The inaugural Concorso Atlantico celebrating Italian automobiles was held Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Omni Amelia Island Plantation’s Oak Marsh Golf Course on Amelia Island, Florida. Held on a fairly ominous, cool and windy day, the event nonetheless attracted more than 30 Italian vehicles and an estimated 500 spectators.
Participants at the first annual Concorso Atlantico included a small-block Chevy-powered 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina to a 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia, in addition to several Alfa Romeo and Fiat racers.The People’s Choice Award went to a locally-owned Ferrari 458 Italia, and Co-Chairman Awards went to an Alfa Romeo “Sebring Spider” and a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale. The winning Ferrari will be put to canvas by automotive artist Joe Burns of Minnesota; Burns sketched the car during the show and gave a mini-portrait to the owner as a personal keepsake of the event. A full-size portrait, suitable for framing, will be sent to the winner upon its completion.
“For our first time, we all were very pleased with the turnout and I’d like to thank the car owners, the Omni for their great support, the Amelia Island Plantation home owners, our volunteers, and all of our vendors for coming out,” says Ken Perry, Concorso Atlantico Chairman. “The feedback we have received is urging us to do it again next year and we are looking forward to being bigger and better in 2013.”
Mark you calendars for the next Concorso Atlantico, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 9th, 2013, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation’s Oak Marsh Golf Course. Concorso Atlantico is a separate and independent automotive event and is not affiliated with The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance or its sponsor The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation, Inc. For more information, visit www.concorsoatlantico.org.
Photographer Alan Gosley documented the 2012 Concorso Atlantico, offering the following 30 photos that capture the Italian-bred participants and the stunning low-country setting found at the event. To see more from Alan, visit www.overdriveimages.com.
Concorso Atlantico 2012 – Photo Gallery (click for larger picture)
[Source: Concorso Atlantico; photo credit: Alan Gosley]
Not surprisingly, this event attracted some hardcore automobile enthusiasts who were not out for a social occasion or in order to bid on an investment vehicle. I felt right at home. Both at the Concorso and at the reception in the evening, I enjoyed lengthy chats with fans of vintage two stroke SAABs and 914 Porsches. You couldn’t ask for more rarefied company.
John Kuhn Bleimaier
I wish the event much success. I could not attend this year’s Concorso, but hope to make it next year. The stunning setting alone should guarantee a crowd and then some. That’s the one thing I’ve always thought it missing at Amelia, especially if you have been to Pebble. (Of course, nothing can ever compare to Pebble’s setting).