| Author | Message | ||
| j scott leonard (Jscott)
Member Username: Jscott Post Number: 535 Registered: 1-2002 |
I liked Quail Lodge much better. The cars were organized and easier to view. This year I didn't show my cars so I went as a spectator. We had to wait about 30 minutes to catch the bus to the event. I think last year was a better event and much more organized. The cars were assembled by model and make. This year it was difficult to see the different models. Overall, it is a great event but I personally liked last years venue much better. | ||
| David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member Username: Dakharris Post Number: 184 Registered: 6-2001 |
I won't be going back to CI. This is the only place in the world that you can drive a Ferrari and be treated like a piece of crap. Fortunately, my car runs cool, but I don't know how much life I took off of my clutch. If I ever went back, I'd take my 1991 BMW 318 and park it in the Corral for better placement, easier access and egress and probably more viewers than made it back to see my F-Car and about a hundred others. As long as I'm on a rant, how about the overpriced non-Italian food, cheap goody bag, cold/no coffee, oh and did I mention traffic? I left at 3:45, in violation of my "contract." Sue me. | ||
| Robert W. Garven Jr. (Robertgarven)
Member Username: Robertgarven Post Number: 258 Registered: 2-2002 |
It looks like the FCA is going to have their event at The Quail Lodge on Friday. As a club member I am probably going to go for this along with less crowds it will probably be less hectic. Even though I am a suppoter of Cavalino magazine I think replacing the FCA was a mistake and probably caused many of the Ferrari related problems? Rob | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 1186 Registered: 1-2001 |
CI 2003 Participants Respond to Open Letter We received over 200 emails, 95 percent of which were very positive. Many of you had some terrific ideas that you can be sure will be implemented next year. Your letters are of immense help in guiding us through the coming years as we learn to grow into the new property and provide you with what you want in an Italian car/lifestyle show. We have posted 100 percent of your responses - (select "comments" to read those responses) COMMENTS - including the good ones, the bad ones, those who will never come back, and those who loved it and thought it was the best event ever! We promise to get control of the problems and have the best event ever in 2004. Best personal regards, Frank and Janet Mandarano P.S. Enjoy the read Link - http://www.concorso.com/letters.asp | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 745 Registered: 6-2002 |
This being my first year, I can't comment on this year vs Quail. With the exception of a few issues (ferrari parking got botched pretty bad) it was a great show, and I got to see some cars I've lusted after for countless years in the flesh for the first time. Pre-dawn fog, and view of the coast from most of the area, was awesome. If they fix the growing pains next year it should be pretty cool! Best! Ben. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1670 Registered: 4-2002 |
Excellent, superb, beyond belief. I spent $500 on misc. crap. Saw the most gorgeous car ever: A red-over-black GT4. OK, I'm biased. The lines weren't that bad. I got out very quickly. But I hung around later than some. Getting in was a little more problematic, but if you've ever been to Disneyland.......... | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 675 Registered: 11-2001 |
This event got me bored real fast, last year was more exciting. After 1 hour of looking I got tired of looking at the same cars over and over again, the Cizetta was interesting but for what it is I told myself nah, the 16cyl. 4 turbo Bugatti motor was nice and I would like to see how the specs turn out to be. There was better selection of cars last year and if next year ever turns out like this year I would not bother to go again. | ||
| Kevin Deal (Tube_guy)
New member Username: Tube_guy Post Number: 35 Registered: 5-2003 |
Just observations. For the record, I would never miss this event...or the weekend as a whole. It is so beyond enjoyable between the CA, Pebble Beach, Historics race, and all the other stuff. If you have not yet attended...you have to!!!!! I liked Quail better. Even walking into the event was pleasant. Going by beautiful cars on the way in. If the advance tickets you mention above could go to eye candy viewable on the way in that would be great. I can bet some will not drive some of the cars to that parking lot again. There is no reason to bring a lambo...you are not "in" the event...so you may as well take a Honda. The parking lot was dusty as hell, and no doubt some of the spyders left there with the top down all day got pretty crappy after all the dirt got stirred up. I feel the event was not more spacious than quail. But perception is difficult. I love the weekend though...and CI is great! | ||
