Seventy years ago the first Ferrari hit the streets of Maranello, Italy for a test drive. It was the 12-cylinder 125 S, the first to bear the name of Enzo Ferrari, and, naturally, the company wants to celebrate. Ferrari is planning events in more than 60 countries to celebrate the anniversary, giving the company’s rabid fan base a chance to join in the festivities. Along with a video re-creating the first time the 125 S rolled out of Ferrari’s modest garage, the company has published a website commemorating major achievements from Ferrari’s last 70 years — everything from Formula One wins and championships to the release of iconic vehicles like the 250 GTO, the F40, and the Enzo.
This year at Pebble Beach Ferrari will be having a special display of over 70 iconic Ferrari's on the First Tee and will be moving the Casa de Ferrari to that Pebble Beach location. There will also be a rally to San Francisco immediately following the Monterey Car Week for top clients and a special event on August 26th, stay tuned.
Reflections on Melbourne, remembering a great friend
Any race where the first 8 drivers are in exactly the same order on lap 16 they when the lights went out has to be-by definition-boring. And it was credit though to the Ferrari engineer who found a tiny window which offered a chance for Vettel to leap-frog Hamilton. Also a big well done to Seb for not making a single mistake.
Kimi didn’t make any mistakes either, he just had an off day in an identical car to Vettel’s. I just hope the fire will return and we will see the Finn the way he used to be-unstoppable. His countryman Bottas got lucky. Very lucky.
To inherit what is probably the fastest car in F1 is a serious stroke of luck. Still, he did what he was hired for-follow Lewis around. Wonder if he will ever risk overtaking him.
You may have seen all the hype in the specialist press-wow, bigger tires. More wow-wider cars. Wow-more aerodynamic gizmos. The results so far: zero. Ross Brawn the new tech boss of F1 promises changes but that it easier said than done and he knows it better than anyone. You cannot change the regulations halfway into the season. Maybe we will see some overtaking on the long straight next week in China, let’s hope so.
My hope is for rain at some circuits-Spa is notorious for changing conditions and the British weather is of course unpredictable.
Still, I don’t know about you but I was on my feet at midnight singing the Italian national anthem just like the
very happy Ferrari mechanics under the podium.
I just hope to do it many times more during the season.
On a more somber note I was devastated to hear that
Terry Page-founder of Page One Automotive lost his life to cancer. The fact that I’ve just sent my Frankly Frankl column to FORZA’s Editor Aaron Jenkins for the 159th time is because of Terry.
Back in 1994 before leaving Europe for San Francisco to join Suzie a friend gave me one name. Terry Page of Page One Automotive. I rang the number, introduced myself and he simply said- how can I help you?
Within days he took me to a function at the Blackhawk Museum and introduced me Jay Lamm who at that time was Editor of Sports Car International. We are just launching a magazine on Ferrari said Jay-go and see the Editor.
That was 21 years ago. Apart from that introduction
Terry also made sure that I’ve met colleagues in the Bay Area. Test cars, launches, lectures-Terry and his team were behind it all.
His is the quintessential American success story. He was a taxi driver who picked up a Ford executive at SFO 30 or so years ago. They got talking, the man decided that there was a great deal more to Terry than taking him to a hotel and to cut a long story short asked Terry to look after the Ford test fleet in the San Francisco region. Page already had an impressive office-his kitchen table! From there he built a company with over 130 employees most of whom are still with him to this day. The Ford account is still with Page One as is GM, Mercedes, Infiniti, Nissan, Bentley, Rolls Royce , BMW and Jaguar to name just some.
Spent some time recently in Miami, to that it is a buzz would be an understatement. Certainly the party I’ve attended was a noisy affair
It was full of people who could have been my grandchildren! Still, it was interesting especially when I found the chef between some brake pads and some new racing wheels.
From what I understand the company called Curated have found some investors in there hope of buying some exotic cars and selling them at a huge profit n a booming market.
