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Lovers of classic cars compare their Bentleys in Agoura Hills
James Glover II / Star staff Ed Gehringer of San Clemente, left, and David Johnston of Canyon Lake talk in front of their Bentleys at an event sponsored by World Class Motoring Saturday in Agoura Hills.
Will, an 8-year-old Boxer, sits in his owner Ed Gehringer's 1993 Bentley Brooklands during a meeting of the Bentley Drivers Club in Agoura on Saturday.
The lineup of British cars in the parking lot of the World Class Motoring automotive store in Agoura Hills on Saturday was a dream come true for 16-year-old Westin Yacoobian.
The teen watched in awe as drivers parked several Bentleys side by side in the parking lot at the store where he works.
While some of the cars may have been built long before Yacoobian was even born, the San Fernando Valley teen still knew enough about them to know they were in a league of their own.
"I personally like the new Bentley. It's everything you want in a car. It has style and class. The older Bentleys are the epitome of elegance," Yacoobian said.
He was one of many car aficionados of all ages who checked out the vehicles owned by members of the Bentley Drivers Club West Region at an event sponsored by World Class Motoring.
The store, which opened in December on Chesebro Road, sells rare and unique car products and accessories. It has also become a popular gathering place for touring car groups, such as the Bentley group.
While only a few Bentleys were at the event, many owners of other classic British cars, such as an Aston Martin DB7 and a 1954 Austin-Healy, were there.
Ventura resident Tom Beard said he came to the event because he is a big fan of cars in general, but really wanted to see the Bentleys.
"You don't see them that often on the road so I wanted to see them here. They're a big piece of British car history," Beard said.
Oliver Roman, an 11-year-old San Fernando resident who also helps out in the store, checked out the detail of a 1950 Mark VI Bentley owned by David and Marie Johnston of Riverside. The Mark VI, produced from 1946 to 1952, was the first post-war luxury car from Bentley.
"This car is amazing. I like the Bentleys. They look really cool," Roman said.
Parked alongside the Mark VI was a 2007 Bentley Continental GT convertible owned by Perry and Peggi Hirsch from Los Angeles.
Ed Gehringer and his wife, Marge Sosa, of San Clemente also brought their 1993 Bentley Brookland to the event. Their boxer dog, Will, sat in the back of the Brookland, which cost more than $200,000 new.
"It's nice going to these events because you can share stories about your car and learn about other cars," Gehringer said. "I really like English cars and the history of the Bentleys and its racing lineage."
Jeff Perlman, who helped organize the event for World Class Motoring, said while the store hosts many events for different car enthusiasts, it is not often you get cars representing British technology and design from the 1950s to today in one spot. He said the gathering at Saturday's event showed there are motoring enthusiasts in the area who like to see these kinds of cars.
"You get one or two really good cars and it's like bees to honey. Some of these cars are absolute works of art," Perlman said.





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