Gathering at Autumn View Farm - Sunday, October 19

**AVFPolo** · #1 10-03-2008, 09:48 PM

You are invited to attend an informal gathering of enthusiasts at the home of Ed and Sandy Smith.

The outdoor polo season is officially closed. We've cooled out the horses, cleaned the tack and stored away the polo mallets until next year. Now it's time to dust off and exercise the "prancing horse". Enjoy a leisurely, or spirited (your choice), fall foliage drive to Autumn View Farm (AVF) located in Warren, Mass. We're approximately one half hour from the Quabbin Reservoir which is an area well known to drivers and leaf peepers alike.

Peter Lombardo of F40 Motorsports is arranging a scenic drive for the folks from the "Ongoing Connecticut Gathering" thread. Drive will originate in CT and end at AVF.

Depending upon turnout for this gathering we can park on the now vacant polo field or in the back yard. We'll provide finger sandwiches, desserts, coffee, soft drinks, water and a warm place to hang out. We're counting on you to provide the enthusiasm.

Who - All are invited. Ferrari ownership is NOT required. The only requirement is a passion for vehicles. All marques of a sporty nature are welcome to attend. Let's see some Lambos, Porsches, Alfas, Jags, MB, etc. If you don't have a sporty type car then just bring yourself. Spouses, children, buddies are also welcome.

When - Sunday, October 19
Exact start time shall be determined and posted within the next couple of days. Start time will probably be around noon.

Where - Autumn View Farm
Warren (south central), Mass

How to get there - For street address and directions please send an email to address below

Contact - AVFGathering@comcast.net

Regards,
Ed and Sandy Smith

**Saint Bastage** · #2 10-03-2008, 10:44 PM

Hi Ed

I look forward to the 19th and meeting you. We of the "CT gathering" thread will use this Sunday to plot our most grand entrance to your event. Lets see...Balloon entrance...no...ummm...parachute entrance...no...pyrotheatric entrance...no.....I've got it. What could be more spectacular than to emerge from a forest road with a band of Ferrari's at high RPM. Now thats an entrance.

You and anyone else interested are welcome to join the planning at Starbucks, Rocky Hll CT. I-91 to exit 23, west (1 mile) to route 3, north (1 mile) to Sbucks. We generally start arriving at ~8:00 and retire at ~11:00. This Sunday will be special as we will depart around 10:00 to attend the FestadiFerrari in Stamford.

Lane

**dipstick1** · #3 10-06-2008, 11:28 AM

Excellent Invite , I am looking forward to taking a nice ride up, there are some great roads in the area. Thanks for opening up for our horse's, at least they wont leave little gifts on the grounds.....

PatrickM · #4 10-09-2008, 11:19 AM

I will be there! It sounds like an amazing time, I am very excited!
If someone form the "CT Gathering" group could let me know when/where to meet up on the morning of the 19th, I would love the oppertunity to drive up to the farm with you all.

WAR EGL · #5 10-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Bummer - the FCA Maine Event is that weekend too...

**Saint Bastage** · #6 10-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickM

I will be there! It sounds like an amazing time, I am very excited!
If someone form the "CT Gathering" group could let me know when/where to meet up on the morning of the 19th, I would love the oppertunity to drive up to the farm with you all.

Same Bat Channel...Same Bat time. Rocky Hill Starbucks, 8:30 ish

myslow1 · #7 10-14-2008, 06:14 AM

Lane can you PM me the exact address for the Autum View Farm so I can put it in the GPS for the trip?

Thanks.

**Saint Bastage** · #8 10-14-2008, 10:01 PM

I'm away from my Data, presently stuck in Tennessee (Now stop with that banjo music thankyou)....Please Email Ed. Aleternatively, I can get it for you Saturday or Sunday morning.

Lane

**UConn Husky** · #9 10-14-2008, 10:49 PM

I'm in...looking chilly but sunny, great day to drive.

**AVFPolo** · #10 10-15-2008, 09:52 PM

Hi All,

Please find following an update for the Gathering at Autumn View Farm.

When - Sunday, October 19th
Time - 11 am to late afternoon

Where - Autumn View Farm, Warren, MA 01083

Forecast - Current forecast for Sunday is 58 degrees, mostly sunny, 20% chance of
precipitation. Generally breezy as our farm is situated atop an open knoll.

Parking - We'll be parking cars (bikes) on the lawn behind the house.
Note that the driveway is gravel and all are welcome, encouraged actually, to drive on the lawn to prevent stone chips on wonderful paint jobs. Please feel free to pull onto the lawn at the right hand side of the gravel drive and proceeed to the back of the house. Really, it's ok. I got special approval from my wife.

We're expecting about 5 local Ferraris to show (we shall see).
Estimating 10 cars (and maybe some bikes) from the CT group arriving approximately 11:30 am.
Expecting 10 or more cars from the Porsche drive group. They'll be doing a Quabbin Reservoir drive which will end at the farm around 12:00 noon.
Even a pair of cars coming all the way from Maine. Now that's enthusiasm!!

We'll have the food ready for your arrival.
No need to hurry - enjoy the foliage.

