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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