On Saturday, April 24 the Concorso d’Eleganza took place on the vast and pristine grounds of the elegant but commanding Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. The Breakers beckons guests for miles with its vast size, architecture and presence. It’s the perfect location for such an event as Ferrari collectors and enthusiasts demand distinction. Ladies and gentlemen perused modern and classics on the elegant grounds in grace and style. It was the perfect Palm Beach Day.
The Cavallino celebrates an impressive subculture filled with history, Ferrari family and bonds. That was clearly evident at the awards dinner also held at the Breakers on April 24th. The attendees encompassed the most important U.S. based collectors.
With over 100 Ferraris on display, notables were the 250 GTOs, a Formula 1 driven by Michael Schumacher, and many other “four-wheeled works of art.” Other outstanding models were the 250 SWB (one a “competizione” version), 275 GTB/4 and 250 GTL, as well as the more modern 288 GTO, F40 and SF90 Stradale. Also noteworthy was the 2015 FXX-K, which stood out as one of only 40 produced, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa (chassis #0704 TR), and the 1952 Arno XI racing motorboat (keel #001), built by Cantieri Timossi and equipped with the 4.5-liter 12-cylinder engine usually used on F1 375s. Furthermore, a remarkable 12 Ferraris – we are talking about the 365, 512 and 512i models, plus the various evolutions of the Testarossa – all equipped with the 12-cylinder Boxer engine, which marks the 50th anniversary of the unveiling, at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, of the 364 GT/4 BB, the first road Ferrari to adopt this type of engine.
Attention was paid to the history of Ferrari throughout the event via forums and videos throughout the four-day event highlighting the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB which has been with the same owner for over 30 years. At the award ceremony, John & Alicia Barnes, founders of the Cavallino transferred ownership to Luigi Orlandini, CEO of Canossa Events who was honored to bring Cavallino into his prestigious events portfolio. The two major awards handed out were: The Scuderia Ferrari Cup for the finest Competition Ferrari went to a 1957 250 GT LWB Tour de France and The Gran Turismo both John Barnes and Luigi Orlandi presented events representing the handover of the celebrated event.
“For Canossa Events, born in the heart of Motor Valley, the acquisition of Cavallino, a name indissolubly linked to the extraordinary event created by our friend John Barnes, is a crucial investment, especially in these hugely difficult times for our sector, and it offers us great prospects for the future. We are full of ideas, and plan to start working on them on Monday, as soon as this world-unique event is over!”
During the 4 day event, enthusiasts and owners took to the track at Palm Beach International Raceway where Gt and Cruising Groups alternated throughout the day. Tickets were available to the public. Rocco Mangel, a taco and Ferrari enthusiast, catered the meal with tasty Roccos Tacos. If you haven’t been yet, there are about 7 locations in South Florida to choose from. The 488GTB, 550 were a hit as they raced by, adrenaline and tacos, oh my. Later, the Ferraris could be seen in their natural habitat Worth Avenue as they toured Palm Beach.
“The Cavallino Classic,” Orlandini said, “is the world’s most important event dedicated to vintage Ferraris. Despite having to postpone it by two months this year due to the pandemic, the turnout of participants and public has been great”
Orlandi announced that Cavallino will pay tribute to Enzo Ferrari via an invitation only event which will be held in Modena on July 2nd-4th, then a Cavallino Classic in Dubai, which will coincide with Dubai Expo, the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix and the “first” F1 Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The event was scaled down this year which didn’t take away from its importance, it actually may have been more enjoyable as with a slower pace there is more attention paid to detail. Next year, European and Asian collectors should be in attendance.
It has been confirmed that in 2022, Cavallino will return to its traditional slot in the third week of January (specifically, January 20-23, 2022).
A full report on the event and an in-depth analysis of the cars that participated in it will appear in the coming issues of the bimonthly magazine “Cavallino,” founded by John Barnes in 1978, and now published by Cavallino Inc. owned by Canossa Events.
More HERE
