Car Charity Event Fuels Bad Feelings

Re: “Newport’s Rich Roll Out in a Good Cause,” May 5.

No sour grapes, a Rolls is not in my life plan. But the return on investments of well over $60 million automobile costs, entrance fees, preparation, shipping, security and related costs seems out of proportion as related to good business practices to net $50,000 from the event.

The big winners were Conspicuous Consumption, Ostentation and Tasteless Display of Wealth--none of which can be justified simply to qualify for a worthless spot in the “Guinness Book of World Records.” Children’s charities came in a distant second.

Big Deal!

MAX REEFER

Laguna Hills

* Its good cause notwithstanding, the recent Rolls-Royce and Bentley parade in Newport Beach was offensive and reinforces the image of that city as a land of elitism and ostentation.

The next time the “extremely opulent” Melissa Lincoln wants to do something useful for charity, an opulent check will suffice. And how insightful of Nancy Wynne to reveal that wealth makes one down to earth. So that’s why the poor are so pretentious!

Witnessing such vulgar displays only pushes me further toward converting to communism and agitating for class warfare. Or at least it will until I become rich, and therefore down to earth.

BRETT M. BARBER

Irvine

* May 4’s air quality was, as usual, about six times worse than it should be to make breathing a desirable activity. The spectacle, therefore, of “more than 300 Rolls-Royce and Bentley owners” driving around in circles to break some kind of record is black humor at its least amusing.

Surely there are better ways to support children’s causes without ruining their environment.

M. POWER GIACOLETTI

Lake Forest