I wish them all the luck, as we all know markets have a habit of going up as well as down.
The yellow 360 Spider belonged to Juan Pablo Montoya. 5100 miles n the clock, 6 speed manual, going for 159 big ones. Must say it looked to be in mint condition.
There was also a 1991 Testarossa with 11 thousand miles n the clock with an asking price of 148 thousand dollars.
Must say the Ferrari sign was very cool, very Miami, I am to sure my wife would fully approve.
Andrew again has kindly asked me to do a guest blog on the
wonderful Cavallino Classic Ferrari event at the Breakers Hotel in beautiful
Palm Beach, Florida.
If you want nice weather, spectacular homes and a great car event,
then the annual Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach Florida is a must. This year it
was held January 25 through the 29 at the Breakers Resort Hotel in Palm Beach,
Florida. This year celebrated its 26th anniversary and the five-day even for
Ferrari owners and enthusiasts saw participants and their 400 exotic and
classic cars come from all over the United States and Europe.
The primary goal at the Cavallino Classic has always been to
showcase Ferraris, displaying them in a unique and beautiful setting. The
Breakers Hotel is the perfect setting like Pebble Beach. But even more
important is to bring together as many Ferraris, and Friends of Ferrari as
possible, to enjoy the cars and the comradery.
A two-day track meet at the Palm Beach International Raceway
was the first event of this classic extravaganza with a select field of
competition Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos and Bugattis tracking the 11-turn,
2.043 mile race track.
On Thursday, there was the traditional Jet Center event with over 150 Ferraris,
some spectacular Jets, plus boats and women’s furs were on sale from Saks 5th
Ave. 80-degree weather is a great time to buy furs.
Friday was another track day and then there was a Beach
party at the Breakers and the guest of honor was Brian Redman. Looking out at the Atlantic Ocean enjoying
great food and talking about Ferraris is the perfect evening.
The high point of the Cavallino Classic was the Concorso
d’Eleganza on the front lawn of the Breakers Resort Hotel, on Saturday.
Featuring Dinos this year, the field of 150 Ferrari automobiles were judged for
originality and elegance, all vying for Class Awards and the important Major
Cups, along with the Cavallino Cup for Best in Show.
Saturday night was the awards dinner with Lobster and many
fine foods and drink to enjoy. The Best of Show Competition at the Cavallino
Classic 2017 was awarded to a 1994 Ferrari 348 Challenge owned by Chip
Williams, while the Best of Show Gran Turismo Ferrari award was given to the
1951 Ferrari 212 Export Cabriolet Vignale owned by Peter Kalikow. It should be
noted that most of the competition cars, i.e. 250 GTO, 412 MI, etc., were
non-judged, exhibition-only entrants. Additionally, none of the other judged
competition cars achieved the necessary ‘platinum’ status for Best of Show
consideration. However, many Platinum awards were handed out among the many
classes of Ferraris from 246 Dinos to Ferrari 512s.
The finale for the 2017 Cavallino Classic was ‘Classic
Sports Sunday’ at Mar-a-Lago, the Marjorie Merriweather Post mansion in Palm
Beach. The weather was not kind to this event as it rained. I was unable to
attend as I was headed back to California. Overall it was a fun filled event
and one everyone would really enjoy, I can’t wait until next year.
A few words on Bernie. Pretty cool call this morning with Bernie.
Thank you as always, I thought I would ring Bernie
Ecclestone’s office to say thank you. Right now, just a day after he had been
kicked out of F1 the whole world is full of derogatory stories about the 86
years old impresario.
So as I was helping him way back in 1985 before the
inaugural Hungarian GP-the first behind the Iron Curtain – calling his office
to say thank you was clearly the right thing to do. Called his office and
said please tell Mr E that I just wanted to say thank you. Just a minute later
his PA called me back. Hello Mr Frankl, this is Poppy, Mr E’s PA.
