins, flights of fancy and elements of the novel. Plus she’s got a thing for fine automobiles. (wink)

Mark Essman

Mark has been an automotive enthusiast since he can remember. Over the years, his professional background in event promotion has allowed him to assist in managing a number of automotive events including several Americruise Events, The Hot Rod Power Tour, Car Craft Summer Nationals, the Nifty Fifties, Midwest Motion Tour, and the Summer of Chrome. Mark has also had the pleasure of working with Motor Media Inc at numerous SEMA shows, the ultimate auto feast.

Mark’s car collection has ranged from European makes including Porsche and Mercedes, to street rods, to slalom cars, to drag cars, including numerous muscle cars, and custom restorations. He is almost finished restoring a 1966 Chevy Nova, a five year-project, and just completed a customized Harley Davidson as well.

Chris Chase

The term “auto enthusiast” cannot even begin to describe Chris Chase’s love of cars. His first job while still in high school was detailing cars at a San Rafael car lot. Chris has a particular affinity for vintage vehicles, having owned many over the years that have been up to 20 years his senior, including three Oldsmobiles from the fifties. He currently owns a 1970 Mercury Marquis convertible.

Having spent many summers on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, Chris’s love of fine vehicles also includes classic wooden boats such as those featured in the annual Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance. After attending the event for years, he not only participated in the Lake Tahoe Concours, but brought home a 2nd place trophy for his 1957 Shepherd “Splendido.”

Geoff Smith – Tour d’Elegance

Geoff was born and raised in Kensington, CA just north of Berkeley. A car nut from a very early age, his first car was a 57 Corvette, right out of high school (El Cerrito, 1964). He learned to do everything himself mechanically from need and for enjoyment. There were many interesting cars over the years including a Turbo Corvair, a Jaguar XJ6 with a 327 Chevy, an XKE and lately many Corvettes. Geoff autocrosses, does HPDE with NASA and shows his Cadillac in local shows. In fact, he won his class in the inaugural Marin Sonoma Concours with his 1957 Eldorado Brougham. Geoff is very passionate about automobiles. It is very gratifying for him to be able to turn this passion towards raising money for charity.

Professionally, Geoff is from a family of carpenters going back many generations. He started with his father at the age of 18 building houses in the east bay. Many houses later both for clients and his family, Geoff still enjoys working with wood whether it is building toy cars for his grandchildren (the Rocking Racer Series) or adding new bathroom and a garage to his current home in San Rafael. He still is involved in real estate through his corporation, Eldorado Investors. A loving wife, 3 daughters and 8 (9 soon!) grandchildren make Geoff a happy old guy. It is his fervent wish to make the word “geezer” a term of endearment.