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2006 Cavallino Classic XV
By: Fritz Kloepfel
Photos by the author
February 08, 2006

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The Cavallino Classic, held each January in Palm Beach Florida, has become the quintessential Ferrari event in the United States. With several track days at Moroso Motorsports Park, including the first round of the Historic Challenge, a driving and culinary tour of Palm Beach, a jetport reception, an art show and the fabulous Concorso d’Eleganza on the lawn at The Breakers on Palm Beach, this event has flowered into one that, for some, rivals Pebble Beach, and for the true Ferrari purist may have NO rival in North America.

The Shell Ferrari/ Maserati Historic Challenge is a racing series for authentic Ferrari, Maserati, and Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo cars, held at race tracks in North America. The first round, run at the Cavallino Classic, has traditionally drawn a strong field, and this year held true. There are two classes, one for cars equipped with drum brakes, and one for cars with disc brakes. While this means that each class encompasses very different cars from many different eras, the racing is amazingly close. The tight, twisty track with little elevation change surely helps keep the pack tight as well.

This years drum brake class saw several interesting cars compete. The inclusion of pre-war Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeos allowed a twin supercharged 8C35 to pound around the track at a surprisingly rapid pace. Four beautiful Maseratis brought grace and elegance to the fray, but it was the unique pontoon fendered Ferrari 250 Testarossas that stole the show. Lawrence Stroll’s beautifully turned out ’58, in silver and red, was leading the pack when disaster struck. A 250 GT Tour de France entered the tricky chicane at the end of the back straight and rolled several times before coming to rest upside down on the tire wall. The driver was treated for minor injuries and released, but the recovery of the Tour de France required that the race be finished under the caution flag.

The disc brake race brought out many of the same drivers and a few special guests as well. Indy winner Bobby Rahal was a class winner with his 250 SWB and defending disc group champion Tom Price took his class honors with a 250 GTO. Lawrence Stroll was once again near the front of the pack in his gorgeous Sunoco liveried 512 M, but was outpaced by Ed Davies in his similar, but red, 512 M. The sound of these two early 70’s behemoths screaming around the track nose to tail was exactly what these events are all about. We may never again experience an era that allows 5 liter 12 cylinder racing engines to be wrapped in such gorgeous and lightweight trappings and turned loose on the track. So for those who missed that time, or simply miss that time, this event is a rare chance to be transported to a very special place.

Thursday and Friday also provided a chance to see the first North American Ferrari FXX take to the track and turn some very hot laps. If you were paying especially close attention you might have seen a one of a kind 250 LM Pininfarina Stradale Speciale sneak into the paddock dressed in white, and a brand new F 430 Challenge car in blue, silver and white was being tuned up as well. An ex-Niki Lauda 312 T2 and a gorgeous 166 Dino F2 reminded us that Ferrari is no stranger to open wheel success. But sports cars were the main course here and with four Ferrari 333 SP’s on the menu it was quite a feast indeed. No one left hungry from these two days, and even the fussiest connoisseurs surely found something to their liking.

Saturday on the lawn was another rare treat. This was the fifteenth anniversary of the event, and in celebration the Croquet Lawn at The Breakers was filled with previous winners. This may well have represented the finest collection of classic Ferraris displayed in many years. At the entrance to the event, in stark contrast to one another, a 166 Spyder Corsa, which is the second oldest Ferrari still in existence, sat right next to Ferrari’s latest offering, the race bred FXX. The beautifully restored “Steve McQueen Ferrari Lusso" was there, shipped direct from the Peterson museum where it had been on display. Three Enzos parked side by side made them seem almost ordinary while the Best of Show winning silver 1956 250 GT Tour de France was anything but.

The car that may well have garnered the most attention, however, was not a pristine restoration, did not have a carefully preserved patina, and in fact had virtually no finish at all. Parked just steps from the entrance between an impeccably restored 166 MM Touring Barchetta and a perfect 166 MM Vignale Barchetta was an unrestored 212 Export Fontana Spyder. With no paint, ripped and incomplete interior, greasy motor and rusty wheels this car still, somehow, expressed the beauty and design technology that is the lifeblood of Ferrari. I happened to notice my friend Rob Clements taking a close up photo of the only area of paint that had not been stripped away, a hand painted Cavallino Rampante. As I approached he pointed and said “Do you think this was done by him?” As I looked more carefully I saw a hand lettered “Luigi Chinetti” there. It’s tough to find better history than that.

For classic car lovers, sports car enthusiasts or anyone with an appreciation for automotive excellence this event is phenomenal. But for true Ferrari aficionados this is THE event to attend in North America. Driving, racing and showing off the best that Ferrari has to offer, the participants in the Cavallino Classic create an enthusiast’s dream.