Cavallino versus Palm Beach Super Car

The reality is that PBSCW has made its mark, it is here to stay, and will only get better every year. It does not detract from Cavallino, and in the long run it will allow both events to grow. Coinsider the level of vehicles that lined Flagler drive, not many places in the world to see such a gathering. When owner/collectors such as James Glickenhaus, and Michael Fux bring multiple automobiles to a show, they are indicating their belief and trust in the event. That speaks volumes as to the show's status.

This gives us that live in south Florida the opportunity to enjoy what will hopefully become a Pebble Beach style weekend.

 

It's also important to note the manufactures that were there. They brought some very interesting cars.

 

I think the only vehicle missing at the WPB Supercar show was a Mercedes CLK GTR. It would not have surprised me to see one there!

http://carclassic.com/stock.asp?Ref=DD01&Lang=en

(Please exscuse me for posting about a Mercedes on Ferrari Chat! It will be my first & last transgression...)

 

Giving the comments here for all kinds of people it looks like one is indeed growing while the other appears to be shrinking. Then I was not at "that" event so I cannot comment on that from my own experience just repeating what those that have gone for years said as well as first timers.

 

I think Cavallino has a great format. Adding the All Makes show at the airport Hilton is an adjustment that I think is in response to the PBSCW. What I think they need to do is actively recruit more cars for the concours, and possibly make a list available of what will be shown prior to the event. Last year had fewer cars on the green area (closest to the hotel), but more interesting stuff to my eye. All those TR's and race cars were great last year. Seperating that group from the rest of the field so you have to go out and around and re-enter to see the rest of the cars was a mistake. It made it feel like there were two classes, and the bulk of the field was not worthy to share space with the jewels on the green. I would love to see a single aisle through the entire display running east-west geographically with two sets of cars on each side. Think like a 5 lane road with the outer four lanes being occupied by cars facing the center aisle. Maybe at the green they could close the display making an elongated horseshoe of two rows of cars. It would look spectacular!
That said, there may be a further delineation of the current trend of older cars at Cavallino and newer cars at PBSCW. There was only one 360 on the lawn at Cavallino! Hard to imagine, but last year there were probably 20 in attendance. I would still prefer that the events be on separate days, but I doubt that will happen.
BT

 

After a great week of car events that included the Jet Reception, Yacht Hop, Cavallino Classic, and PBSCW to name but a few, my friends and I attended the Sunday show in the parking lot of the Hilton.

We arrived in a caravan that included 3 cars that had shown at The Breakers:

250 Tour de France
250 SWB
275 GTS
355 GTS
330 GTB

We were all directed to public parking as they weren't accepting any additional cars. WTF!

What were they thinking?
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The Parking lot of the Hilton isn't, nor will ever be,1.5 miles of Flagler with the Intercostal in the background...

 

My point exactly.

That was a really poor venue for a show (considering the others available) and the miserable attendance proved it.

There were a few exceptional cars but these were outnumbered by empty parking spaces and "filler" cars at least 20:1.

 

There are a dozen really great places to hold an All Makes show, and the Hilton parking lot just is not even close. I'm glad they made a change to see if they can include more cars in a non-Ferrari exclusive event anyway.
They could accomodate a fairly large group at the little chapel on Palm Beach (with an incredible Kapok tree) along the intracoastal, or the Flagler museum parking lot, or Cityplace, or Lake Park or Soveral Harbour Marina, or Mar-A-Lago, or Morikami Gardens in Boca, or Worth Avenue shopping area, or the beach club on the north end, or Mizner in Boca, or the Polo grounds, or just about any beachfront county park...
If they want to have it by the airport, it should be at the tarmac by Jet Aviation or something... The Morgan Adams concours was great in the Boca airport last year.
I'm doing an 'all makes show' in the spring at my house with plenty of space for whoever will show up...

BT

 

Compare Hilton parking lot photo to this one...
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I didn't go to the Hilton on but I assume it was just slightly better attended than the informal Tower Shops meet in Plantation each week

I dont know if anyone has ever gone to it, but once a month Jupiter has an classic car show along the main street in Abacoa.
It is for cars that were made before 1980, so it is about 90% old muscle cars and they had about 300 cars the last time I went.
A person who was there said it is the largest informal meet in the country.

There is no judging or anything, it is just a fun way for car people to get together and see the various cars that people have in the area.
The town promotes it and there are some food vendors and restaurants along the main street to eat in.
Around 8 PM all the cars start up and do a loop around the center of town with an announcer giving details about each car as it passes by.

