REDLINE - The Original Florida Region Ferrari Club of America

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