Ferrari Only Concours d’Elagance - The Future

Its far more about things we cannot do. But there are still areas where active control is exerted. We used to have free use of the logo. We did not give that up willingly.

 

But it did not happen, did it?

 

Although what happened with the original rectangular logo was a shame and the current restrictions on the use of circular logo and the Ferrari trademarks are inconvenient, I would not consider them horrible impositions.

 

If anybody thinks FCA has the balls to buck Ferrari Spa by creating an alternative Cavallino, I think you're dreaming.

 

There might be more possibilities than you are aware of.

 

That would be great. Get them to step up.

 

I always wondered why the logo design switched...not trying to go too far out on a tangent, but what happened there?

 

All great points. The club also provides members the opportunity to become involved, easily take positions in the club and help shape the future events.

 

Thanks.
And while the FCA Annual Event accommodations/surroundings may not always rival of those at The Breakers, they usually seem fairly adequate, not to mention (again), the various (scenic) driving tours and tracks(?) often surpass those associated with Cavallino event.
Besides, as noted above and previously, the FCA events seem more focused on individual members/participants and their enjoyment/involvement rather than the amount of financial benefit for organizers.

 

Interesting observation that might be appropriate here….

Thursday night I was at my usual Classic party. The building was full of cars for the event including the tri posti, etc.

Before the guests arrived the valets asked if they could look around and we said yes of course.

They were all in the early 20’s.

As they walked in they stopped as a group and took it all in. Before they went to any particular car one of them asked “which is the most expensive?”.

This my friends is the most important problem facing any future concours. We need to find a way to cultivate a new generation of stewards that sees these cars as works of art and NOT just some rolling status symbol.

Not an easy task.

 

True but the problem is that value has become the main focus.

I worked at Shelton Ferrari and have been involved with the community since 1997. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen such a focus on price or status like I am seeing now at local events.

No talk of F1, no knowledge of heritage or craftsmanship. Just a vulgar parade of vanity and self entitlement. It’s nauseating.

 

Biltmore Inn in Asheville, The Cloister or Callaway Gardens in Georgia, could be good although I haven’t been to any of those in years, so I don’t know what their situations are now.

 

this is where the elites live.

 

Inn at St John in Michigan

 

In my experience that’s where the wanna be elites live.

The people who are truly wealthy and successful want no extra attention and go out of their way to blend in.

 

Biltmore Inn is an interesting option. Plenty of room and plenty of other activities for downtime/spouses with the winery, spa, house, etc. Grove Park Inn is also in Asheville for additional options. Unfortunately no track option in or around Asheville, but some great roads for a tour.

 

Went to the FCA Annual meet years ago at the Biltmore in Ashville. Great venue for a Ferrari event.

 

They are moving that to Detroit.

 

Here's my two cents and change which will not even buy you a cup of coffee.

1. It would be a mistake to try and be an "anti-Cavallino." For a new event to thrive, it needs its own organic reason for being. It needs to fulfill a purpose. It needs to a solution to a problem instead of a solution looking for a problem, if that makes any sense. From what I'm sensing in various posts, the biggest concern is Ferrari making Cavallino a BRANDING event. It is all about Ferrari, and not about the cars and the people. Frankly, now that Ferrari is a multi-billion dollar public company, their concern over branding is valid. Their approach is heavy handed, but hey that's Ferrari. (Imagine, for example, Harley Davidson trying to control Sturgis.)

Here's a stab at this: To me, Cavallino has always been about the cars and the people. It was the closest there was to a "trade show" for collectors, dealers, restorers and so forth and so on. It was an annual reunion. A place to have fun, tell lies, look at Ferrari-porn, go run the old bangers on the track, tell some more lies, and be with friends. It was fun. It appears the fun part is over, or at least diminished.

The model for a new event, thus, is to have fun. Standardized concours judging. Car guy events, not fine dining. Personally, I'd prefer beer and pizza while talking about cars than fine dining. (Truthfully, I might substitutive a martini for a beer, but I digress.) Maybe instead of the track days, there would be a couple of rallies?

Does this make any sense?


2. You need a cool name. I suggest Rendezvous or Telaio.


3. I suggest keeping it in the Eastern US. The Western US already has Pebble Beach.


4. I think race tracks will be the best bet. They have the infrastructure for transporters, security, insurance, crowd control and so on. Sebring, Road Atlanta, VIR, Monticello, COTA, Watkins Glen, Road America, Mid-Ohio, all come to mind. As a car guy, I love race tracks, but maybe some might prefer a resort setting.


5. Timing is critical. Some of you may remember the Ferrari French Quarter Classic in New Orleans. It did great for a few years, but then Katrina hit. Turns out Fall is not the best time for a car meet in New Orleans. Plus, it makes sense to consider transportation patterns. Having an Eastern event before or after Pebble in August will help coordinate moving cars around.


6. But the biggest point is you need the cars. I'm going to guess maybe 100 families control the majority of the significant Ferraris. (I made the 100 number up. I don't have a clue. But I know the Ferrari world it is a small world.) If you can get commitments for say a dozen cars rotating over a few years, the rest of the cars and the people will come. Moreover, given such a commitment, you should be able to get corporate sponsors to underwrite the hard costs.

I can't stress the importance of this last point. Without a commitment for significant cars, you're going to be running uphill. Get the commitment, and you might make it.

Your thoughts?

 

One of the many questions is, will owners continue to be interested in proper and professional IAC/PFA judging or no longer? If no longer, then it is best to have some sort of lifestyle event without serious judging, but that also means that cars don't need to be restored professionally anymore (and that will automatically affect certain fantastic restorers such as MPI, Butch Dennison, Bob Smith, Chris Parker, Paul Russell, and the like). One thing leads to the next. It is a chain and very complicated.
Some owners absolutely want a top trophy and that's why they are willing to invest so much into a restoration. Many of these owners are very successful business men in their normal life and are used to win. They wanna do the same with their Ferrari and hence need proper judging.
Other's don't care.
IAC/PFA judging as introduced by Ed Gilbertson back in 1984 provided a super standard and top quality for the last 38 years, be it at the FCA Nationals, Pebble, Cavallino and many other Concours, also in Europe.
Now, if (younger?) owners loose interest in expert judging and prefer to have lifestyle events..........

Marcel Massini

 

thats the only thing that really interests me is the correctness of the restoration. i would even prefer to see paint orange peel if it was authentic.