The 10th annual Antique & Exotic Car & Boat Show hosted by the Wheels & Keels Foundation was held recently at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club with proceeds supporting organizations that improve residents’ lives through the preservation, conservation and appreciation of the Indian River Lagoon.

The two-day event kicked off Friday evening, when 220 guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a live auction and video presentations from the five featured nonprofits while dining on a delicious dinner in the Governor’s Lounge.

“We’re a foundation that focuses on the quality of life helping children and adults. The five charities that we are committed to basically do that very thing,” said Vincent DeTurris, Wheels & Keels Foundation vice president.

Auctioneer Wesley Davis said he was thrilled to be back in action, before reeling in bidders with the temptation of travel excursions, items related to the featured nonprofits, and a Bid from the Heart.

“It is so nice to be back to some semblance of normalcy,” said Davis, noting that the pandemic has disrupted lives for 13 months. “Everybody is finally feeling comfortable enough to come out from underneath their rock.”

He noted that while it was at this time last year that fundraisers such as this were canceled, what did not stop was the need for the charitable organizations to continue their work, and the expenses they continued to incur.

Each of the beneficiary nonprofits has a special connection to the Indian River Lagoon:

Vero Beach Rowing and the Youth Sailing Foundation teach young people how to row or sail while instilling discipline and an appreciation for our local waterways;
The Navy SEAL Trident House is a haven on the lagoon where SEALs and their families can recover from the ravages of war;
The Arc of Indian River County helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to earn money making oyster mats which filter water in the lagoon;
Lines in the Lagoon, the most recent addition to the lineup, is a youth-founded and run fishing tournament that raises awareness about the lagoon and develops younger environmental stewards.

On Saturday morning, Wheels & Keels teed up more than 100 American and foreign-made antique and exotic cars on the first hole of the Pete Dye Signature Golf Course with boats and yachts moored at the docks.

Car enthusiasts moseyed past the lineup of impressive automobiles, where Porsches, Jaguars and Corvettes gleamed in the sun alongside Austin Healey Roadsters, viewing the assortment of curvaceous chassis and enviable engines with delight.

DeTurris said that engines were revving up and boats were ready to drop anchor last year when the pandemic stopped them in their tracks, adding that this year’s event was one of the first major car shows in Florida. “People are excited to get back out there again and have some fun,” said DeTurris.

The impressive collection included a burnt orange 1927 Chevy Car Hauler Truck, a sassy gray and orange 1970 Fiat 500 Nuovo Jolly and a racy red Belair Nomad. Classic Woody Wagons, Nash Metropolitans and Buick Skylarks were showcased, along with a lemon-colored 1966 Dodge Charger hardtop, a 1915 Case Model 30R Touring car, a 1937 Cord Winchester Sedan and a seafoam green 1957 Chevy Cameo luxury pickup truck accessorized with a matching boat.

On the keel side, a 1976 Donzi and a 2009 teak and mahogany Canadian Fantail Electric boat were juxtaposed alongside a 2000 Odyssea wet submarine.

The afternoon culminated with a lecture by Cindy Purcell, granddaughter of the founder of Huckins Yachts, and a red-carpet award ceremony with 17 trophies for car and boat classes categorized by era and models.

For more information, visit wkvero.com.

Photos by Kaila Jones