Palm Beach Cavallino Classic

I agree with the last statement 100%. Many are one and done in the Ferrari world, some longer. I suspect few will make it a life long passion.

 

You can't be serious. They wouldn't be caught dead in Nikes.

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Acceptable footwear for the event would include the Ferrari Fastroid sneaker by Puma (can be yours for 4 interest-free payments of $165)

Seriously, like all of you I hope there does remain a path forward for the collective appreciation of Ferrari's history and past, with a lot less "lifestyle" nonsense included.

 

The “younger demographic” is a dead end IMO. Try talking to a handful of them. Most are trust fund babies who just hop from one trend to the next. The ones who have earned their success aren’t as foolish with their money and gravitate to the plethora of other events we have here for free.

Catering to this age group is at best a short term solution. Frankly they don’t care much for vintage cars as they want to see the cars THEY grew up admiring (1990’s - 2000) Here in south Florida they can do that at the many monthly events we have. Our free Cars and Coffee draws over 1,000 cars and is mobbed. We have so many free monthly events I can’t list them all. I talk to this demographic at these events and they have zero interest in old school concours.

It’s sad but everything comes to an end. Enjoy it while you can.

 

All about lifestyle and big egos now.
Not about classic Ferraris anymore.
So sad.

Marcel Massini

 

To paraphrase a famous quote, money corrupts, absolute money corrupts absolutely.

 

Marcel, you nailed it.

 

It was fun while it lasted. Nothing lasts forever. This is all temporary. In a few years, nobody is going to care about these old cars. Frankly, nobody is going to know drive them.

 

Given the lack of interest in any aspect of history younger generations will have no clue what they were for or why they were built. Nor will there be any appreciation for the fact that men made them by hand with rudimentary tools without aid of a computer.

 

It's like old horse carriage, who care about them today ?

 

Even worse with the brass-era cars.

I am hopeful, though, that while the broader appeal of some car eras may wane, especially as those eras recede further into the past, there will remain an enthusiastic, if smaller, community dedicated to preserving and working with them.

There's a small outfit in England at vintagebentley.com, that focuses on nothing but the original W.O. Bentleys, the newest of which was turned out in 1931. Seems to have a steady business restoring, maintaining and brokering them, as well as providing rally and competition support; as a business they were very well represented at Le Mans Classic last year. Also encouraging is the success of the McPherson College automotive restoration program, with many students reporting being recruited even before graduation. As a Porschephile, I love seeing multi-day rallies for air-cooled cars only.

These are only a few anecdotes, times change and I see what you're seeing as well, but I'll take these as some positive indicators that maybe not all is lost just yet.

I do hate (most) change, lol.

 

I have a neighbor that has a very nice 488, he's had it maybe three years and maybe has put 50 miles on it. He's trading it for a new 296. I've tried to talk to him about the cars and the fact that we had a Ferrari year this past summer at the Pittsburgh Grand Prix with Luigi Chinetti Jr. as the Grand Marshal. This guy knows absolutely nothing about Ferrari including the car he owns and the new car he is buying. He only knows what color his car is, pathetic.

 

not surprising........

 

An email from Canossa today. You’ve been told, “ Ferrari Chat key contributors.”



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That's why the last time I went to Cavallino was 2004.
I don't plan on returning. Ever. Sadly.

 

A good friend of mine, a heart surgeon in Switzerland, who went to Cavallino for the first time ever last year (2023) and purchased two standard spectator tickets (for him and his son), received last week a call (!!) from the organisers, urging him to come again this year. My friend was seriously surprised. And no, he is not going again.
Sounds like active and personalised marketing........ are they in desperate need to find visitors?

Marcel Massini

 

Probably so. That said, how long until this event ceases to exist.

 

Our mutual friend's Thursday party is way down in RSVP's as well. Normally by this time I'd have dozens of people begging me to get added to the list. It appears the long time collectors are sitting this one out.

 

How much weight do the members in this tread carry? I have not taken the time to count how many are talking down the event one way or the other, but we can agree its at least a dozen, if not more. With that said, as a long time member of the Cavallino Classic " club " of attendees , if all my fellow " club " members aren't going, I probably wouldn't go either. I want to attend an event where my friends are. Which isn't really the fault of Canossa or its evolution, it would fall on the shoulders of those talking down the event and publicly saying they aren't going.

What about the new member or new owner that wants to attend Cavallino Classic as it is today? The marketing worked, they want to go, then they come here, read all the negative feedback, and change their mind.... not even knowing what they are missing, they choose to not go, because it must be a poor event if all these long time members and attendees are talking so poorly of it.

I mean, as others have pointed out, and it seemly gets passed over.... Mr. Barnes was selling because the previous version of Cavallino was not working for him anymore. And new investors seemed to pass on the opportunity to continue the previous version as well. Canossa however saw the opportunity, saw the evolution of what Ferrari has in mind, and found a way to build on what Cavallino Classic had become to help it continue. What was, was coming to an end. Canossa found a way for it to continue.

Can the naysayers cancel Cavallino?
( This is not a challenge, its a question )

Question for you and those experienced enough to have lived it first hand, attended events put on by Ferrari over the years.
Back in the 50's & 60's what was the target demographic of owners and who were the enthusiast in that timeframe?
Weren't they movie stars, models, drivers, influencers of the day?
Did owners make a fuss when Ferrari changed it's design over the years?
Were there any controversial designs back in the day?
Did Ferrari provide food to attendees?

I plan on asking more experienced judges and owners similar questions later this month, I genuinely interested.

Hybrids, full electric, FUV, fashion, lifestyle events, and more... Ferrari is evolving. Dealerships are evolving. New owners are evolving. FCA is beginning to evolve.

Steve

 

I want to go, 2 please!
;-)

Steve

 

Who are James and I going to talk to if you aren't there! Who do we need to call?
You have to be there, you just must!

S

 

10 more years, at least!

S

 

I don't know Steve, but is George's neighbor who Canossa and Ferrari are targeting now?

 

@Steve Correction: Ferrari is devolving. Dealerships are devolving. New owners are devolving. FCA is beginning to devolve. EOS.

Have a good time at Cavallino.

PS - The $500/plate tortellini is now sourced from franchise restaurant Olive Garden.