June 1999

Old and new Ferraris at Atlanta meet.

June Monthly Meeting

     Richard Hipwood with a Maserati, Jeff and April Berg with their porsche 911sc just back from their honeymoon in Paris, Norman and Patrick Wiggins (MAARC) with their 1981 Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce, Ken Fleming with his blue over white 68 Healey 3000, John Hauser (MAARC) with his 63 Healey 3000, Thor Mirchandani (MAARC) with his red Ferrari 365GTC, Bill and Brad Craig (MAARC) in their red Porsche Boxster, Jim Clarkson (MAARC) in his red Ferrari 328, Terry Freeman in his 86 Alfa Romeo Spyder Graduate, David Hampton in his Datson 280Z, Adam Berusch in his Ferrari 512 BBi all the way from the Queen City, Brian Cury on his Yamaha Y2F-R1, Terry Diemart who is currently restoring his 79 alfa Romeo Spyder, Don Ferree (MAARC) who owns a 64 Alfa Romeo Spyder and who is going to Kansas for the National Convention next week, Tim Simmons (MAARC) with his 94 Alfa romeo Spyder Veloce CE, John Harrill (MAARC) who is restoring his 57 Alfa Romeo Guilietta, Jack O’Brien in his white MGA, Steve Karapetian in his Ferrari 308GTS, Blake Frazier in his 85 Nissan 300zx, and Greg Dixon in his 85 Alfa Romeo GTV6.

     Congratulations to Eddie Smith  who won a platinum for his NART Spyderand Tim Gallahger who won a platinum for his 330 GT 2+2 at the National Ferrari Concours at Chateau Elan in May.  Special wishes to Jeff and April Berg who just exchanged their vows and celebrated in Paris. Congratulations and wishes for a continued good season to Greg Dixon the chief Mechanic who has helped Mat Drendale win 5 of the Ferrari Challenge races this year putting Mr Drendale within 5 points of 1st in the challenge series. Welcome to Norm Wiginton and Terry Freeman  and Terry Dimart all three of whom bought Alfa Romeo Spyders in the last 30 days!

     God Speed and great fun to Don Ferree who is traveling to Kansas City for the National Alfa Romeo Convention; Jim and Pierce Clarkson, Blake Frazier, and Adam Berusch who are travelling to Montreal for the Formula One Race and John Hauser, Jack O’Brien,  and Ken Flemming who will be competing in the BCDS time speed distance rally this weekend.

     We mourn the loss of Bill Wood who died of his injuries two weeks ago after falling 40 feet in his church.  Bill was a true Gentleman, Christian and Sports Car enthusiast.

     Attending the National Ferriari meet with their cars were Tim Gallagher 330GT 2+2, Eddie Smith 365 NART Spyder, Jim Clarkson Ferrari 328, Adam Berusch Ferrari 512 BBi, Thor Mirchandani Ferrari 365 GTC, and John Hauser, Blake Frazier, Steve Barney.  The event was absolutely a blast from the diversity of cars spanning the Gerhardt Berger F1, the 1998 Daytona and Sebring winning Momo Ferrari 333Sp to Ferrari 250 SWB,  Ferrari 340s, to the Maranello and 355F1 on  up to the F40 and F50 .

     The Pence Springs Tour was a blast although there were only British and German cars in attendance.
Ciao john hauser

Corsa Rossa at the Ferrari Club of America
National Meeting in Atlanta, GA!

John and I started out at the crack of dawn Thursday morning in my Ferrari 365. Apart from some morning rush traffic outside Charlotte, it was mooth sailing all the way down to Georgia. We arrived at the Chateau just in time for the concours. The Chateau, of course, looks like something out of a Gothic romance, complete with a string quartet entertaining on the lawn. And all-u-can-eat Ferraris, as far as the eye could see! We quickly parked, grabbed our cameras and immersed ourself in the "Red Sea". After a while we managed to find fellow Corsa Rossicans Jim Clarkson, Blake Frazier and Adam Berush, who had arrived the night before in Jim's 328 and Adam's newly acquired 512BBi. Together we set off to check out the cars.

Sweet little Dino 250 SP coupe	Ferrari F1, as driven by Berger

It was a truly amazing assortment of hundreds of road and race cars, parked according to category. There were more 308s, 328s, 348s and Testarossas parked along the drive up to the chateau than I ever seen before at one time. Rather intimidating, actually, and truly spectatcular.

We ran into some old friends: Corsa Rossa supporter Tim Gallaher from Asheville, NC was there with his immaculate green twin-headlight 330 GT2+2. And Eddie Smith from Salisbury, NC had brought his breathtaking red NART Spyder, which he has owned since new. Peter Krause from Raleigh, NC should have gotten the best dressed award. But I'm digressing!

