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Early Ferraris at Chateau Elan | Ferrari 275 GTB |
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.
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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!
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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.
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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!)
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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
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.
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.