http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-6/110119838062010.xml In reference to the French Quarter Classic Ferrari Charity Event By Coleman Warner Dear Sir: Where are your stories of the rampant unescorted Harley riders.... Loud, drunk and dangerous...usually without helmets....stopping traffic for hours....Steel pony doesn't create problems or safety issues? Please send me your story on that. How about Mardi Gras? The city is interrupted for weeks? Drunk drivers, fights, explicit sexual displays, streets closed...all for a big party? Where is your story there? Is this about successful businessmen that have contributed to the economy out celebrating their love for an automotive worldwide legend? Is this just some childish jealously of FERRARI drivers? Tell me how many accidents, rapes, robberies, destruction of property and general mayhem result from Mardi Gras? Please...let's sit together and go over the statistics... The Ferrari group has escorted, protected police service and you are complaining...is it any wonder that New Orleans is filthy, unsuccessful and the 5th most dangerous city in the country... Spend your time reporting murders, investigating the reasons for the lack of business investment, poverty and the continued hipocracy of the city. You complain about a successful citizen (Mr. Valobra) donating equipment to the NOPD... raising money for cancer charities... Contibuting to New Orleans and offering an event that exposes New Orleans to some of the most successful businessmen and women in the country? Do you or those complaining have any idea who came to this event... let's just say it was some of the biggest names in international business.... once again New Orleans shows its shortsightedness... what a bunch of twits. Best Regards, Christopher Winfield
Great Letter Christopher! I was also outraged when I read the article in the morning paper. I thought Franco's responses were very well done and well said. Are you sending this letter in to the "Times Pic-your-nose" paper? I hope so! Flash
"We can't all be heroes, someone has to stand on the curb and applaud." Will Rogers Many thanks to the Police Department for the FINE job they did with traffic control, the entire weekend.........an awesome job.
Yes, I sent it to the Times-Picayune letters to the editor as well as the writer of the article. I should have applauded the fine job that NOPD, JP and State Police did...I regret not saying more about them. Best Regards, Christopher P.S. Thank you letters should be sent to NOPD, JP and the State Police for their part in protecting us and the cars.
I'd write a letter... but as an out-of-towner, mine wouldn't have much value. A letter needs to be written to applaud the Police for doing such a fabulous job of controlling things such that it would be safe; and Franco and John for being so conscientious as to keep the group of Ferraris from ever even being tempted to be bad... because they always had a police escort while in town. Near-misses as bicyclists tried to cross the street? PUHLEEASE! There were police at every intersection! Bicyclists are in far more danger from the crazy cab drivers on a normal day than they were during the parade. Deaf people wandering into the street? Deaf and blind, maybe. If a deaf person wanders into the street without looking, they're not going to live long on a normal day. Blind people shouldn't be jay-walking on a normal day... if they want to see the next day... and if the blind person was trying to cross at an intersection, there was a Policeman sitting there to advise them. The article babbled some unsubstantiated nonsense, putting it together in a way to sound far more dangerous than reality... making something that was very good look bad. The only justifiable complaint is that the cars are loud; they would certainly disturb a "quiet" stroll that Sunday morning. Some NO resident, please send that in for me!
I thanked the NOPD Captain personally, as I left the Sunday Luncheon. Also, spent some time touring an officer thru the Windsor Court Garage after we returned from the Donaldsonville track.....he was quite impressed with the machinery. I was more than happy to spend a little time discussing the various different models and history. Most of those guys are performance enthusiasts as well, you know.
Hey Brian, I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but, your car was featured in the accompanying photo. I have an extra copy if you want it. PM me where to send it if you do. Dave
I was somewhat amused by the article until I read the last line: "I get upset at these lazy people that don't do anything but just criticize," Valobra said. "They don't see the good things." When I read Franco call them lazy, I started laughing uncontrollably. And then I started wondering...which part of the "good things" was he specifically referring to?
Brian, Franco and I were the ones who sent your picture to the paper. I hope you don't mind. We knew it was coming, send your letters if you like but please do not reference Ferrari Chat at all. We have some guest reference how fast they were going in the quarter and the way this reporter was he was just looking to make this thing blow up. Now it is over and we can start planing for next year. Hopefully this will all just go away. Kelly Image Unavailable, Please Login
That's such horse ****... Nice, letter, Chris; i hope you sent it in... Now i feel embarrased to have had my picture in that tabloid...
?.? hehe This, my friends, was an article written by a jealous, ill informed individual who has no idea about the professionalism that was put forth by Franco and others to make sure that this event was seemless and safe.
From the article: "Weiss is part of a small crowd of people still fuming" At least it is not a big group complaining. Next year I suggest that all the deaf & blind people on bicycles be removed from the Quarter on Sunday. Maybe we should give them rides in the cars so that they will be safe.
