Cavallino - how do you get in and when?

As many other Canadian Ferrari owners, I try to travel south as much as possible in the winter time and head to my Florida condo whenever I can.

Obviously I won't have the car with me while I'm down there but I would like to attend the Cavallino event as a visitor, is this possible? Does being an FCA member help?

I've looked at the website but I can't decipher if we can get in if we're without the Fcar or not.

Also, I see it lasts several days but I'd like to go just 1 day, which day is best? I assume the concorso on the saturday right?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

Just show up, pay $75 for a ticket and enjoy. Saturday is best but Friday track day is awesome too.

 

I've been to every Cavallino Classic since the beginning, so this will be my 23rd year, and I highly recommend it. This event and the GP de Monaco are the highlights of my year.
The only part for which you can "just show up" and pay is the Saturday concorso, and while it's great, there are other compelling events, all of which must be registered/paid for in advance using the form on the web site. If you're not bringing a car you obviously won't be running the track days, but should consider paying to spectate at PBIR on Friday, as seeing the historic Ferraris run (or just drooling over them in the paddock) is a treat. The optional Sunday brunch at Mar-a-Lago is nice too- went a couple of times when it was first added, but hadn't been in a while until last time, when we went because my friend hadn't been before and I wanted her to see it. We really enjoyed it and are going again this time.
Figure out where your priorities lie and register in advance accordingly. If you're driving in from afar and staying over, consider staying at The Breakers, although the reserved, discounted rooms may be gone by now. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, based on the input I'll head over on the saturday. As much as I'd like to see the friday also, We have an annual "Legends of Mont Tremblant" event here where we can see vintage car races (this year was the Bugattis, next year will be the Ferraris)

One final question: Is there a dress code?

 

You could dress like a total slob and still look better than some I've seen there....

Seriously, just dress as if you were going to a decent restaurant for an outdoor lunch or shopping at a good store or meeting with your kid's teacher. No need to dress up, although the judges wear blazers and ties. The venue, though, does ooze Gatsby-like swank.

Be sure to get there early. Parking can be difficult unless you want to pay a usurious valet fee, and things begin to wind down around 4PM.

 

"One final question: Is there a dress code?"

Palm Beach, ergo no socks.

 

We went last year and plan on going again this year. They raised the price to $150/ticket.

 

In fact, the cost of the concorso this year (which, as I keep repeating, is only a small part of the overall multi-day event) is $100/person, plus $50/person for the optional lunch.
None of this is inexpensive ($795/person for the Thursday-Saturday package, plus $300/person for the optional event @ Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, plus $395/day if you track a car, not to mention the cost of staying @ The Breakers), but it's still not to be missed, IMHO. Definitely a quality event, held at beautiful venues.

 

Well 100$ for a simple entrance ticket seems overpriced. My guess is that they're trying to keep the crowd to a maximum and they can achieve it by having high ticket prices.

Whatever, I'm still going....my opinion on the value may change once I see all those beauties!

 

If you have any questions about the event, such as ticket prices, why not go to their website instead of asking people here and getting potential misinformation??

But in the interest of time-expediency, here are the prices:
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I did read that before posting but it's not clear what "individual" means. I wasn't sure if that was for someone bringing their car or not? Plus the 100$ entrance fee seemed somewhat exagerrated to me so I asked others for help by posting on this forum and it worked out well because I got good advice and answers to my questions immediately from people who have been there.

Thanks

 

$100/person is pushing it, value-wise, especially when you consider that many of the most interesting cars have typically been seen before. I would probably skip it this year if a friend didn't have a car entered, first time seen since restoration.

 

The whole deal is expensive but I would not miss it for anything - my wife and i do the whole deal - stay at the breakers, bring at least one car - the whole weekend (4 days) has a special feel to it - this will be my ninth year - just a neophyte compared to some of you guys

 

And I thought $75 was a bit stiff. I'll probably walk through anyway, though.

Any way to see a list of entered cars before the event?

 

I agree with event fees. A bit high May be expected. It is Palm Beach in season , at a top venue and event.

Come this year. Buy the tickets in advance. They are responsive and helpful with any questions you may have.

An A+ event. Really classy. And there have been recent changes (multi makes) (Bugatti last year) to the norm that have sought to keep it fresh, and interest high. It works for me and I welcome a bit of a change.

Stay at the Breakers if possible.

It is a lovely event.

 

No Yacht Hop? That was my favorite event from last year.

 

They've succeded in making the event an almost members only event. You're not getting more for your money. Alot of the cars are the same each year, the tent area with articles for sale is small, no ex-Ferrari drivers. I understand you don't want to have a cheap entrance fee so you don't have mobs of people. I thought $50.00 was reasonable.

 

Maybe it's time for Cavallino to move to a new venue to spice it up. Lots of great locations in Miami. Coral Gables would be perfect, Pinecrest too. Then you'd have Homestead for your track days.

 

No way Barnes will give up the cache' of Palm Beach, nor should he. It'd be like moving the Pebble Beach concours to LA.

 

Well said.

 

The Biltmore in the Gables would be just as highbrow as Palm Beach, and the track at Homestead is world class with better pit area than Palm Beach.

 

Sindo,

If you don't want to go...don't go. Nobody is twisting your arm to attend.

I'm sure the fees The Breakers charges the Barnes have not remained static thru the years. The cost of admission is a fair price to see a group of cars worth collectively hundreds of million dollars.

 

It's not that I do or don't want to go, it's just trying to make it a better show through suggestions and comments on this forum. Last I looked, that's what this is here for. For what it's worth, I would have no problem spending that money or more in Amelia Island, or Pebble Beach for example. As a fan of Ferrari and a subscriber to Cavallino magazine I think I can put in my two cents. It's just too bad that a lot of fans are priced out of attending.
And if the cost to Barnes continues to rise because of the Breakers, all the more reason to consider other venues. What's your cut off for admission? $150.00, $200.00? I appreciate what Barnes is and has been doing, and want it to continue, but you can't honestly say that nothing else can and should be done to improve the show.

 

Fab I'm sure you'll like Cavallino. I was there in 1996. Loved it!

 

I think an admission price of $50 keeps the low brows out. I think an admission price of $100 keeps many fans out. To keep a brand appealing you need to expose it to the younger people, and younger people (except those with rich parents) won't spend $100 to let their kids enjoy it. That is really unfortunate in my opinion, but it goes along with what many people believe is what Ferraris are about. I think the best thing about the cars is the sound and the smell along with the style, so keeping the track day spectator costs low allows for people to enjoy the brand without ruffling the feathers of the whale belt crowd...

I'm glad I got to attend when I was living in Florida, but the general scene there seems to have stagnated overall compared to 10 years ago.


BT