Here, at last, is a concours with a difference. The 13th annual Glenmoor Gathering will feature "Cadillac: Standard of the World" and "Alternative Fuel Vehicles: a 100 Year Retrospective" from September 14-16 at the Glenmoor Country Club near Canton, Ohio. What caught my eye was the alternative fuel vehicles concept, for North America needs to be reminded that inventors long toiled to produce automobiles that were clean, quiet, and not tied to the oil producers. Now, finally, the world is awakening to that reality.

Aside from the alternates, over 210 invitation-only cars will be present, with special displays of 1932 Fords, vintage travel and camping trailers, and "the Class of '57," a grouping of classics from one of the most flamboyant years in automotive design. Sounds like fun but much attention will be drawn to the electrically-powered 1911 Rauch & Lang Limousine originally owned by Thomas Edison (above). Little known is the fact that Edison and his close friend Henry Ford both believed the future lay in battery-powered cars; Ford was more interested in manufacturing electrics than his vaunted Model T.

Two things conspired to prevent that happening: (1) Intense competition from the Electric Storage Battery Company, a mis-named monopoly that had allied itself with the internal combustion combine and (2) WW1, with an immediate demand for thousands of vehicles that were reliable, easily-refueled, provided adequate power and range, and were ready for manufacture. To wit, the internal combustion engine. Regardless, I believe the Edison car is more significant than any of the million-dollar-plus beauties that will strut their stuff at other car shows this summer.