Every year a week before Christmas dozens of Ferraris, huge
crowds of Ferrari dealers, collectors, journalists (unconfirmed
rumours said Mick Walsh "Editor in Chief" from Teddington based
Classic & Sports Car Magzine stayed in bed;-)) and Ferrari
enthusiasts, gather in Gstaad, Switzerland for the Brooks single
marque Ferrari Auction |
An event everybody loves runs through the beautiful landscapes
of northern Italy, giving one access to many places you would not
discover yourself ... |
The Essen Motor Show, which is held annually at the end of the
year in the city of Essen in Germany’s Ruhr area, is Germany’s
second most important exposition for the motor trade; only
biannual Frankfurt’s IAA is more important and does attract more
visitors. 351100 visitors did attend last year’s edition of the Essen
Motor Show. |
With Michael Schumacher having won the F1 Drivers’
Championship three weeks before, and with Ferrari having
clinched the F1 Constructors’ title the previous weekend, there
was no doubt that the end of season Challenge final meeting was
going to be something quite spectacular, and it was! |
German entrepreneur and engineer Franz Wieth of Germering
near Munich has been known as a competitor in the FIA GT
Championship. He usually shares the wheel of his Porsche GT2
with his son Niko. Some years ago, Franz Wieth – who is a
longtime Ferrarista and who owns a number of sports cars made
in Maranello – raced in the Ferrari 348 Challenge. Racing in the
more ”sophisticated” FIA GT Championship generated his interest
in an adequate, |
Although there were only two Ferraris in the automobile section of
the auction, a 340 America Touring berlinetta, chassis # 0126A,
and a 365 GT4/BB, chassis # 17861, there was an interesting
selection of Ferrari related items in the memorabilia section. |
As part of their 40th anniversary celebrations Ferrari U.K.
(Maranello Concessionaires Ltd) held an exhibition of motoring art
at the Air Gallery in London, organised by Grand Prix Sportique. |
The annual Prancing Horse Farm Ferrari gathering celebrated its
silver anniversary in the first year of the new millennium, with a
week long gathering amidst the splendid autumn colours of
Pennsylvania. |
09.-10. September 2000 - Automobile Classic et Louis Vuitton
Parc de Bagatelle Bois de Boulogne Paris, France, |
On September 23rd 2000, the Ferrari Club Netherlands held their
sprintmeeting, this time at the air base “De Peel”. Among the
classic Ferrari, several Ferrari 330 GTC and 330 GT 2+2 (of both
series) owners showed up to have a wonderful day in the autumn
sun enjoying their Ferraris. |
Only one word came to mind when reading the provisional entry
list for the first Targa Florio Revival organised by Patrick Peter
and Rosario Parasiliti: Mouthwatering ! |
Famous names such as ex-Formula 1 drivers Jochen Mass listed
to drive a Porsche 908, and Patrick Tambay to drive a Ferrari 250
GT Competizione, could be found on the list. Four (!) Alfa Romeo
Tipo 33’s were entered to race on the famed Madonie circuit but
eventually ”only” two Tipo 33 Daytona Coupes participated. |
British Ferrari enthusiasts were treated to two new Ferrari models
at the British International Motor Show. The 360 Spider and 550
Barchetta Pininfarina made their British debuts in hall 6 at the
National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, alongside examples of
the other current models in the Ferrari range. |
After the private presentation to selected collectors at Luca di
Montezemolo’s villa on 14/15 September, the 550 barchetta
pininfarina made its public debut at the Paris salon, The Mondial
de l’Automobile at the end of the month. The new model was
unveiled to the eagerly waiting hordes of journalists on the
morning of the first press day, less than an hour after Porsche
had unveiled their V10 engined Carrera GT concept car
immediately opposite the Ferrari stand. |
The paddock of the Hockenheim circuit was a sea of Ferrari
during the last weekend of September, when thousands of
owners and enthusiasts gathered for the Ferrari Racing Days
meeting. The event featured rounds of both the 360 Challenge
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge series together with F!
demonstration runs and free laps for members of Ferrari Club
Deutschland, and international Ferrari club members |
The British Ferrari Owners’ Club and Maserati Owners’ Club
shared a large stand in Hall 4, where eleven Ferrari models were
displayed along with ten Maseratis, to provide a wide range of
models for enthusiasts of the marques to appreciate. The Ferrari
contingent ranged from a 500/625 F2 single seater, through the
brutally elegant 375 MM Pinin Farina berlinetta of Sir Anthony
Bamford, a 275 GTS fitted with the rare ”twin” passenger seat, |
The inaugural Goodwood Revival Meeting was held in September
1998, under superb clear blue skies, and left visitors in awe over
the attention to detail that gave the impression of being in a fifties
time warp. This meticulous preparation immediately placed the
event at the top of every Classic enthusiast’s list of ”must visit”
meetings. In 1999 rain affected the event but didn’t detract from
the ambience, and even added its own special ingredient on the
track, |
The second annual New York Auto Salon and Auction has
assembled over $15 million worth of investment-grade collector
automobiles for its sale at the Waldorf=Astoria hotel, New York
City, September 23, 2000. Of the 55 cars that will be on display,
at least two are valued in excess of $1 million with several more
ranging from $500,000 and greater. |
Brooks, Christie's, RM, Blackhawk, Concorso Italiano, Historic
Races & Pebble Beach ... plenty images put you in the picture |
In late summer a weekend beyond compare was provided for both
participants and spectators, who visited Cortina d’Ampezzo for
the 28th Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti from 8th to 10th September.