Two minutes later the phone rings again. Hello Mr F, this is
Poppy again. Mr E would like to talk to you.
So Bernie and I had a nice conversation, I told him how
grateful we were for the Hungarian GP and agreed to meet in Monaco at the
Grand Prix in May. And that was that. In the middle of a day when every
newspaper, BBC, CNN were all calling him! Can’t say I wasn’t pleased. Mind you,
we do go back to 1969 when Jochen Rindt introduced me to him, he was the
Austrian’s manager at the time.
I think we all know his amazing rise to power and absolute
power at that. If he wanted to cancel a race he did so without batting an
eyelid. If he wanted double championship points for the last race of the season
that is what he did.
In the process he did make an awful lot of money for himself
but not just for himself. Some team owners-former garage mechanics-were flying
around the World in their private jets staying at the very best hotel. Many of
the drivers also became multi millionaires because Bernie turned a small sport
into a mega spectacular. Well, most of the time. Some of the new circuits
were pretty awful, with very few spectators and after a few years they all
shut their doors. Take one example-the Turkish GP. The government spent a
fortune on building a beautiful grand stand and a very good track which
the drivers loved, Felipe Massa in particular.
But it was on the Asian side, the traffic was horrendous,
people los interest and that was that. Same with the Indian GP.
Valencia-another one.
So the debate about Bernie will go on for ever. Was he good
for the sport ? in my opinion-absolutely. Did he do some bizarre deals?
Certainly. Should he have resigned a few years ago? Not necessarily. He is
brighter at 86 than most people at 26.
As for the folks in Atlanta.. just ask the hotel owners, the
owners of expensive restaurants or even guys who live near the circuit and
earned a few bucks parking your car for a few hours. They think
Bernie is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I will never forget when he called me in my office in London
back in 1985 to ask if they had bread and butter on the other side of the
Iron Curtain. I am not making this up, some teams still arrived in trucks and
buses laden with food and drinks.
Andrew has so kindly asked me to do a guest blog on my
recent experience at the Ferrari Mondiali 2016 event down at Daytona Beach, FL
held December 1st through the 4th. This was the first
time the event was held in the United States and it was an event Belinda and I
felt we shouldn’t miss. I must say it was worth every minute we were there.
The Ferrari Mondiali is put on every year by Ferrari at the
close of the F1 season and hosts the Ferrari Challenge Race finals
worldwide.They bring the XX program
cars, the FXX, the 599XX and the spectacular FXXK cars. Also, there were 14
Ferrari Formula 1 cars dating back to Nigel Mansel’s car and multiple
Schumacher cars. There was a Concours event, an honors banquet, a Ferrari world
record attempt, and the Sunday demonstration by the Ferrari F1 pilots Kimi
Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. Plus, the experience of the Daytona Speedway.
The challenge racing schedule included 10 races throughout
the four days, including the final rounds of the three series and the two races
for World Champion. Titles were awarded at the World Finals to Carlos
Kauffmann, of team Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale in the Pirelli Trophy, Sam Smeeth
(Stratstone Ferrari) in the Pirelli Pro Trophy and Thomas Loefflad in the Shell
Cup (StileF Squadra Corse). Ferrari of San Francisco was there and were very
competitive on track.
On Friday, we got to see the XX program and F1 Clienti run
on the Daytona track. This was absolutely thrilling to see so many of the
single-seaters that sound like Formula 1 cars should sound, as well as the
powerful FXX K machines, boasting more than 1,000 horsepower and hybrid technology
derived from Formula 1. This was the first-time modern Ferrari F1 race cars
lapped Daytona Speedway. The Drivers were initially cautious, but they became quite
comfortable with the high-speed curves and 31-degree banks. The best part was
hearing the Formula 1 engines being pushed to the limit filling the speedway as
the single-seaters raced along one of the international temples of automobile
racing. You could hear these beautiful cars anywhere on the circuit and it made
you stop and enjoy the moment.
