Palm Beach Cavallino Classic

Anthony please provide photographic evidence of said eye candy for the purpose of research or it did not happen.

Regarding sales caps and regulations I recall the first Cavallino Classic in 1992, I was the only one who had rented three booths, one each for the paintings of a French artist, my car enthusiast tours, both under the porticco, and my brokerage with a client's Daytona and 330GT 4 headlight on the far end of the lawn.

I had to get THREE temporary city of Palm beach business licences for the day...! And these chaps from the city came to review said licences very studiously...

A chat with Phil Hill that day, the first of quite a few, made up for it.

 

Same issue in Carmel and why that aspect of Monterey weekend nearly died. Locals are very tired of it. It has come back just a bit I think mostly because they felt the economic impact. I suspect if Cavallino never came back Palm Beach at large would never notice an economic impact.

 

If you've never seen those cars before it might be worth it, I get that. Keep in mind we used to pay $35 to go to the thursday and friday track day at Moroso where you would see multiple 250 GTO's, TR's, etc doing hot laps!!!! They would race wheel to wheel just like back in the day! The cars on hand parked in the paddock alone were a concours. I really can't convey how high the caliber of cars was back then. IIRC one year they had all the 166 Spyder Corsa's on the front lawn, one in the raw.

I'm happily married to a Brasilian so I know better than to leave incriminating photos on my phone! Sorry!

Ah, south Florida! Remind me to tell you about the problem the Breakers had with Russian hookers hanging out at the bar soliciting their clientele!

 

Smart husband

I wonder if those Russian escorts were the same I saw at Villa d'Este 2022, just kidding, they had somehow bought VIP tickets to hunt there...

And yes the early years of the Classic were fantastic, apart of my 250LM 6051 and 333SP 019 test drive articles I had some many rides at Moroso in fantastic machinery, owners were very generous, wonderful memories.

 

Was not that long ago and during Cavallino. The main bar was a great evening show.

 

Based on pics I’ve seen on FB, the Classic Sports Sunday looks like it had an awesome turnout. There looks to have been a 575 Zagato on display there.

And of course, Trump made an appearance.


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then the Breakers spoiled the room...Malcolm

 

The Tour ending in Carmel on Thursday was a highlight of the week. So much of the draw to these events is seeing the cars in motion. When I first started going to the Monterey week in the late 90's there were just incredible cars everywhere on the streets. A friend was waiting outside the Portola Hotel in Monterey, struck up a conversation with a 250 GTO owner, who then took him for a ride in the hills. Magical. I used to see 30's Bentleys parked outside the wine shop in Monterey, etc, etc. People drove their cars everywhere, then. Palm Beach was a little like that, as well, in years past.

 

I get it. People pay up to live there and can easily do without the aggro.

I’d rather go to that than Cavallino.

 

I've experienced Monterey similarly since early 90's, with tons of vintage cars being driven on the streets during the week (& a half), but in past 10-15 years those have become a very rare occasions and most events having become more"Lifestyle" oriented, I've lost interest in most.
I too used to run into all kinds of vintage cars from pre-war classics and sports cars to 250GTOs at random gas stations, hotel/motel/store parking lots, etc.
One of my biggest regrets was a long time ago at a hotel parking, when another guest, an owner of a mid-fifties A-M drop-head whom I've never met before tossed me its key after our 15-20 minute conversation next to his car and I had asked "how does something like this drive", but I chickened out even after asking if he was serious and he replied "Sure, but if you're taking it on the highway, you want to go get more fuel first".

 

I quit driving a Ferrari to Monterey several years before I quit going simply because the entire peninsula is grid locked and there is no place to park. No reason to subject a good car to that. Take a Ferrari to Laguna Seca up the long steep hill at the entrance in stop and go traffic. Uh....no.

 

Sunday was really nice. Picture perfect day at a gorgeous setting. A few repeats from Saturday and a small selection of various marques. Yes, the Zagato 575 was there.

I have a short reel on my instagram @hotshoestudios



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Yes, that is understandable. The roads were probably clogged with Lamborghinis. The last few years we went, it was a joke for my wife and I to say "oh, look, another Lamborghini!"
Still, about 2009, there was a McLaren F1 in our hotel parking lot, uncovered. And not a fancy place at all.
Things have changed.

