Thanks for the great pictures for those of us who are not there-please keep them flowing
Best of Show (there are two trophies, one for road cars and one for comp cars): The Gran Turismo Cup was won by Peter Kalikow's 212 Export Cabriolet Vignale #0110 E perfectly restored by David Carte. An absolutely sensational restoration which took several years. The Scuderia Ferrari Cup (Competition Best of Show) was won by a 1994 348 Challenge car (i.e. most of the other comp cars were Exhibition Only and non-judged, and none of the other competition cars which were judged achieved the necessary Platinum status to even be considered for Best of Show, etc.). Marcel Massini
Just curious, how long did security checks for each car/couple take at Mar a Lago this morning? Sorry to hear the event is not what it once was, many good memories in 14 attendances... Best regards, Marc
No issues at Mar Lago today. Entry was as fast and easy as in the past and despite the weather there was a reasonable turn out of cars and people.
Thanks, I guess they are very quick and smooth at checking people and cars plus Potus wasn't there so lower security requirements. Best regards, Marc
The only security I noticed was Mar-a-Lago's own security, but plenty of it. In and out was very smooth.
Next year the 348 Challenge will not win again, this one will win ;-) http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/challenge-gt-cars/497136-ferrari-f355-challenge-104415-a.html But great that a Challenge car is in the Spotlight!
And a good guy. I sat across from him at dinner. He needed a bell cart to get all the awards to his car.
Here's my favorite SWB story, I was checking out of the suites hotel in Seaside in 2004 just in time to see a SWB roar up and stop. Guy jumps out and runs into the hotel. Minutes later, he jumps back in the car and roars off to the track. It's this kind of stuff that makes Monterrey special to me.
There is a blessing and a curse to all of this. I know a few ex SWB owners and a few current ones. When these, GTO's, whatever were not the price of big beach houses on private islands people just drove them and loved them. Granted it was harder to get parts and when one was badly damaged it was harder to justify repairing it. Most of the ex owners I know couldn't justify having that much of their net worth in a car and sold them. Yes they did just fine financially but every single one misses the car. Now they are all beautiful but used far less and many do get out to events like this so we get to see them. Jump in them for a six pack run to 7-11? Not so much.
I actually loved the show. It was my first time attending, so I suppose I don't have anything to compare it with, but I thought it was spectacular. A little pricey, I guess, but I didn't think twice about it. It's reputation proceeds it, and I thought it was well worth the price for admission. Hopefully next year there will be a few more super cars. It would have been great to see a 288 and Enzo.
Well put Brian. And, for those who attended, it was a real treat to see this on display. I real gem: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti | Amelia Island 2017 | RM Sotheby's
A friend and I drove his SWB SEFAC comp car up to Crater Lake and I think had lunch in the lodge. A few people wandered over to look at the car but basically it was ignored.
We have an SWB in residence nearby. The owner not only attends local events but drove it to Daytona from Sarasota for the Ferrari bash. It's also seen around and about just being enjoyed.
I had a client years ago with a SWB Cal Spider. He bought it when they were worth nothing and used it all the time. Back when they were low 7 figures we had a conversation about it and he said he still used it to get groceries etc. He said people would tell him it was too valuable to do that he said "to me it is a $5000 car and I'll use it like one. To my heirs it might be worth more but not me". He used it until he died at a ripe old age.
Just last year there was a 250SWB in a campground in Monterey. Owner was hanging out with his mates at their campsite. Mind you he was probably in his 80's and was a long term owner. Still the car was being driven like a regular car but with loads more fun than a Camry! Other cars at that same campsite was the Chev powered Mangusta, a 66 or 67 Toronado, and a few other cool cars.
At Monterey last year, there was a 250 GTO that was raced and driven back and forth to the hotel and left in the parking lot.
An acquaintance parked his 375MM in the parking lot overnight of the Super 8 Motel he was staying at a while back. He was on a road trip. If I mentioned his name people would understand.