One very special event that took place was 50 club members got
to experience this fun track. It was quite an experience to run on the track at
speed and the feeling is indescribable going in to that 31-degree banking for
the first time. But after several laps you feel more and more comfortable and
it is an experience of a life time. The FCA International Meet is at Daytona in
April next year and you will have the chance to experience that wonderful
banking.
Saturday was more racing and more F1, XX and 333 cars. Much
of the late afternoon and early evening at Daytona involved an attempt to set a
Guinness world record for the most Ferraris in a parade lap. They needed 965
cars, which would be one more than the record set at Silverstone in 2012 during
Ferrari Racing Days. Hundreds of Ferraris assembled in the infield then emerged
on the track through a back gate. The whole process took more than two hours as
Ferrari officials lined the field up two-by-two on the 3.56-mile road course.
Ferrari used the Speedway's private FM radio signal (107.9) to communicate with
those in the parade.
The bulk of the Ferraris were street models. Several Ferrari
Challenge cars, which are street legal, joined in for the final count. There
was a long delay, apparently awaiting the arrival of the Guinness guy, and then
the mass of Ferraris, side by side, began the first of the required two laps,
at a speed of 4 mph. Through the generosity of a dear friend, Belinda got to
experience this parade in a new Ferrari TDF, she said 4 mph was just fine for
her and she got to see first-hand the steepness of the Daytona banking.
This slow speed caused more than one, as in maybe two or
three dozen, Ferraris to pull out of line due to overheating, battery issues or
clutch problems. At least nobody ran
into anybody else. Unfortunately they fell short of the record by 155 cars but
this was the most Ferraris on track in North America and it was a fun
experience to see that many Ferraris on track. At the start finish line were
all the Ferrari executives and Sergio Marchione was waving at the cars and he
WASN’T wearing a sweater!
After the parade a celebration dinner was held honoring the
Challenge winners, Concours winners and featured the Scuderia Formula One
drivers and many of the Ferrari Executive Management. It was fun to talk with
Enrico Galliera (Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer), Flavio Manzoni (Head
of Design), Edwin Fenech (President and CEO of Ferrari NA) and Vettel.Ferrari introduced their new 488 challenge
car and then they auctioned off the last LaFerrari to be built. he car was sold
for the record amount of 7 million USD that will be used for a reconstruction
project in central Italy struck by the earthquake. Also, two driving suits from
the Ferrari F1 pilots were auctioned off for the cause.
Ferrari also staged the inaugural Ferrari Classiche Concours
during the Finali Mondiali over the weekend. There were 73 of cars entered into
the Classiche Concours, the standards were high under IAC/PFA guidelines, with
many rare and special cars on display. The ‘Ferrari Classiche Enzo Ferrari’
award for the overall Best in Show went to long-time Ferrari collectors, Brian
and Kimberley Ross for their 166 MM Touring Barchetta of 1947, chassis 006,
while a 330 P4 Drogo Spider won the award for ‘Most Historically Significant
Ferrari’.
The award for the ‘Most Elegant Classiche Certified Ferrari’
went to a 1957 250 GT Cabriolet Pinin Farina Spider Series 1, while the award
for ‘Best of Show Ferrari Classiche Preservation Award’ went to a 1972 365
GTB/4 Daytona. Two different Ferrari 400 Superamericas each won an award — a
1961 Pinin Farina Cabriolet won the ‘Best of Show Ferrari Classiche Road
Ferrari’ and a Pinin Farina Aerodinamico only
On Sunday Ferrari drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian
Vettel, ended the four-day event with a spectacular exhibition at the legendary
circuit. The morning started with a short press conference which gave us the
chance to be up close again with these exceptional drivers.
The Sunday demonstrations started with a tribute to
Ferrari’s other achievement at Daytona in 1998 when the F333 SP was the first
to cross the finish line. Seven of these cars paraded on the track to the
excitement of the fans who saw them win so many races in the mid-nineties.
