By land or by sea, the seventh annual Wheels & Keels Antique and Exotic Car and Boat Show at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club last weekend was a big hit with attendees.
The first hole of the golf course was the perfect setting for exhibitors to show off rare cars, while the Indian River Lagoon provided a beautiful backdrop for pristine classic boats and luxury yachts. The event has taken on a life of its own, growing rapidly over the course of the past seven years.
“We started with four guys in the parking lot,” said Wheels & Keels Foundation President Gavin Ruotolo. “We got the wheels and the keels because we could do cars and boats here at the Moorings. We’re trying to find a way to get planes, too. Maybe next year.”
The event kicked off with a Friday evening cocktail party, dinner and auctions at the Moorings Club, where representatives from the show’s four nonprofit beneficiaries gave brief presentations about their programs and the impact the Wheels and Keels Foundation has made on them.
Proceeds from this year’s show will benefit The Arc of Indian River County, Vero Beach Rowing, the Navy SEAL Trident House and Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County.
“We started this way back in 2011 and we had about 30 cars in the parking lot. We thought that was the cat’s meow. We’ve taken off, and our organization is now a foundation. We support four really good groups with solid programs,” shared George O’Malley, foundation treasurer.
On Saturday spring winds kept the rain at bay, offering up ideal weather for the more than 700 visitors, who perused everything from the Navy SEAL Museum’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (Humvee) to a 1931 Packard 833 convertible coupe.
Car and boat exhibitors and enthusiasts came from all over Florida to get a look at the classic, sport, exotic and antique cars, boats and luxury yachts on display. The event featured more than 90 American and European cars, roughly 15 trailered classic boats and nearly 10 Huckins Yachts docked at the marina.
“We have a 1958 Westland, one of two in the world, a McLaren, Porsche GT3 and a 1928 Model T Ford,” said O’Malley.
Vero Beach resident Juan Prieto brought his 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Super Sports Roadster out for the day; at 132.9 mph, it was once the fastest production car in the world.
There was also a 1962 Lotus 7 that had raced in three countries and a 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 MK that laid claim to movie credits from “Flipper,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Bay Watch.”
Collectors were also pleased to discuss their classic boats, where the wood had been polished to a high sheen on craft bearing names like Skidaddle, Nauti Boy and Past Fast, giving a hint into the personalities of the vessels and their owners. It was a rare treat to step aboard several custom Huckins classics; the builder launched its first yacht in 1928.
To round out the afternoon lunch was served al fresco, Cocktail Class Boat Racing demonstrations took place, and about 30 trophies were awarded for Best in Class and Excellence.
For more information visit WKVero.com.