Extremely rare historic cars like the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante or
the Cisitalia 202 MM Savonuzzi – cars which normally can only
be seen in the best museums around the world – coupled with
perfect organization, beginning with the scrutineering and
extending through the whole route-planning, to an unforgettable
dinner with guest of honour Conte Giannino Marzotto made for
totally contented faces with broad smiles. |
Some weeks ago an envelope with a Ferrari postmark arrived at
the homes of around 250 major Ferrari collectors worldwide.
Within the envelope was an invitation from Ferrari's CEO to attend
a dinner party at his villa, with the incentive, as if it were needed,
to witness a preview presentation of a new Ferrari model. It was
unlikely that anybody was going to pass up an invitation like this.
Thus a large number of prominent Ferrari collectors from all parts
of the globe assembled with great anticipation, in the city of
Bologna around the 14/15 September to see what delight awaited
them. |
The twelth running of the Colorado Grand historic rally took place
in perfect weather conditions, totally in contrast to the 1999
event, when entrants encountered torrential rain and even snow
on the higher passes. |
Glorious sunshine and clear blue skies provided perfect weather
for DK Engineering, the British Ferrari restoration specialists, and
Kinnerton Confectionery's joint test day for their clients at the
Silverstone circuit on 24 August. The event gave them the
opportunity to try their own cars on the track, and also the
chance to be driven round by the maestro Sir Stirling Moss in the
250 GT SWB berlinetta, chassis number 2735GT, |
The Ferrari Club of America held their Year 2000 Annual Meet in
Colorado Springs with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a
backdrop to the proceedings. The venue for the gathering was the
five star Broadmoor resort hotel to the west of the city, nestling at
the foot of the majestic mountain range that contain the 14100
feet high Pikes Peak, famous for the annual 4th July hillclimb,
known as "The Race To The Clouds". |
After a day of brilliant sunshine for the Friday practise sessions,
the weather changed overnight, to greet participants and
spectators with a grey skies and a substantial drop in
temperature, that set the scene for the remainder of the weekend.
One of the main news items of the event was that Coys were
terminating their title sponsorship arrangement, |
The participants in the Shell Historic Ferrari Maserati Challenge
series had the opportunity to exercise their steeds on the famous
La Sarthe circuit, as a prelude to the 24 Hour Le Mans Race,
which was won by Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela and Tom
Kristensen for Audi. The opportunity to return to the scene of
many Ferrari triumphs in one of the world's most famous races
did not go unnoticed by the competitors. The majority of the
series regulars subscribed to the event, with fifty one eventually
taking to the track. |
Although the weather for the 2000 event wasn't as bright and
warm as the last gathering of the twentieth century, at least it
remained principally dry apart from a couple of short showers on
the Saturday morning. However the dull skies did not diminish
attendance, as a new record was set. The figure for the weekend
was 109,461 which was nearly 4,500 up on last year's record
figure. |
Pininfarina’s links to Ferrari have been immensely strong for
decades. The designer from Turin has created almost every new
Ferrari road car since the late 1950’s. Thus it is no wonder that
Pininfarina chose Ferrari components to create a special one-off
to celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary. The chassis and
engine of a 550 Maranello, |
If the Mille Miglia is already red-marked in your calendar this new
event will surely get you in the proper mood for it. One short look
on the entry list confirms my opinion that the Modena Cento Ore
Classic will keep the promise to be a real highlight in the year
2000 ! |
The Monaco circuit, arguably the most charismatic Grand Prix
circuit in the world hosted the Automobile Club De Monaco's
second Grand Prix Historique over the weekend preceding the F1
Grand Prix. There was a six race programme with both free and
timed practise sessions, whilst there were also three classic car
auctions held over the weekend. Add in a rally gathering of Club
Ferrari France, plus a further privately organised Ferrari group,
and you had a fine selection of Ferrari models of all ages for the
enthusiast. |
I attended the FCA meeting at the Sebring International Raceway
yesterday as a guest of Bob Mack and David Bobe (FCA chapter
of Florida) and event sponsor Ferrari of Central Florida
(Orlando).A very good turn out for the FCA Spring Sebring
meeting as upwards of 75 Ferraris were expected and I'd
estimate that to be correct. |
27 examples of the new 360 Challenge and five F355 Challenge
have been entered in the ”Europe Central” division of the Ferrari
Challenge 2000. This division consists of drivers from Austria,
Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland,
while Germany and Switzerland are definitely the countries with
the strongest representation in the series (16 drivers are from
Germany and seven from Switzerland). |
The “Techno Classica” which is held annually in spring in
Essen, Germany, claims to be the world’s largest classic car
exposition and is described as an ”international swap meet for
oldtimers, classic cars, motorcycles, spare parts and the restoration
industry”. However, it is at least the most important show of its
kind in Europe, and thus the Techno Classica usually attracts
many dealers who have one or several Ferrari on offer. This
year, the exhibition was hosted between April |
Since the days of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione, Ferrari
did not have any remarkable or even successful entries in GT
racing. Being Ferrari’s first front-engined top-of-the-line model
after slightly more than 20 years, the 550 Maranello has often
been regarded as some kind of reminiscence to its legendary
ancestor, the 365 GTB/4. So, it is no wonder that some
enthusiastic ”aficionados” of the marque became infected by the
idea of entering a 550 Maranello, |
Stuttgart - The cradle of the automobile |
The Cavallino Classic, now in its ninth year, has grown in stature
and size to become one of the major annual Ferrari gatherings
worldwide. It provides a sunny haven for Ferrari owners and
enthusiasts during the bleak winter in the northern states, and
also attracts a strong European contingent for a winter sun break.
With around three hundred Ferraris in attendance, spanning
virtually the complete production period, there was something for
every taste. |