REDLINE - The Original Florida Region Ferrari Club of America
REDLINE - The Original Florida Region Ferrari Club of America
REDLINE - The Original Florida Region Ferrari Club of America
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12<br />
<strong>Florida</strong> Redline<br />
Keith<br />
BLUEMEL<br />
AUTHOR, HISTORIAN<br />
photos: KEITH BLUEMEL<br />
BIRMINGHAM TO PALM BEACH TO PARIS!<br />
Three events in the first two months <strong>of</strong> 2008! <strong>The</strong> first was on home territory,<br />
being the Autosport International Racing Car Show, at the National<br />
Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Not specifically a <strong>Ferrari</strong> show, but there<br />
was a F2007 F1 car on display, plus there was the announcement <strong>of</strong> a new<br />
British racing team CR Scuderia, who will contest the FIA GT series with a pair<br />
<strong>of</strong> F430 GTs and the British<br />
GT series with a trio <strong>of</strong> F430<br />
GT3s. Shell Heritage had an<br />
attractive race track themed<br />
display featuring some classic<br />
<strong>Ferrari</strong>s, and there were<br />
further examples <strong>of</strong> the marque<br />
dotted around the exhibition<br />
halls, including an Enzo.<br />
My next stop was the<br />
annual Cavallino Classic in<br />
Palm Beach, which for me is<br />
“<strong>Ferrari</strong> fun in the sun,” and<br />
a welcome break from the<br />
grey British winter! Now in<br />
its 17th year, it has become<br />
firmly established as the<br />
<strong>Ferrari</strong> season opener in the<br />
warm and sunny climes <strong>of</strong><br />
your “Sunshine State.” <strong>The</strong><br />
broad ranging timetable<br />
encompasses the first rounds<br />
<strong>of</strong> the US Historic Challenge<br />
series at Moroso Motorsports<br />
Park, where attendees can<br />
also exercise their own<br />
“Prancing Horses” over a<br />
four day period. <strong>The</strong>re is also<br />
the Grand Driving and<br />
Culinary Tour <strong>of</strong> Palm Beach,<br />
the always popular Jet<br />
Reception at Palm Beach<br />
International Airport, plus the<br />
Yacht Hop at the Rybovich<br />
moorings and the charity<br />
brunch at Mar-A-Lago amongst the events on the itinerary, but the highlight is<br />
definitely the concours at <strong>The</strong> Breakers Hotel on the Saturday.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Jet Party at Palm Beach International Airport, hosted by Jet Aviation,<br />
attracted a fine selection <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ferrari</strong>s to the tarmac amidst the splendid private<br />
jets on display, together with a classic Mustang fighter plan. Guests were<br />
invited to vote for their favorite car in the People’s Choice Award, which went<br />
to the 250 Europa GT, chassis # 0397 GT, <strong>of</strong> Bob and Marianne Anderson.<br />
<strong>The</strong> venue also saw the unveiling to Floridians <strong>of</strong> the 430 Scuderia by<br />
Maurizio Parlato, the President and CEO <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ferrari</strong> North <strong>America</strong>, attracting<br />
a great deal <strong>of</strong> interest from attendees, or maybe it was the alluring hostesses<br />
standing just alongside it!<br />
<strong>The</strong> elegant Breakers Hotel on the ocean shore is an impressive backdrop<br />
to the concours field on the croquet lawn and adjacent golf fairways, where<br />
well over a hundred <strong>Ferrari</strong>s gathered in various classes to be judged by an<br />
international panel. Competition models were a little thin on the ground this<br />
year, but this was compensated<br />
for by a fine selection <strong>of</strong><br />
fifties and sixties GT models,<br />
including 400 and 410<br />
Superamericas, one <strong>of</strong> which<br />
was the stunning pale yellow<br />
400 SA cabriolet with a dark<br />
blue hardtop, chassis # 2407<br />
SA, <strong>of</strong> Wayne Nelson, then<br />
there was an impressive lineup<br />
<strong>of</strong> 250 GT California<br />
Spiders, a rare 250 GT<br />
”Interim” berlinetta, chassis #<br />
1521 GT, and the unique<br />
412 MI sports racing model,<br />
chassis # 0744. <strong>The</strong> Best <strong>of</strong><br />
Show Competition car award<br />
went to the blue 166 MM<br />
Touring berlinetta, chassis #<br />
0026 M, <strong>of</strong> Jack Croul, with<br />
the Best <strong>of</strong> Show Road Car<br />
award going to the elegant<br />
deep red 250 GT S1 Pinin<br />
Farina cabriolet, chassis #<br />
0813 GT, <strong>of</strong> Peter Kalikow.<br />
In February it was <strong>of</strong>f<br />
to Paris, France, for the<br />
Retromobile show, definitely<br />
one <strong>of</strong> my favorites, with its<br />
special Gallic charm, and a<br />
gathering that also attracts a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> US visitors, with<br />
prominent <strong>Ferrari</strong> collectors<br />
like Paul Pappalardo and<br />
Peter Sachs among the attendees.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ferrari</strong>s spread around the main hall, with the<br />
most valuable display being on the stand <strong>of</strong> British restoration company Hall<br />
& Hall, featuring a 312 B2 F1 car, a Dino 206 S and a 330 P sports prototype.<br />
Across the aisle R&M Auctions showed a Dino 246 S sports racing<br />
car and a 250 GT California Spider, with the nearby Sport et Collection<br />
stand featuring a 250 GT “TdF” berlinetta and a 121 LM sports racing car,<br />
add in many other rare cars, an extensive classic vendor area and an art<br />
gallery, and you have a very good excuse to visit Paris. Next stop should be<br />
Amelia Island and the 12 Hours <strong>of</strong> Sebring in March, I look forward to seeing<br />
some <strong>of</strong> you there.