Raikkonen and Vettel provided a show behind the wheel of the
two Ferrari F60 Formula 1 machines, demonstrating runs around the track,
lightning fast pit stops along with the Scuderia mechanics and of course the
traditional burnouts. Before returning to pit lane, the two-drove
side-by-side over the finish line in a tribute to the famous parade finish of
the three Ferraris at the 24 hours of Daytona in 1967.
In closing all I can say is what a weekend to spend with
Ferrari, WOW, WOW, WOW!
Apologies for the long absence but commitments to FORZA,
hours and hours spent in a recording studio to finish the CD of my book,
lectures, road tests –it has been crazy. Hopefully things will settle down a
little bit.
Before moving on to the LA Show I have to mention the
Verstappen craze sweeping F1 enthusiasts all over the World. He was mentioned
on just about all the stands as most people steered clear of politics and
talked shop. Or Max. There is a growing campaign , not just in Holland by
enthusiasts everywhere to reinstate Zandvoort and maybe other great
circuits such as Watkins Glen.
With F1’s new American owners we are all guessing but if
they were to go where the true enthusiasts are instead of just chasing the
funny money we-including Liberty -would all be better off.
I had an unforgettable lunch at a restaurant near the Show with British colleagues. The Editor in Chief of Top Gear
magazine, the Editor of Ferrari’s own very lavish magazine produced in house at
Maranello and Ken McConomy, an old friend from Jaguar UK. Absolutely loved it.
Jaguar of course were one of the stars of the show with the Jaguar XKSS at the
Petersen museum and the stunning I-Pace on the stand. Should be on sale within
a couple of years. Astonishing how well they are doing having been saved by
Tata Automobiles of India. Thank you Mr Ratan.
Talking of foreign ownership it was interesting to
spend some time on the Volvo stand. Not many people know that they are owned by
a Chinese company-Geely. Some of the cars are made there. I’ve had a Volvo S70
for over 12 years in the UK, never missed a beat. It did of course come from
Gothenburg in Sweden. I was wondering about the build quality of the Chinese
made Volvos but was assured that it was impossible to see any difference at
all.
The new V90 cross country certainly looked stunning. As did
the young lady on the Maserati stand. The cars looked good too!
As did the new Huracan Spider which was launched at a villa
near the polo fields not far from LA. It was wonderful to see old friend
Stefano Domenicali unveil it. He has been a friend for some 20 years and we
were all sad to see him leave Ferrari. Still, getting a job just down the road
at Lamborghini as CEO cannot be too bad a gig! He is trying to move Lambo away
from its medallion image and if anyone can do it’s Stefano.
It broke my heart that Ford- who gave me my very first
job all those years ago- had a parking lot instead of a show.
Lots of tired looking little cars in truly sad colors.
No way to shift the metal. Thank God for the trucks.
It was fascinating to see a fiber-carbon chassis made by
Divergent which uses 3-D printing in automobile construction. They work
with Peugeot in France, I found it very exciting indeed although it will take a
while before it goes into production.
It will also a while for VR-or virtual reality to reach the
auto industry I hope. I’ve had a chance to try it on the VW stand and left
feeling very dizzy indeed. Talking of VW many people thought that they would go
bust over the diesel gate scandal but I don’t think they will. Before you say
so what, who cares, let me give you some details. They have factories literally
all over the World employing hundreds of thousands of people. Yes, they
are just letting 30 thousand of them go-some Christmas present..but they
carrying on and therefore Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini will continue
to make cars.
As for Ferrari-and I am writing this before the last race of
the season- hoping for one of the boys to finish on the
podium. It was Her Majesty the Queen who in 1992 described her year as Annus
Horribilis. This I am afraid is what the Scuderia had in 2016. I hope and pray
for a better season in 2017, as do all long-suffering fans of is great marque.
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