Monterey, 14 August 2009
After the disappointing 2008 Concorso Italiano at the Marina City
Airport, many thought that the event’s number was up. However,
with new owners running the operation, unbounded enthusiasm
and much hard work, the event bounced back in 2009 at a new
venue, and can only be described as a runaway success. The
event found a splendid new location at the Laguna Seca Golf
Ranch, the rolling lush greens of which were a pleasant contrast
to the bland airport apron of last year. A bonus was that the traffic
management system seemed to work well. Yes, there were some
queues, but nowhere near as bad as at the earlier venues that the
gathering has used, and I would venture to say that there were
more attendees this year. Certainly the concours field was
packed throughout the day, both with an enormous selection of
display vehicles and members of the paying public. The inland
location also benefitted from warm sunshine throughout the day,
harking back to its glory days at Quail Lodge, in fact some
attendees likened it to the old setting, but on a hillside.
From the regular press releases that emanated from the new
organiser’s office after the deal was signed, the features of the
show as it developed looked promising, and on the day it
delivered the goods. For the 25th anniversary of the Ferrari
GTO (288), there was an assembly of fifteen examples, including
an Evoluzione, chassis # 003, and the last of the production
series, chassis # 58345. This was believed to be the largest
assembly of the model at any show worldwide. Nearby there was
the trio of amazing Alfa Romeo BAT cars by Bertone, with
their extravagant wings, extricated from the Blackhawk Museum
especially for the show, together with the latest incarnation of the
tipo from Bertone. Renowned Lamborghini test driver Valentino
Balboni was in attendance, and famous TV presenter, chat show
host and self confessed car nut, Jay Leno, gave a warm
appreciation of his contribution to the Lamborghini legend at
lunchtime.
Mention of Lamborghini is appropriate as there was a vast array of
the company’s production on the show field, ranging from the
early sixties 350 and 400 GT models that started the road car
business through a pair of white Espadas, one European and the
other a US version, an impressive line-up of white Countachs,
plus Diablos, multiple hues on Gallardos and Murcielagos, to
a menacing deep matt grey Reventon, the most expensive
model ever produced by the company, costing a cool $1.4 million!
Ferrari were also well represented, apart from the impressive line-
up of GTOs, there was a wide variety of the company’s models on
display from the sixties through to the latest production models.
De Tomaso had a healthy presence with a variety of Panteras,
some with engine bays so highly polished that they dazzled you
in the bright sunshine, plus a rare Mangusta. The Maseratis in
attendance were predominantly modern, although there was a
3500 GT, a 5000 GT and a 1969 Mexico, which took the overall
Best of Show award. There was plenty of variety in other Italian
marques, plus the regular Corral’s for “foreign” cars. One car of
particular note was a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS, which had
just been brought out of South Africa where it had resided for the
past fifty years with marquee aficionado Hugh Gearing. The car
wears a body thought to have been fitted in the late thirties,
possibly in the UK, and is in totally un-restored condition.
So with a great and varied field, fine weather, inviting food
stations, a relaxed atmosphere with a great overall ambience,
Concorso Italiano is back on stream with a vengeance. Make a
note in your diary to be at the same venue on 13 August 2010.
David O’Neill
08/2009
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