Street Address or additional information contact AVFGathering@comcast.net

Looking forward to seeing everyone,
Ed and Sandy Smith

PatrickM · #11 10-15-2008, 11:09 PM

I am one of the enthusiastic Maine drivers, my friend Mike is the other. I am not sure of Mike's plans, but I will be attending the CT gathering in the morning and driving up to the farm with that group.
I look forward to meeting everyone!

Ispeed · #12 10-19-2008, 05:53 PM

Great time, Ed and Sandy are great hosts. Probably 35 cars, from TRs, 348s, 308/328s, 355s, AMGs, 911s, 996s, a 993, 928s, a Viper, NSX and some others.
Great venue, great conversation and great cars too.

**Saint Bastage** · #13 10-19-2008, 08:36 PM

Ed and Sandy....Thank you so much for the opportunity. I had a wonderful day filled with great driving, great cars, great people and best of all, you two. You are gracious hosts and I/we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. My freinds of the "CT Gathering" will continue to recall this occasion for some time. Please join us someday that we may return the favor.

Thank You

Lane

**UConn Husky** · #14 10-19-2008, 09:45 PM

Ed / Sandy - again thanks for the fantastic day!

Now if I had to vote for favorite car there...hands down it was the SL65 AMG....twin turbo V12, yikes!!

PatrickM · #15 10-19-2008, 10:34 PM

Today was absolutely amazing!
Ed and Sandy, thank you so much for your hospitality! Your farm is beautiful and even more so with the collection of cars on the lawn. Also, the food was outstanding! I look forward to our next gathering.

It was also a joy to drive with the CT crew. Our caravan certainly turned some heads. I have several good pictures which I will try to get up in the next day or so. I'm not sure when I will make it down to CT next, but if it is on a Sunday I will be sure to stop by Starbucks and say hello.

It was a pleasure to meet everyone!

Patrick & Sarah
(CTS-V)

**ronfrohock** · #16 10-20-2008, 05:51 PM

Thanks so much for all the effort, putting the gathering together. It was really great to meet you and others and see so many great cars in such a picture perfect setting.
Kyle also had a great time seeing the horses.
- Ron Frohock
88.5 Mondial 3.2 Cab
Red over Black

myslow1 · #17 10-20-2008, 08:18 PM

Ed & Sandy.

Thanks again for sharing your fantastic place with all of us. Kay and I had a terriffic time and the drive there and back was really enjoyable for us.

It was so nice to see all the prancing horses there. Oh yeah, and there were some pretty nice Ferrari's there too.

Craig ( the lead driver that managed to only make one wrong turn......)

Silver 911TT

**dipstick1** · #18 10-21-2008, 01:50 PM

Thanks again to our gracious host and hostess, Ed and Sandy. A beautiful farm and a great day for a drive. some pics of the connecticut group drive up, also special props to Pat and Sarah for coming down all the way from maine to join our group!!!!!!

**AVFPolo** · #19 10-21-2008, 08:37 PM

Hi All,

AVF Gathering 2008

The agreement was that Sandy and I would provide the destination and refreshments. You, the attendees, were asked to provide the enthusiasm.

Holy cow !!! You folks went way overboard. My official count is 41 cars – Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Caddie, Alpha, NSX, Viper, AMG and an original 240Z – with the Porsches edging the Ferraris by a count of 18 to 14. Sixty hearty, road weary persons dismounted their respective machines to brave the blustery winds at Autumn View Farm. The most often heard greeting after the drive was “that was great. Now can you direct me to the nearest restroom?”

Special Thanks and Recognition:
Dipstick1 – for hatching this crazy scheme
Saint Bastage – for providing the momentum to move this forward
Myslow1 – for leading the “run for border”. Only one wrong turn with a pack of enthusiast drivers nipping at your heels. That’s as much pressure as an F1 driver is under and the F1 driver has an advantage because he already knows which way the road ahead goes. Very well done sir. Very well done indeed.
Paul – for arraigning the Quabbin Reservoir Drive for the Porsche contingent
Most Miles Driven - Maine-iacs lead by Patrick and Sarah from Maine to Rocky Hill, CT to AVF and back to Maine.

Thanks to all who attended (you know who you are). Regret that I didn’t have an opportunity to visit with each of you.

A few photos follow.
__________________________________________________ _____

AVF Gathering 2009

When – Shall probably move the date forward into September 2009.
Less wind. Peak foliage. Doesn’t conflict with Sandy’s biggest horse show of the year.

We may be able to arrange an exhibition polo match for your viewing.

May be able to arrange a “golf cart polo” match in which attendees may participate. I’m already working on shortening one half dozen polo mallets. I’ll need to secure the use of an equal number of electric golf carts (with insurance to cover scratched paint). No performance modifications shall be allowed to any cart. Does anyone know where I can obtain a dozen of the correct “SF” fender shields to fit late model electric golf carts?

Where – Same address. This time we need more cars so that we may use the polo field for parking.

We're counting on you to once again provide the enthusiasm !!!

Regards,
Ed and Sandy Smith

**Saint Bastage** · #20 10-21-2008, 08:50 PM

14 to 18 huh...gonna have to work on that.
Craig, I second the motion you award you the title "Fearless Leader" of our F-troop.

Thanks again Ed..