330 SP Sebring/Daytona winner	Two immaculate 275 MM

There were too many cars to mention them all, so I'll concentrate on some of my favorites. In the racing catgory were several 333SP, including the Daytona/Sebring winner, a Gerhard Berger F1 car, a 250 SWB, a couple of 512 BBLM, and to my excitement no less than two Dino 206 SP, my personal favorite sports racer. One of the Dinos, drove around quite a bit, and treated us to that characteristic Dino V-6 sound. Not a silken "Vrrooom", or mighty "Roaarrr" like most Ferraris, but a loud, testy "BRRRRRAAAAAP-P-P". Like the worlds biggest chainsaw with a bad hangover.OK, so I'm a big kid - I just love that kind of stuff!

Then there were the forties, fifties and early sixties cars, parked in front of the Chateau. There were two identical 275 MM berlinetta, a beautiful blue and white 340 MM barchetta, a 212 Inter berlinetta, two 250 GT Lusso, several Spider California, a 250 PF Spyder, a 250 Mille Miglia barchetta with a weird fin behind the driver's seat, a PF Coupe and a 125 Spyder Corsa replica, to mention a few.

250 GT Lusso - 100 point car	Classic lines of 250 GT SWB

On the other side of the drive were the 275s parked. A nice red GTS, and several GTB and GTB/4, along with a lone 330 GTC, and of course Eddie Smith's killer NART Spyder. By now we were overheating from sheer excitement, so we snuck into the winery to cool off. Although it was out of bounds for mere mortals, by virtue of being for judges only, we conned our way out on the baclony. What a view! Red cars on green grass as far as the eye could see! (They say of Emperor Heliogabalus, one of the most digraceful of the Roman heads of state, that he used to slaughter slaves on his lawn, because he enjoyed red on green so much. Although I strongly take exception to his morals and ethics, and general conduct,viewing the cars from the balcony made me appreciate his aesthetics.)

Back on the lawn, there were boxers of all variations, F40s, F50s, open and closed open and closed Daytonas, Dinos big and small, a 365 GT, a Superamerica, 330 2+2, 250 GTEs, Mondials, 355s. You name it! We had to take a break, so we found and sampled the buffet. Delicious. (On the way there I found a gorgeous silver Maserati Ghibli Spider - but that's another story!)

Tim Gallaher's 330 2+2	Unusual 250 MM with fin

After lunch was the award ceremony. Lots of platinum cars paraded by us. We managed to find time to check out the vendors. If one had a fat wallet one could buy such goodies as Nuvolari's wrist watch and Ascari's blue helmet. Most of us, however, had to make do with lapel pins and stickers. All in all, a most rewarding day!

Jim, Adam and Blake were going to stay for the duration of the event, but John and I had to return to reality, and so we started our way home. We decided on a two-stop strategy, with a gas/windshield de-bugging stop, and a longer stop for dinner in Greenville, SC. What a trip! See you next year?
Thor Mirchandani

Corsa Rossa’s European Car Festival Update!

Our annual European Car Festival which began as an Italian Festival for the Italian olympic team in July of 1996 with 60 Italian cars on display evolved into a European Car Festival in October of 1998 with 120 cars. Given the pleasant response to last year’s festival we have the Southeast Region of the Ferrari Club holding their fall concours at the show. Also in response to our choosing this year to honor Phil Hill one of the United States’ most famous racing drivers this year, Brown Fox Books has donated 22 copies of Phil Hill: Yankee Champion to the awards for the 22 classes.

For those of you who do not have a copy of the book you can order one from Mark Godfrey at Brown Fox books at 1 800 450 7949. The book traces Phil hill’s career from his early midget racing days in California, to the Carera Panamerican Road Race to LeMans and his 1961 Gran Prix championship win with Ferrari. This 6X9 inch hardback has an extensive index and 114 beautiful and exciting images. The cost is $39.50 and $4.50 for shipping. We will have John Hauser’s current and Jack O’Brien’s 1961 edition at our May 11th meeting.

We are contemplating a tour instead of a rally after the show this year and would like your input. We had 26 cars drive the rally and many more request a driving tour encompassing the mountains around Hanging Rock and pilot Mountain State Parks outside of town coupled with a drive through of historic Bethania, Bethabra and old Salem. If you are new to the area and Corsa Rossa, for more information on last years show including registration, awards and photographs Click Here!

For information on the Festival call either Steve Karapetian at 336 766 1785 or Thor Mirchandani at 336 773 1008.

Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club Tour of Italy

The tour includes visiting Monte Catini near Florence, Rimini, San Morino to visit the San Marino Car museum with its collection of Racing Alfas, Ferraris, Maseratis, Lancias, Fiats, Oscas, etc. Then on to Milan via Maranello for lunch at the Cavellino ristorante and a Ferrari factory tour which has not yet been confirmed. In Milan there will be a tour of the Alfa Romeo Museum and reserved seats for the Italian Gran prix. The cost is $2,550 per person plus air fair estimated at $1,100 from Newark to Rome and back. The trip is planned for 32 people. Call Barry Ward at 1-800-333-8016.