Riverside, California’s Benedict Castle is a rather unusual and very unique venue for a car show, a “concours” in this instance, and for any first-time visitors, the place really grabs your attention! First built in the 1920s for Charles W. Benedict, it is a real-live “castle” as it features a 90-foot tower that features a spiraling staircase all the way to the top, all done in Spanish-Moorish architecture (stucco over adobe brick).
The entire structure is some 10,000 square-feet in overall size and walking around the place, all the visuals provides a very “black & white old movie” flavor about it! In fact, over the years and going back a long ways, there were movies made there (including The Bride of Frankenstein from 1935) which adds to the historical aspect of the place, which is spread out over 14.5 acres of lush green grass and hills.
Benedict Castle is now considered a Cultural Heritage Landmark and home to the SoCal Teen Challenge (founded in 1958), a place for setting young people free from drug and alcohol addiction. This event was the 10th annual concours car show which was originated by the automotive passion of Nicole Meguiar (1969-2019), who was a fourth generation member of the Meguiar’s car-car family.
For the story we were able to access the very top of the 90-foot castle tower and take in the views of the San Bernardino Mountains, with the City of Loma Linda in the foreground. Just to the right of this angle is where the famous Riverside International Raceway was located in the then Sunnymead / Edgemont area of Riverside County (track operational from September 1957 – July 1989).
The Gala and Art Auction activities took place to a packed crowd and there was lots to see and hear! Led by Mike Brewer from Wheeler Dealers, never a dull moment or lull in the entertaining presentation, and Barry Meguiar told the history of the concours and well as his involvement in the Teen Challenge. Chip Foose, Stewart Reed, Corky Coker, SEMA’s Mike Spagnola, Don and Christine Nicholson were all part of the presentation, it was leading up to the introduction of this year’s Grand Marshal, Mr. Peter Brock.
With wife Gayle telling stories and doing a few paragraphs of the upcoming book on the life of designer Peter Brock, Mr. Brock spoke and had a lot of passion and with true emotion of the night’s activities. A great guy to say the least and so much in his industry background, including his latest ventures, one of being the Aerovault car trailers (which was displayed on the grounds). An exciting gala to be remembered by all in attendance!
In the early morning hours of the concours, Meguiar’s provided a professional “Quick Clean Service” for a fee, with trained staff and Teen Challenge students cleaning, detailing registered display vehicles with a focus on paint, glass and wheels. It must have worked as this 2021 Challenger Hellcat Redeye earned an “Award of Excellence” by the show judges!
Plymouth Superbirds have been long-time favorites of NASCAR aficionados and Mopar muscle car fanatics and this beautifully-restored B5 Blue-hued, 440 4-speed example was rewarded with a Top Ten Award from the judging team.
Very well detailed, these restored, factory-appearing winged Mopars remain vehicles that always have a crowd of uninformed around them and with plenty of questions of “why?”
The “why” was to win on the NASCAR race tracks, and it was June 14, 1970, when Richard Petty took his Plymouth Superbird to victory at the Falstaff 400 NASCAR Cup Race at Riverside International Raceway (which was located 6.2 miles from the Benedict Castle), having led 149 of the 153 laps that day. Yes, it was all about winning!
Turbine Bronze Metallic (MM1) paint, black vinyl top, black bumble bee, Redline rubber, HEMI engine, a nice option combination for a 1968 Dodge Charger! And for the 211 buyers that marked down the 426 engine mated to the A-833 4-speed, it was $792.80 added to the cost of the car. “68426RT” a rather cool personalized license plate to add icing on the cake!
1971 model year saw a completely newly styled Dodge Charger, still considered a B-body, and continued “Coke Bottle” design albeit with some different dimensions, 2-inch shorter wheelbase, 2.5-inch wider body, along with a more slippery angled (58-degree) windshield.
In addition, the new shape included hidden windshield wipers, ventless side glass and split front bumper grille design. The pictured ’73 version has received a performance-built 440 Magnum and modern aluminum 5-spoke wheels, it’s a fine example of a well-detailed 3rd generation big block Charger!
