Report and photos by Tim Kemmis
The inspiration to form the Ferrari Club of America came at Road America, so where better for the Club to celebrate its 50th Anniversary International Meet? If the thought of several hundred Ferraris wailing through Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine on July 31 to August 4, 2013 excites you, read on and check out the photo gallery.
The first day’s highlight was a rally from Elkhart Lake to Neenah, Wisconsin and return. What set the rally apart was a mid-trip open house at the renowned Ferrari restoration shops of Motion Products, Inc.Rarely will one ever be able to see so many legendary vintage Ferraris as at Motion Products, some finished and ready for the Concours field and others down to bare frame to bring them back to the standards MPI has set in winning such events as those at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Villa d’Este, and the Ferrari Club of America’s annual International Meet.
The Rally route included sections along the scenic eastern shore of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, and classic Wisconsin glacial terrane. The return trip also included a convoy that was the last leg of the Club’s 50 Anni di Passione Relay. Member Jim Taylor loaned one of his cars, the last 599 GTB built to U.S. specifications, to visit every FCA Region over the past year to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities. After nearly 20,000 miles and ’50 Cities in 50 Weeks,’ the car and the Club raised $200,000 in donations.
For the final Neenah to Elkhart Lake leg, FCA members Joel Bahr, Jan Termuehlen, and Stan Reeg split the drive and generously donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Stan fittingly brought the 599 Relay car to the end of its journey on the walkway in front of the Osthoff Resort, part of the original 1951-52 Elkhart Lake Road Races course, with FCA Founder Tom Caulfield riding shotgun.
Longtime vintage Ferrari racer Jim Fuchs helped bring this distinctive 599 Relay car into Elkhart Lake by arranging a very special convoy representing Ferraris built in every decade: a 1949 166 Inter Coupe (Stabilimenti Farina), the fifth Ferrari imported into the U.S. (owned by Glenn and Lynn Hanke); 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Touring Berlinetta (owned by FCA Founder Tom Caulfield and his son Kevin); 166 MM/53 Vignale Spider (Jim Fuchs); 250 GT Tour de France (Peter McCoy); 250 GT SWB Competition Berlinetta (Judson Dayton); 250 GT Lusso (Jim Schaid); alloy bodied 275 GTB/6C (Todd Morici, Sr.); 365 GTB/4 Daytona (Ray Van Zelst); 512 Testarossa (Bob and Sherri Van Zelst); 348 TS (David Curro); and 458 Italia Spyder (Todd Morici, Jr.).
Wednesday evening featured an outdoor drive-in theater at Road America. Where better to watch the classic movies ‘Rendezvous’ and ‘Speed Merchants’ as day turns into night?
Thursday’s highlights included one of the major Ferrari Concours events: the North American Field and Driving Concours, along with a World Record Attempt to put the most Ferraris on a race track, and then that evening, a Ferrari parade into the streets of Elkhart Lake.
The Ferrari Club of America’s Concours places an emphasis on originality. The aim is to preserve the cars so that every generation knows what Ferraris were actually like as delivered from the factory. The 2013 Concours featured 102 cars in 13 regular classes, two preservation classes, and a future classico class for Ferraris less than five years old.
FCA Concours differs in that it occurs on three levels. The first is the Concours level where emphasis is on originality, authenticity, and condition. Platino awards are given for cars scoring 95 points or better, Oro for cars scoring 90 points or more, and Argento for cars scoring 85 points or more. Impressively, forty-five, nearly 45% of the cars this year, received Platino awards, demonstrating the high quality of the field.
The next level, the Coppa Bella Macchina, is open to cars that have received a Platino award. This level emphases complete functionality of all the car’s systems. Sixteen cars won Coppa Bella Macchina awards.
The top Coppa GT level is open to all cars that have won the Coppa Bella Macchina award. Eight owners elected to compete at this level where emphasis is placed on the driver and his competency, proficiency, and knowledge. The Coppa GT level is a driving test where the driver and the car’s performance are judged by independent driving judges. Only three awards are given annually. This year’s winners were Jim Fuchs (1982 512 BBLM), David MacNeil (1971 365 GTB/4), and Todd Morici (1966 275 GTB/6C). The major Concours awards are listed at the end of this article.
