Turtle Invitational - Where Cars & Community Come Together

Under crisp early autumn skies in Bedford, New York, the fifth Turtle Invitational unfolded across two main fields of Coker Farm, a working horse farm in the family for generations. Since the inception of the show in 2017, the event has grown into a carefully curated celebration of collector cars and the people who love them. It is a weekend defined as much by conversation and camaraderie as by the remarkable vehicles. 

If the cars are the draw, then the philanthropic mission is the engine. Profits from the Turtle Invitational support the Pray Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that continues the legacy of the late collector and community leader Malcolm Pray through the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center (MPAC). The Foundation programs use Malcolm’s entrepreneurial life story and the inspiration of great automobiles to teach young students tools for success.

The Turtle Invitational was designed as a biennial event—2017, 2019, 2021, 2023—culminating this fall in Turtle Invitational V. That cadence has helped the show maintain its “by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts” spirit, with each edition building on the last while keeping the weekend personal and community driven. 

Curation is central to the invitational personality. The Turtle Invitational is not another crowded stop on the concours circuit; it’s a selective gathering where accepted vehicles share equal billing with their owners’ stories. The result is a unique atmosphere that invites questions, rewards curiosity, and keeps the barriers low between icons and onlookers. This is a weekend to see old friends and make new ones, and the field is intentionally assembled to make that happen. 

This capped with a series of thoughtfully curated awards honoring craftsmanship, preservation, and passion at this year’s show. Awards honoring a wide range of special friends and their cars: ranging from an impeccably presented 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special, to a beautifully maintained 1960 Corvette, 1938 SS100, all the way to a standout 1953 Austin Healey, a striking 1972 Opel GT, an elegant 1953 XK120, and finally a 1957 Maserati 450S, highlighting both the car’s racing pedigree and its superb presentation on the lawn. 

That community first ethos is reflected further in who we bring on as sponsors. Our primary sponsors, also carefully curated; Hollow Brook Wealth Management and 1600 Veloce, a Premier Vintage Car Dealer, are more friends and family than business engagements. 

Hollow Brook Wealth Management—whose president, Philip Richter, founded the Invitational—has been a proud longtime sponsor, along with several other firms. Hollow Brook leadership has deep roots in the enthusiast world, and the Invitational’s mission aligns naturally with the firm’s values. Supporting the Turtle Invitational is about far more than sponsoring a weekend of extraordinary automobiles; it is an extension of the firm’s long-standing commitment to providing excellence for our clients, enriching community, education, and meaningful philanthropy. 

As the final cars rolled off the lawn at Coker Farm, one thing became clear: the spirit of the Turtle Invitational has never been stronger. Enthusiasts can already look ahead with anticipation to Turtle Invitational 6 in September 2027, where the tradition of remarkable automobiles, community, and purpose will continue to evolve.

Written by Philip Richter

https://www.hollowbrookllc.com/