Grand Marshal Clive Cussler

We are very excited to announce that this yea'rs Grand Marshal will be the Grand Master of the American action adventure novel, Clive Cussler. Cussler grew up in Alhambra, California. He later attended Pasadena City College for two years, but then enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War, where he served as an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer in the Military Air Transport Service.

Upon his discharge, he became a copywriter and later creative director for two of the nation's leading ad agencies. At that time, he wrote and produced radio and television commercials that won numerous international awards.

Cussler began writing in 1965 and published his first novel featuring Dirk Pitt in 1973. Since then, Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries with a readership of more than 125 million avid fans.

Cussler doesn't just write about adventure, he lives it. He is the founder the National Underwater & Marine Agency, (NUMA) a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to American maritime and naval history. Cussler and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered over 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites. After verifying their finds, NUMA turns the rights to the artifacts over to non-profits, universities, or government entities all over the world.

Some of these finds include the C.S.S. Hunley, best known as the first submarine to sink a ship in battle; the Housatonic, the ship the Hunley sank; the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, Texas; and the remains of the Carpathia, the valiant ship that braved icebergs to rescue the survivor's of the Titanic.

A noted collector of classic automobiles, Cussler owns 85 of the finest examples of custom coachwork and 50's convertibles to be found anywhere. They are garaged near Golden, Colorado.

Please join us in welcoming this American icon to the 15th Annual Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance.

Master of Ceremonies Keith Martin

Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than thirty years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world.

He founded the monthly Sports Car Market magazine twenty years ago, and it has developed into the authoritative informed voice of the collector car hobby.

Noted for his onstage wit, warmth and deep knowledge of collectible cars, Martin has been an MC at Pebble Beach, the Meadow Brook Concours, the Kirkland Concours, the Sun River Festival of Cars and the Forest Grove Concours among others. This will be his second year as MC of Keels and Wheels.

Board of Directors

Bob Fuller, Chairman
Paul Merryman, Co-Chairman
Gary Anderson, President
Laura Power, Secretary Ken Dougherty
Tom Taylor
Galen Buisson
Jerry Gauche
Dave Clayton
Guy Mc Collum
Dean Rietz

Advisory Board

Jeff Broadus, Publisher Car Collector Magazine
Charles Bronson, Boulevard Motorcar Co.
Frank Campanale, Judge/Collector
Randy Cox, Judge/Restorer
Rod Egan, World Wide Auctioneers
Jon Kruse, World Wide Auctioneers
Terry Fiest, Chris Craft Club; Chmn. Mt. Dora
Keith Martin, Publisher Sports Car Market Magazine
Lou Rauh, Antique Boat Center
Greg Riley, Correspondent
Bob Smith, Coachworks
Don Sommer, Founder Meadowbrook Concours
Alan Taylor, Alan Taylor Co.

Judges

Honorary Chief Judge Bill Warner, Founder Chairman of Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Honorary Shelby Judge Bruce Reckard, Owner of BC Classics
Chief Duesenberg Judge Mathew Short, Director of the ACD Museum