Carmel, 14 August 2009
As in previous years, the 3000 tickets for the seventh running of
“The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering” were sold out almost as
soon as they went on sale, some subsequently being re-sold for
far above the face value, and equally so media passes were as
rare as the proverbial “hen’s teeth”. There was what one might
kindly describe as a “sound of silence” from the press office in the
weeks leading up to the event. However, as we feel that it is our
duty to maximise coverage of as many events as possible during
the Monterey week, we managed to gain access towards the end
of the day, but unfortunately this does not convey the true
atmosphere of what is undoubtedly a great gathering of superb
automobiles and motorcycles.
This year, the motor sport themed gathering featured 50 Years of
the Daytona International Speedway, 30 Years of BMWs “M”
(Motorsport) Division, a Tribute to Hans Joachim Stuck and the
Cars of Bill Devin, alongside their regular categories. There was
also a class titled “The Great Ferraris”, encompassing an eclectic
selection of the desirable products from Maranello, ranging from a
1951 212 Export Vignale Coupé to a 1998 F355 Challenge
car, with a 212/225 Inter Touring Barchetta, a 500 TR and a
250 GTO amongst the thirty two examples on display in total. A
further delectable Ferrari was shown in the Post-war Sports Cars
Class, this being the dark blue ex-Prince Bernhard 250 GT
“Speciale”, chassis # 0725GT, and the yellow Dino 206 S
“Competizione Speciale”, chassis # 034/10523 was featured
in the Post-war Competition Cars Class. Another “Ferrari” worthy
of mention was the faithful recreation of a 158 F1 car, as used
by John Surtees to win the 1964 Mexican Grand Prix, liveried in
the US blue and white racing colours and entered under the NART
banner, carrying chassis # “BARBER 01”, so at least there is no
deception as to what it is. The Best of Show Award went to the
svelte red Touring bodied 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B
Cabriolet, chassis # 412026, owned by Bob Lee from Nevada.
The show also featured the North American unveiling of the
Porsche Panamera, with a large Porsche pavilion housing a
showroom and test drive centre not far from the concours field.
Other new models on display were Lamborghini’s Gallardo LP
550-2 Valentino Balboni, constructed as a tribute to their world
renowned test driver of that name, Aston Martin’s latest DBS
Volante soft top, plus Confederate Motors latest radical
motorcycle design, their P120 Fighter Combat.
Major Awards
Rolex Circle of Champions Best of Show Award
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B owned by Bob Lee
FIVA Award
1953 Ferrari 375 America owned by Jamie Muldoon
Road and Track Editor’s Choice Award
1954 Kurtis 500KK owned by Roger Hoffman
30th Anniversary of BMW’s Motorsport Division
1980 BMW M1 owned by Christopher Provo
50 Years of Daytona International Speedway
1964 250 GTO owned by John McCaw
The Cars of Bill Devin
1959 SS Prototype owned by Richard and Susan Haskell
Tribute to Hans-Joachim Stuck
BMW 3.0 CSL owned by Mark Leonardo
The Great Ferraris
1951 212 Europa Touring Barchetta owned by Skeets Dunn
Pre-War Sports & Racing Cars
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B owned by Bob Lee
Post-War Sports Cars
Fiat 8V “Supersonic” owned by David & Ginnie Sydorick
Post-War Racing Car Award
1955 Porsche Spyder 550 owned by Cheryl and Peter Dunkel
Sport and Racing Motorcycles Award
1970 Triumph T120 RT owned by Richard Varner
Super Cars Award
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV owned by Enrique Landa
The Quail Lodge Award
Delahaye 135 M owned by Peter & Merle Mullin
Keith Bluemel/David O’Neill
08/2009
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