In attendance at the show were two beautiful third-generation ‘Cudas! 1971, the 2nd model year of the E-body Barracuda line, saw the switch to four headlights, a newly designed grille, revised taillights with separate housing for brake/turn signal and back-up lights. Engine availability included nearly all the same powerplants, starting with 198-cid six and going all the way to the HEMI. The only exception this year was the 440-4bbl was no longer offered. Also. the AAR model was dropped.
Styling highlights of 1971 ‘Cuda models include the front fender “gills” and the availability of “billboard” side graphics. Both are one-year-only features and help make this model year immediately unique to the eye!
Purchased some years back by a woman school teacher, cars like this 1971 Dart Swinger were common place, everyday transportation cars, affordable and reliable! This original 318 car has been saved and kept on the road, scooped hood (functional) from a 340 model, as was a freshen-up small block are among the revisions, wider rear wheels and its got the Rim Blow three-spoke wheel. The flamed bumblebee adds some flash to its overall appearance!
Big disc brakes, QA1 tubular front suspension, torque boxes, 360 stroked to 408, Tremec TKX 5-speed, fully sorted 1970 Satellite wagon, a modernized Mopar long roof! Drip rails removed, tucked bumpers, a Rally Sport hood modification and 25 gallon custom fuel cell for long runs.
Walking the grounds saw this restored 1973 Dodge D100 (2-wheel drive) pickup, a 383 big block powers it and inside, the Custom Cab received a completely new “enhanced” presentation. Besides the wood-rimmed billet steering wheel, the upholstery shop added a pair of built-in cup holders in the bench seat and custom map holders on the doors. Nice touches!
The 383 big block was built as a practical street performer and with available power as needed. Aftermarket A/C added and the detailing is superb! Modern-era “kidney bean” styled aluminum wheels give the rig a subtle street rod look all the while not being too much on the “bling” side. Well done and with good taste.
A 1977 B200 (3/4-ton) “Surfer” customized Dodge van, done up with era-correct “boulevard cruiser” equipment from back in the day. Twin sunroofs, roof spoiler, bubble windows, custom interior and sound system, fiberglass wheel flairs and spoiler, chrome grille, sun visor, chromed side pipes, Cragar mags and even the obligatory Cobra 29 40-channel trucker CB radio!
This ’77 is the 1/2-ton D100 version, a rig that was purchased new and still owned by the original owner. It’s still retains the original blue with orange California license plates. It’s seen in excess of 300,000 miles driven and with a rebuild on the 318 engine, still going strong!
Walking the vast grounds of the Benedict Castle layout, we came across this vintage 1965 Dodge P200 commercial vehicle, often used by the United States Postal Service (or delivery fleets) and is a heavy-duty 3/4-ton 2WD truck that Dodge supplied as a rolling chassis to body-making builders such as Grumman.
Featuring heavy-duty suspension, 8-lug wheels and full-floating rear axles, these Mopar workhorses came with both Slant Six and V8 engines. The “Race to Grace” survivor P200 still is on the road, providing ice cream and fun times, now power comes from an updated 360-cid LA engine.
Camee Edelbrock serves as the Chairman of the Committee that organizes this annual Benedict Castle Concours and was in attendance at the recent 2026 gathering. While Edelbrock LLC was acquired by a private equity firm years ago, the brand Edelbrock is a sponsor of the Concours and here’s Camee with one of the latest products from the company named after her family (now part of the COMP Performance Group).
There was a gathering of HEMI-powered AA/FA (nitro Fuel Altereds) and an early dragster that performed fire-ups of their engines, with the nitromethane erupting with the distinct “cackle” sounds of the fuel exploding and shooting out the zoomie headers. It’s a true sensory experience!
Next year’s event already being planned and for those who’s never attended, it’s a place you want to be! Check out the details here: www.benedictcastleconcours.com
