Ferrari French Quarter Classic, Part VIII | FerrariChat

Ferrari French Quarter Classic, Part VIII

Discussion in 'Louisiana' started by 134282, Nov 13, 2003.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 3, 2002
    40,647
    California
    Full Name:
    Carbon McCoy
    Saturday night, for me at least, was the last event of the weekend. I wasn’t there for Sunday’s all out private high speed Ferrari parade through the French Quarter, so I can’t speak of it. My flight was scheduled to leave at 8:10AM Sunday morning. So Saturday night was when the weekend came to a close for me.

    …and what a close it was. How does one begin DEScribing the lengths John & Franco went to make sure this event was the best of the year…? Can mere words convey the thought, time, imagination and no-expense-spared attitude with which this event was approached…? No. However, words are all I have, so we’ll just have to make do.

    After Monte dropped me off at the hotel, Matt and I were reunited, preparing for the Black Tie Ball at the Bourbon Vieux. Matt was tux’ed out, looking every bit the part of a young VIP on his way to having a very memorable night. My black suit/white shirt/black tie ensemble would have to make do. We were running late and rushed from our hotel to The Windsor Court, hoping to catch a ride to Bourbon Street. Well, we did…

    …in the last horse-drawn carriage left. That’s right. A horse-drawn carriage escorted Matt and I from The Windsor to The Bourbon Vieux. Like I said, no expense was spared. In the two front seats of the carriage were two sealed, plastic bags. One for Matt, one for myself. Each containing beads. Lots of beads. We tore into our bags, removing the beads and relocating them around our necks.

    Bourbon Street was crowded and, upon arrival, we exited the carriage and made our way through the throngs of people, into the building and up the stairs. There were beads everywhere. We went out on to the balcony, where a majority of the people already were. There was barely enough room to squeeze in on the edge, to start throwing beads down at the bare-breasted women in the street. But I managed to find a space.

    Judiciously tossing beads to the eager, skin-flashing peDEStrians below was entertaining, to say the least. Lined up in a row on the railing, we all did this, laughing and talking with the people below until we were called in. It was time for dinner. A short awards ceremony preceded the meal.

    Since it was decided that it would take too long to give out the awards for the winner’s of the concourso, only select awards were given away. The Spirit Award, The Females’ Choice Award & The Obert Award were but a few. John had mentioned that, months prior to the event, he was looking at Swarovski or some other such crystal to use as awards this year. Then Franco mentioned that his father was a glassmaker in Italy and they could have awards custom-made. And that’s exactly what they did.

    To the left of the podium was a table. Atop that table, sat prancing horses, made of glass. Each prancing horse award stood at least a foot tall. They were gorgeous. A sort of final touch of very epic(urean) proportions to a weekend whose every moment spoke of a very upscale quality. To get into detail about bartering beads with breast-baring women doesn’t suit the end of my story very well. I feel it incumbent upon me to express to you, even a modicum of the degree to which these days’ events were planned out and staged. However, my words just don’t seem to be enough; so I’ll end this with someone else’s.

    Ray Meringues was given The Spirit Award Saturday night for having the best spirit throughout the weekend. On Saturday morning, while being unloaded, his Enzo was scratched. Two horizontal scratches, one noticeably deeper than the other, about 3 or 4 inches long, adorned the driver’s side rear quarter panel of this yellow super car. Ray took it in stride and decided to forget about it by taking his 360 GT out on the track for some good ol’ thrashing. Shortly after getting on the track, the clips on the bonnet of his GT unhooked, thus allowing the hood to pop up and crush his windshield. Later on, a warning light came up on the dashboard of his Enzo, indicating his rear spoiler wasn’t functioning properly. He was having a hell of a day. Not to mention that the same people who unloaded his Enzo were responsible for reloading it at the end of the day. Still, DESpite these occurrences, Ray kept a great attitude.

    When he went up to the stage Saturday night to accept The Spirit Award, he said:
    “I’ve been having a great weekend and, if this is what it takes to have this much fun next year, I’ll take a baseball bat and smash all the windows of my Enzo.”

    If that doesn’t sum it up for you, I don’t know what will.
     
  2. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
    That was great DES. Lucky DOG you are!

    DJ
     
  3. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    LOL, great response. Sounds like a fantastic time, congrats!
     
  4. jordan747_400

    jordan747_400 F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 9, 2002
    6,928
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Jordan
    Great story DES! Ray sounds like a great guy :)
     
  5. Matt LaMotte

    Matt LaMotte Formula 3

    Oct 30, 2002
    1,874
    Great job on the story as always! You were definitly the sharper dressed of the two of us. You saw how long it took me to put that tux together.


    Everyone I cannot say enough how much fun the two of us had at the event. Even though both of us are only enthusiast all the owners there made us feel like we a part of the whole event. The party on the balcony was to say the least amazing. The entire corner we were on was slammed packed when we pulled up in the carriage. Everyone on the balcony had the light up beads flashing and the big Pirelli sponsor flags really made the whole top floor stand out. As soon as we joined everyone on the balcony and looked down onto the crowd you could tell it was going to be a blast. DES instantly became a hit with the crowd and showed his true "ladies man" side. I don't think we could have seen more skin across the street at Rick Cabaret! The food was amazing as everything else we had ate all weekend. John and Franco did an excellent job presenting everyone the awards and entertaining the crowd. I thouroughly enjoyed the stories about the past few days and the preview about what was to come next year.

    After the award ceremony it was back to the balcony where we continued to party until late into the night. Eventually things began to wind down and the numerous shots of tequila caught up to me. DES and I closed down the party and hit Bourbon Street. There was no shortage of people partying the night away and we strolled down the street way to over dressed but still enjoying our last night in town. It had been a weekend we'll never forget and until you experience the whole event you will never understand what you missed. Even though I have tons of amazing pictures, they simply don't convey the whole event. I have to say thanks again to John H for making the whole thing possible for me. Without him I'd just have been another spectator in the crowd and I truly owe you one John. Also a big thanks to Kelly, Dave G and Dale S for the rides in the Ferrari. I hope to see you and everyone else there next year.
     
  6. Boudewijn

    Boudewijn F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa

    May 15, 2003
    4,133
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Boudewijn Berkhoff
    DES, do you write by profession? I very much enjoy your tales.
     
  7. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 3, 2002
    40,647
    California
    Full Name:
    Carbon McCoy
    Thanks, guys... :)


    Boudewijn, that's the biggest compliment anyone could ever give me, thank you... No, unfortunately, i don't write for a living, although i would love to... Right now, i'm so DESperate to get out of here, i'll take a good paying job just about anywhere; writing for a car magazine holds the most importance... i'd move just about anywhere for a job like that...
     
  8. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,458
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    DES, bro - don't quit the day job yet. Write, though. Let the day job pay for what it needs to while you do what you want. But Write. That's what I'm doing, but I'm working on Screenplays.

    If it means writing a book about the French Quarter Classic, then so be it. This is simply page VIII of your summary, and it simply takes the reader there.Storytelling is the original and still, the best mode of transportation. Transporting one from one time and place to another, without leaving the comfort of where they may be, one is in another time, another place.

    Given time, you'll find yourself holding keys to the very reason you're on this board. Ferrari.

    Now, get out there and write the great Italian-American Novel, dammit.
     
  9. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 3, 2002
    40,647
    California
    Full Name:
    Carbon McCoy
    Wax, LOL, i'm not quitting the day job - just in DESperate search of another, higher-paying one...

    Novels were never my thing, i need to stick with the short-story-type write-ups... :)
     

Share This Page