Since when did Ferrari owners become ricers...what a joke! People are always looking for any reason to complain.
Paul, You had me laughing for about 5 minutes when I read that! I think you should fire off a letter to the editor... I am appalled how one-sided and incorrect that article is -- the author doesn't even have the dates right, let alone half of the other things he is writing about there. Sadly, this is the type of writing I've come to expect from the Times-Picayune, which sources half of their daily material from the AP anyhow. Sheesh!
Like in everything, you can't make everybody happy. I thought that the police had the crowd toitaly under control and if we made noice, the crowd sure loved it. At my return at the airport, I was approched by a reporter from a traveling magazine.(travel girl ) She wanted to interview me so she could tell her readers not to miss next year Ferrari event in N.O. She watched the parade and enjoyed like most people the show. She was very happy to hear about the $ amount for charity that Franco $ John raised. Maybe the word should be "jalousy". My hat the the N.O club, great job where we, the cars owners wouldn't attend if they were risk to our expensive cars and to the public. Roland F40LM
When I got on to the plane to go home, the 3 people in the seats in front of me were all talking about the "big line of Ferraris in the French Quarter" on Sunday. I didn't say anything to them, but let it sink in how cool it is to be involved with the event.
I was having lunch in Madison MS, on Monday in a SMALL out of the way spot. After finishing the ribs, greens, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, we got up to leave.....spying my Ferrari of Houston Challenge jacket, a couple coming in stopped me and begin to tell of the "awesome parade" they had seen in New Orleans the previous day. Valeria started laughing and I said, "We were the little blue one......" They were stoked!
<I USE LARGE PRINT SO I CAN READ WHAT I TYPE ... PLEASE BEAR WITH ME> IF 200 MPH COULD BE DONE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER, A FERRARI WOULD BE THE RIGHT CAR TO DO THE DEED. IT SEEMS RATHER DIFFICULT, DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE WALKING ABOUT AND VEHICLES PARKED ALONG THOSE TIGHT STREETS. I HAVE OWNED A FEW FERRARIS IN MY LIFE. I ALSO AM A HARLEY RIDER. A FERRARI IS A FANTASTIC AUTOMOBILE. A HARLEY IS A GREAT BIKE. ANYONE WHO DRIVES EITHER WITH ALCOHOL IN THEIR BLOOD STREAM IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. BOTH VEHICLES SHOULD BE DRIVEN WITH RESPECT. THIS LEADS UP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH ... STEEL PONY EXPRESS ... WHAT IS THAT??? FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED, IT'S A BIG BIKE SHOW @ THE UNIV. OF NEW ORLEANS CAMPUS, THE END OF OCTOBER. WITHOUT ALCOHOL BEING SERVED ON THE PREMISES, 80% OF THE ATTENDEES WOULD NOT ATTEND. THAT IS A SHAME, BUT THE TRUTH. I ATTENDED LAST YEAR AND THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE DRINKING AND WHEN THE TIME CAME, LEAVING ON THEIR BIKES. OLD LADIES DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WONDER WHERE THE POLICE ARE? THEY ARE OUT THERE, BUT THEY CAN'T ARREST EVERYONE. NOT JUST BIKERS, BUT PEOPLE IN GENERAL, FLOCK TO THE FRENCH QUARTER TO HAVE ANOTHER ROUND. YES THE BIKE EXHAUSTS ARE NOISY AND SOMEONE MIGHT SHOW THEIR A** EVEN MORE WITH A GOOD BURNOUT OR TWO. BUT THIS NOT THE TIME FOR THE " BLAME GAME." I READ THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE AND THE LADY WHO MADE THE REMARK COULD BE SOMEONE WHO WAS STILL " PINCHED " FROM LAST YEAR'S FRENCH QUARTER CLASSIC. I AGREE WITH FRANCO, WHY CAN'T PEOPLE VISION THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AN EVENT SUCH AS THIS IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS? AND BESIDES, NEW ORLEANS IS A SWINGING, 24 HOUR CITY. RESIDENTS AND/OR VISITORS ALIKE, SHOULD BE AWARE THAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SO DON'T BLAME THE FERRARI CLUB FOR WAKING UP YOUR DOG.
No. There has been the one article, one editorial by the liberal editor, and 3 letters by angry residents. The Liberal Wacko ed. like to stir the pot and what better target than some evil rich republican Ferrari owners. Dave
Can you provide a link for the editorial The event was so awesome, I cant wait to go back next year. I'm amazed this event was even possible in the US Awesome job Franco & John, cheers
...that's about per your forecast ....eh, Dave?????? Sorry for all the trouble.......they'll have a year to calm down.....