Cavallino might have had more of a turnout for their Sunday event if they had it along A1A in Jupiter instead or in the area of Carlin Park where concerts are held.
The road could have been blocked off like it is for the towns annual art festival, and there is ample parking in the area too.
Granted the Hilton is closer to West Palm, but the beach area around Jupiter is 1000% nicer.

 

From Flagler Drive last weekend. Try to find find this scene on any street or lawn anywhere:
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Umm..... Does anyone know where Jim's driveway is?

 

Besides the Saturday concourse at the Breakers, Cavallino had a few other events that made the whole experience a great one. The Jet Aviation and the Yacht Hop were very well put together. As far as the actual concourse needing some revamping, it can use some redevelopment. I think that the attendance could easily be helped if the two events next year are on different days. I also feel that the organizers need to attract a younger crowd, as I felt that I was one of the youngest people there during the award dinner reception etc... The organizers need to come up with a way to attract the owners that have great cars in their garages, but may not understand how or what needs to happen to take their prized possession to Cavallino. I think Cavallino is an important event that will be here for years to come. I certainly enjoyed it this year again. As far as the PBSCW, I am still getting over it. It was a great success. I knew John T and Scott could do it. They're the best!! Gene

 

Try to understand this, the reason for the great success of the PBSCW, is Cavallino. I will buy you a martini if you understand.

 

Different generations. Period.

I respect what took place west of the Intracoastal but could not be bothered to leave the Breakers saturday.
History is what interests me.

If someone prefers shiny computerized supercars fine: to each his own.

 

You are correct. But I consider the MkIV that won LeMans, and Mark Donohue's winning CanAm Lola, not to mention the Ferrari F1 that won for both Michael S and Rubens B in the same season, to be both historic and significant.

I am a proponent of Cavallino, but I also feel there is a need to show not only current state of the automotive art, but historic automobilia of different makes. There is room for both shows for the true automotive afficienado. If I had to admit my favorite brand, it would be Bugatti, not Ferrari, which is second. So give me the occasional Veyron.

I do not believe I am alone when I say, I really enjoyed seeing the different genre of automobiles shown in Palm Beach County this past weekend. I would like to see this Florida weekend in January become another Pebble Beach. The only thing better at Pebble Beach is the fireplaces in the hotel rooms we do not typically have in Florida.

But we had better weather, better beaches, the number one Ferrari show in the world, and if not already, the soon to be number one multi make show in the world. Doesn't get much better than this.

I would also suggest that our silicone level is the best and highest in the world.

 

I must add that the quality of the eye candy on my inbound Palm Beach flight outsurpassed most destinations.

 

History? The yellow one finished 4 OA at Le Mans driven by Bruce and Mark. It's sister driven by Dan and AJ finsihed 1 OA. It's other sister finished 1 OA at Sebring. The Blue one won 2 Can Am races driven by Mark and still holds the all time Mt. Equinox Hill Climb record. The F1 car was driven by Michael. The R8 that was there last year won Le Mans more than any car ever.

I could go on.

Next year I'm bringing 4 Ferrari Prototypes for those that are interested in such things including these two which have never been nor ever will be displayed at Cavallino.
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Actually seeing your cars and meeting you Jim would have been the main reason for me to come over, certainly meant no disrespect: I look forward to meeting you eventually!

 

best!

 

Sindo:

You are right, again I have had no connection with Cavallino since I decided to stop writing for them in 2001 but yes some new ideas would be positive but just how to implement them: there was thought of inviting Mario Andretti some years ago: Mario is a wonderful man I had the privilege to interview him on ther 312P 1969 but an appearance is another matter: his manager wanted a huge sum. Phil Hill did a speech at dinner the 1st year, Brian Redman the second year, then Derek Bell, well this was somewhat spoiled by some ignorant nouveau riches who kept talking loudly during his speech: they had no clue who he was. He later told me that had it been England he would have said something but not feel comfortable doing so there. After that Barnes stopped having drivers speak there.

Another point discussed here: some complained about the wall between the upper field and the lower fields: that was made by the Breakers obviously and not by Cavallino: it is a croquet court. Not very practical but that is the new layout.

Some mentioned they felt a class segregation between historic Ferraris and the production cars: well the first ones were handmade, have complex individual histories and attract the greatest collectors, connoisseurs and specialists, be they restorers or dealers. Adrian Hamilton or Gregor Fisken do not come there to look at 355's. The other cars meaning absolutely no disprespect are production cars.