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." |