| Mario B (Lawwdog)
Junior Member Username: Lawwdog Post Number: 134 Registered: 12-2002 |
This was my first event and candidly, I don't know how much standing I have to •••••. But, I can say for me, the good outwighed the bad. Good, Beautiful weather, ocean view, cars, women(wow my wife even mentioned the good looking women), good vendors. Bad, I felt like the cars (including mine) were packed in like tuna. I actually had an older gentleman lean on my car with his hands to brace himself while he watched another car pull away. I politely said (hey get your damn hands off my car...did you forget where you are) He was very emabarrased and realized his head was up his ass. My in-laws complained about the 1 hour wait at the parking to get in and the 45 minutes out. I actually made it out in 10 minutes leaving at 4:30 p.m. I hope next year the Ferrari's are more huddled by all of the action. I felt like we were step children. The car corrals with BMW, Mercedes', etc got more people looking than Ferrari row. I was suprised that the lawn looked dry and dusty near the stage area. I thought this was a high class event? The only place to get decent food sold out before 11:00 a.m. ? Bathrooms were an issue..although if you went in the club house (I did) things were much cleaner. Other than that...I had a great time!  | ||
| Alberto (Aabreu)
Junior Member Username: Aabreu Post Number: 101 Registered: 9-2001 |
I attended and my main complaint has to do with traffic out of the venue (not sure who the hell got out in 10 minutes like the letter says, but it was not me and about 100 others who waited about 30 minutes to get out, including a Diablo in front of me) as well as waiting for the bus to get to where the cars were being shown (we waited 1 hour from the time we got in line to the time we got off the bus). The bathroom situation also needs to be addressed. These are fixable problems, but they definitely need MORE BUSES!! The parking was a little screwy, but if they transport you in and out of there quickly its not that big a deal. Great event, tons of cars and people. If they improve the people handling aspects, it will be better than at Quail. | ||
| les brun (Labcars)
Junior Member Username: Labcars Post Number: 141 Registered: 1-2003 |
I wholeheartedly agree that any "first" event will have teething pains and take great comfort with the speed with which the organizers are addressing the issues raised. It was still an amazing event and will only get better. While I love Quail Lodge, it was definitely too small for the growth of the Concourso, but was great for the "Q" event and the Bonhams and Butterfield auction. In the end it was all good!! Can't wait for next year when Ferrari is the featured marque! | ||
| Dave L (Davel)
Member Username: Davel Post Number: 307 Registered: 7-2001 |
Great event once again. I miss the Quail though as it had a nicer more intimate feeling. Seems like the open letter from the organizers addresses most of the complaints I had; parking, bus lines, car crowding, lack of food and sanitary facilities. Still a great event anyhow | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 1183 Registered: 1-2001 |
From the horse's mouth (in case anyone missed it)... An Open Letter to All Concorso Italiano 2003 Participants Wow! 950 Italian Cars, 650 non-Italian Corral cars, 130 Vendor booths, close to 400 Ferraris, and well over 10,000 people made this year's Concorso the "best yet." Janet and I want to personally thank all the Exhibitors, Corral participants, Sponsors and Vendors for their continued support, and a special thanks to all the spectators who came out to see the cars and be part of the Concorso. As with any new venue, there are bugs to iron out. We recognize there are important strategic and operational changes needed to streamline the Concorso in our new location. We are pleased that many of you took the time to provide us with feedback on ways to improve the event, and we are listening very carefully. We know you love coming to the Concorso and that you want it to remain that special event you have come to know and look forward to attending each year. With your feedback, and with what we observed firsthand, we have identified several problem areas listed below which we will do our very best to solve. The good news was the outbound traffic. Many of you said it was a 10-minute drive from the property to Highway 1. That is quite an improvement from Carmel Valley, where it took 45 minutes to an hour. IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2004 A. Eliminate inbound traffic 45-minute wait (not acceptable). We propose the following solution for next year's inbound traffic to cut Motor Pool Parking in half or less than half. This will make the bus lines a ten-minute wait, instead of the 45-minute wait some of you experienced during peak hours (for this I sincerely apologize). 