The World Record attempt saw nearly 270 Ferraris on track and in the paddock. Even though that’s far short of the World Record of 964 Ferraris on track at Silverstone last year, it’s still an impressive sight to see so many Ferraris in one place at one time.
The Ferrari parade into the streets of Elkhart Lake on Thursday night was just like the race car parade during The Hawk with Brian Redman only that all the cars were snarling Ferraris. Crowds lining the streets saw nearly a hundred Ferraris pranced into town.
Friday and Saturday featured lapping sessions at Road America as well as Challenge Club Racing. The Ferrari Challenge was inaugurated so that Ferrari owners could race in their own one-make series using the current production GT; the present Ferrari Challenge uses race-prepared 458 Challenge cars. Challenge Club Racing was formed independently for older 430, 360, and 355 Challenge cars, and two races were held during the International meet. Up-and-coming driver Cooper MacNeil ran away from the field to take the Saturday 430 Challenge win, then sat out Sunday’s race as veteran Mark McKenzie took the win. Peter Castellana won the 360 Challenge class both days as did Robert Cohen in the 355 Challenge class.
Finally, Ferrari enthusiasts know how to have fun. Friday night featured a ‘60s theme dance, and if you wondered where Elvis went, he was definitely in the house. Saturday night concluded the social events with the annual awards banquet.
The five-day extravaganza came about thanks to the efforts of co-chairs Mike Epifanio and Joe Adams and their lead team of Dave Bendl, Pete Consolo, Dan Harrison, Jeff Kennedy, Greg McKibben, Hugh Ruthven, and Steve Stitle.
The perfect weather, the fabulous tour of Motion Products, the incredible track that is Road America,
the tireless work of the organizers, as well as all the attendees and their beautiful Ferrari’s made this an exceptional International Meet saluting the passion that was begun over 50 years ago by the Founders of the Ferrari Club of America. Our grateful appreciation to each of them! Founders in attendance included Tom Caulfield, Fred Leydorf, Admiral Robert Phillips, and Gerry Sutterfield.
Ferrari Club of America International Meet 2013 – Photo Gallery
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Ferrari Club of America International Meet 2013 – Award Winners
Enzo Ferrari Memorial Award – Overall Best of Show Ferrari
1954 Ferrari 250 GT Europa Vignale 0359GT, Jaimie Muldoon
Luigi Chinetti Memorial Award – Outstanding Ferrari Road Car
1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta 0903GT, Peter McCoy
Phil Hill Award – Outstanding Ferrari Competition Car
1982 Ferrari 512 BBLM 38179, Jim Fuchs
National Vintage Preservation Award – Best Preserved Ferrari Pre – 1981
1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10991, David Riff
National Classic Preservation Award – Best Preserved Ferrari 1981 – 1996
1987 Ferrari 328 GTB 74273, Mike Epifanio
Forza Ferrari Award – Outstanding Ferrari built in the 1950s or 1960s
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial, Series II 0556MD/0446, Robert Phillips
Contemporary Ferrari Award – Outstanding Ferrari built 1975 or later
2003 Ferrari Enzo 133030, David MacNeil
Trofeo Gran Turismo Award – Outstanding Pre-1975 Ferrari, regularly driven
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS 10689, David MacNeil
Forte Award – Outstanding Flat-12 Ferrari
1990 Ferrari Testarossa 84085, Michael Kelly
Greatest V-12 Award – Outstanding Contemporary Front Engine V-12
2005 Ferrari 575M Superamerica 142969, Dan O’Toole
Greatest 8 Award – Outstanding 8-Cylinder Ferrari
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO 52469, David Raisbeck
Outstanding 3-Series Ferrari – Best 3-Series Ferrari
1976 Ferrari 308 GTB 19567, David Eichenbaum
Grand Touring 2+2 Award – Outstanding 2+2 Ferrari regularly driven
1969 Ferrari 365GT 2+2 12065, Mark Dempsey
Dino Ferrari Award – Outstanding Dino Ferrari
1973 Dino 246 GT 5518, Jerry Vento
NART Award – Outstanding NART Ferrari
1974 Ferrari 365 GT4/BBLM 18139, Bob Coates
Ferraris Are Meant to Be Driven Recognition – Ed Gilbertson Award
1982 Ferrari 512 BBi 40565, Dave Bendl
[Source: Tim Kemmis]
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