 

Yes, starting on page 29 and then again on page 32 :

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I stopped counting at 170 Ferrari on the field and part of the event ( I did not count the parking lot )
Yes, I did include the FNA presentation of new models on the field, whether or not they are appreciated due to their newness, they were part of the event.

How many vintage Ferrari have to be in attendance in order for an event to be considered a success or not still confuses me.
I counted fifty seven pre-1974 models , thirty nine of which were pre-1970 , eleven were pre-1960

I am sure I missed a few, I was in " business mode " most of the day Saturday.

S

 

We determined Marcel was given incomplete information by Canossa. I forget the exact number but there was over 100 judged cars. It was a high number. It was as I said artificially pumped up. One of the judged cars I know the owner of told me he had no intention of having it judged but they raised the price of display only to considerably higher than judged cars. Everyone with long time history at the event do agree less overall cars and less rare, early or special cars. I did not pay a great deal of attention to the lower lawns except to the Supercars and TRs. While cars at Cavallino have always covered a lot of ground quality wise I was disappointed in the average quality in the Supercars.

 

I'm curios, how many years have you been going to Cavallino? Where you around back when they had the track days at Moroso?

I definitely think the show was slightly better this year than last. They were better organized and the morning drive in wasn't the cluster **** it was last year. I'd say attendance was roughly the same.

Things they can improve:

- Quality and quantity of the front lawn. Granted if you have never been before it was ok but compared to years past it was weak. No way the SP3 should have been up there
- Better pricing structure for entrants and patrons. The perceived value stopped many from entering cars. Lol, at least include two tickets
- Tone down the whole "red carpet" vibe its repulsive and not needed.
- Stop the constant barrage of marketing focus on "money, money, money". Perhaps focus on the heritage, history, etc. We all know the cars are valuable
- Hire people to do the end of day drive up that are knowledgeable or keep it to the point by just announcing the winners
- Try to fix the tour from just being a new car dealer parade. Maybe add an award that would boost vintage car entry like Pebble
- Add more symposiums on the process, judging, etc.
- Partner with an auction company and book the Convention Center right down the street for an auction, vendor spaces, restoration shop displays, etc.
- Move the dealer display space west more and give that space to 275's, etc. as in the past (or ditch it completely)
- Encourage more historic race car participation with award classes and by using the area where the TR's were (as in the past)
- Invite historic speakers such as Brian Redman, Vic Elford, etc. for a Q@A session, etc.
- Bring back the on field bars for water and champagne
- Lose the boat display. If you need that money at least use the space for cars.

How's that? Keep in mind like I said earlier this is based off my many years of going. A newbie you went for the first time would probably think it was great.

You should also remember the competition this show is up against and the standard of events we have here. In the month of February alone we have the Motor Car Cavalcade, Boca Nova, The Design District Concours, Miami Nova and Amelia. We just also had Das Ren Trefen for Porsche fans. The Palm Event is also coming up. Every single month we have a Supercar Saturday and numerous other free events that have endless modern Ferrari's, Bugatti's, Pagani's, McLaren's and so on. the local Cars and Coffee in Palm Beach regularly draws over 1,000 cars. Everything from ricers to Senna's and Porsche 962's. Oh and that's free too.

All of that doesn't include the many, many local FCA events. We have three active chapters all with 70 miles.

 

When and where is the Palm Beach Cars and Coffee?

 

https://www.carsandcoffeepb.com/

 

Cavallino is a special event. For sure it's gotten pricey. I heard they want to keep the tire kickers out, but almost 500 bills for ONE ticket is a bit much. The entry fee doesn't even get you a bottle of water for pete's sake. For sure there were LESS cars this year than last, but still incredible to be on a show field with 5 F40's (and a blue one in the parking lot), 3 i think F50's including one in Rosso Barchetta which looked amazing, 2 real GTO's that were in unreal condition. The show's slant certainly has shifted to the "latest and greatest" in Ferrari's with less focus on the history of Ferrari which is a shame. Was AMAZING to meet and get a pic with Sly Stallone on the show field. Attendance was the same as last year, so the price increase didn't deter too many attendees......Will see what happens. Will be at the FCA event in Florida later this month (will be my first there) so interested to see the comparison in the two shows.

 

One of the problems to me is it has become a place for flippers, whether licensed car sales businesses or the private variety are using to get a quick platinum and bump the price of their cars. A lot of the cars on the field last Saturday are today up for sale. The easy platinums are not helping.