1. Offer parking for 1,000 advance spectator ticket holders on the Golf Course property (parking lot "A" entering from the south side off of Coe Road. Please note this could not be done this year as Coe Road was under construction and there were detours in place). 2. Offer parking for 1,000 to 1,500 advance spectator ticket holders on the Golf Course property (parking lot "B" entering from the west side off of Monterey Road). 3. Park 700 Media and Sponsor cars on Golf Course property in parking lot "C" entering from the main entrance at McClure Way. This will leave parking for 2,000 cars at the Motor Pool Parking Lot and - given the same amount of bussing - should solve the problem. B. Redirect inbound traffic. Redirect all Motor Pool incoming traffic from Highway 1 to the 12th Street exit (one exit north of Fort Ord Main Entrance). This will take all the Motor Pool spectator traffic away from the Exhibitor, Corral, Vendor, and Sponsor traffic coming in from the Fort Ord Main Entrance. C. Ferraris were jammed in too close together. This is a problem that never should have happened. Ferrari owners may have noticed the five beautiful acres of lawn on the other side of the golf cart path (the 1st Fairway) that just sat empty. The Ferraris were supposed to be placed there should the need arise. I was horrified when I saw your beautiful Ferraris parked in such a manner and take full responsibility for not communicating this clearly to those who were in charge of parking the Ferraris. Next year all Ferraris will be parked 15 feet apart. D. Port-a-Potties - not enough and not serviced. 1. Next year we will have twice as many Port-a-Potties. 2. Next year Port-a-Potties will be serviced as a condition of the contract. 3. Deluxe toilets will be available for those with Fast Break Plus and VIP Media tickets. 4. Better placement, easier to locate, signage. E. Better signage. Better signage overall - to and from the event, on property, etc. F. Better speaker placement & volume control. The speaker volume was too loud in some areas of the field. Field speakers will be used only for music in the morning and for announcements. G. Information & first-aid trailer on property. This will be located at the entrance to the green with staff who are familiar with the Concorso Italiano and the layout of the event. Best regards, Frank, Janet & Concorso staff | ||
| Brian Keegan (4redude)
Junior Member Username: 4redude Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi Rob. I like the new location better than Quail. I feel some of the complaints from this year will be worked out before next year's event. Any first time event will have unforseen teething problems. I did not like the gridlock parking pattern of the Ferrari's at the upper end of the field (where Ben and Norm were parked). The one hour wait to get on a shuttle bus was a pain, as well as the fact there were no signs directing you how to get off the base after you left the parking lots. They needed more food/drink vendors and definitely more 'honeybuckets'. I love the new location and you can't beat the view of the ocean from there. Fix a few little problems and I think it will be better than Quail very soon. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 1182 Registered: 1-2001 |
Basically I'm pretty sure that everyone will agree the Quail location was nicer, but unfornutaely no longer available to CI. If you want a listing of the problems with the site (or this years displays - these 2 items should not be lumped together). PLease let me know I'll make a list. -Ben | ||
| Robert W. Garven Jr. (Robertgarven)
Junior Member Username: Robertgarven Post Number: 250 Registered: 2-2002 |
One of my best friend attended the new location for the CI, and was not only disappointed in the location but also the organization especially of the Ferrari parking etc. He said he thought the Carmel Valley site was nicer, easier to get to and was a more elegant site, cosidering the pedigree of the cars. I imagine that since the FCA had the rug pulled out from under them this year was what caused the Ferrari organizational problems. I was not there so I was just interested in whoever wents opinion??? One more thought, next year Ferrari is the featured marque at the vintage races and it will coincide with the FCA national meet. I am wondering where this will be held. Quail Lodge??? Respectfully, Rob |