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15.2.05
Describing itself as a convention for automotive enthusiasts the programme had something for everyone – track action, art exhibition, a road tour of West Palm Beach, ”Classic” lectures, the traditional “Jet Hop”at the nearby West Palm Beach airport and the Breakers Hotel-based Concours D’Elegance. The three day circuit action was based at the 10 turn 2.25 mile Moroso Motorsports Park, consisting of enthusiastic track days combined with practice, qualifying and culminating in Round 1 of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge for drum and disc brake cars. As in previous years, the participation of pre war Alfa Romeos and classic Maseratis was invited – but in ’05 it was official. This years Challenge will feature racing on some of North America’s most celebrated circuits – Road America (Elkhart Lake), Lime Rock, Mont Tremblant, Fontana, Las Vegas concluding at the World Finals in Vallelunga Italy in October. A very welcome addition to the paddock in Florida was London based
Brazilian Carlos Monteverde’s 250TR, 250SWB and 206SP. Carlos
had attempted to ship his cars to the Classic via Miami in ’04.…only
to encounter that port’s notorious customs officials!! Undeterred
and complete with his ’66 OM ex-F1 transporter, he had shipped
the whole unit from Southampton to Brunswick and his team had a trouble-free
9 hour drive to Moroso - assisting in driving and preparation was UK
“Historic” ace and Monteverde’s Tour Auto partner
Gary Pearson.
In the disc brake race Ed Davies (512M) led from pole with an equally fast starting Todd Morici (512BBLM) – this was a real dice. The lead changed on several occasions, sometimes more than once per lap! They were split by 1.86 at the checkered flag with victory going to Ed Davies in the older car – he completed 14 laps at an average of 87.78 mph. The grid featured three 512BBLMs, two Competition Daytonas, three 250GTOs and three 250 SWBs – the quickest of which was Gary Pearson in Carlos Monteverde’s giallo example. Elsewhere, Monteverde himself lasted 11 laps in his pretty 206SP before the throttle cable snapped. Jean Sage wasn’t having a good day either retiring Ed Davies's 250SWB, but Chuck Wegner’s original 196SP made the trip worthwhile. Despite suffering the rigours of last September’s hurricanes the Breakers Hotel was at its immaculate best – manicured to perfection! The croquet lawn and adjacent 18 th hole always hold surprises ….. pride of place, and justifiably so was Steve Dudley’s highly original 166 Vignale – complete with chipped paint and Tour Espana stickers from ’04; it was deserving of the pre ’72 originality award. PMFC supporters will be familiar with Preston Henn’s F50 – it was the car owned and raced in the UK by Ian Hetherington. Its well documented, complex and prolonged export to Florida via broker Mike Sheehan and subsequent repaint in giallo, even included a congratulatory message to Donald and the new Mrs Trump who were married the same day just down the road! A recently restored 375MM Speciale and John/Mary Shirley’s 1953 340/375MM were a reminder of how effectively Enzo combined “grace with pace” in the design of his ‘50s sportscars. Along with the 1955 166/250MM silver Abarth Spyder, this trio attracted significant attention, not least because the latter two were both campaigned in period by Scuderia Guastalla. Thanks to Chief Classic Judge Ed Gilbertson the overall and class winners of 2005 appear below…..but undoubtedly the unofficial award for “Spirit of the Cavallino” must go to Carlos Monteverde and his team.…thanks, it would have been quiet without you!!
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