Ottawa Ferrari Festival 2004

Yes, went to the show and now working on the pictures to post.

 

about 50 cars. not as many as was expected.only 3 of us from the montreal area. I don't want to take away anything from this years organizers, I'm sure that they tried their best, but it was no comparison to last year's event. Most of the FCA members that I met and spoke with that attended last year's event were dissapointed. Most were saying that they would not return if there is no change in venue. Next year's event should be held once again on Preston, just make it safer for the spectators. All in all my family and I had a good time, we had supper at Giovanni's, by far the best Italian restaurant on Preston st. We were warmly recieved at the Italian's Ambassador'r residence for cocktails. Nice dinner and opera at the Ottawa Congress Centre and this morning breakfast at Kosmo's in Gatineau. Promenade du Portage was closed for Ferraris only. Will post some pics later.

 

Go to general discussion to see picks.

 

The ticket sales were advertised in the Sun newspaper for a _couple of weeks_ as $7 at the gate. Three days before the event (please don't refer to it as a festival, that's more in keeping with the earlier 2003 event which was held as part of the Italian Week Festival) the ads changed. Of course, I didn't notice, since the organizer cleverly altered the price to DOUBLE the previously advertised amount with text half the size of the $7 price which remained within the ad (same place, same size). The smaller $14 label had an additional asterisked fine print reference (additional charges may apply) tucked away at almost an illegible size. The $7 ticket price was supposed to be available for ticketmaster advance sales. The unfortunate part of the process was that ticketmaster did not have any information on this event up to the end of May!

There's more agravating elements to the story that I'll be writing up in my publication Corso Italia News (Ottawa) but this episode was enough to put me over the edge.

I was told by the marketing coordinator at the Sun newspaper that the changes were made by Greg Hotte, the promoter Marc Carroll Dupuis (organizer) hired on for the job.

I saw a clip on the CJOH news showing the cars crawling around the track. I guess the frost heaves took their toll last winter. The front dams for most of the cars seemed like they were getting dangerously close to removing some money from Mr Dupuis' extraordinarily enlargened wallet (depending on how many of us enthusiasts here in Ottawa showed our faces). If anyone has any first hand news they'd like to report of the event, I'd appreciate an email or private message.

But, not to worry, the 2005 Italian Week Ferrari Event (organized and guided by the SPIRIT and talent of the people from Little Italy and the Italian community here in Ottawa, the same folk who put on the 2003 rave) will definitely enliven your enthusiasm once again. Stay tuned.



Scott Fowler
editor/publisher
CORSO ITALIA NEWS
www.corsoitalia.net