by Jerry Lee Phillips

" We have been very fortunate to have already garnered entrants from 20 states,” reports ItalianCarFest (ICF) Publicity Director Art Weinman. “And for those who came in from as far east as Pennsylvania and as far west as California the new venue, complete with a backdrop of sailboats and a cool lake breeze, made for an unforgettable day.”

The event is a photographer's dream. Sponsors graciously limit their signage which provides ‘shutter bugs’ with good shots from countless angles.

Classical recording artist Edgar Cruz performed throughout the day. Van Sharp, owner of a gorgeous Winner Circle entry, gave the live music element lofty praise. "The wind from the lake carried the music around the field. The musical element was magical; the equivalent of glitter-like pixie dust starting from a distant azure Pantera, swirling past the rainbow of colors of fantastic Maseratis, Alfas and FIATs midfield and drifting past the brightest red Ferraris at the other end of the lush green showfield.”

The '06 show saw intense competition in the Winners Circle, a class comprised of the winners of Best in Class from '05. They competed for the title of the "Best of the Best". The $2000 trophy created by nationally recognized Blenko Glass Co. went to Val Herrera for his spectacular Alfa Romeo Montreal, which also took Best of Show, a feat that had never been accomplished by any entrant prior to 2006.

Saturday ended with a sumptuous Italian dinner in the Yellow Rose Ballroom at the Gaylord Texan Resort with Honored Guest and legendary car designer Tom Tjaarda providing a wonderful presentation on the history of car design. A show-day-only raffle for a new, red 2007 Vespa donated by the weekend organizer, the Italian Car Club of the Southwest, raised thousands dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

On Sunday morning attendees enjoyed a scenic drive from Gaylord to Texas Motor Speedway for a brunch in a high-rise condo overlooking the action below, the ICCS Track Day. The drive & brunch were sold-out.

From the condo high above the track Garrick Whitnah watched speeding Ferrarsi, Lamborghinis, and Maseratis. "Salmon, bagels and espresso are the perfect morning food to enjoy while the cars zip through hairpin turns."