33rd Annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic brings a stampede of Ferraris to The Breakers
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The Breakers' lawn was swept by a sea of Ferrari red Saturday with the kickoff of the 33rd annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic's "Concorso d'Eleganza."
Over 2,000 people gathered to see the 150 Ferraris on display in what is considered to be one of the largest Ferrari showcases in the world. Attracting Ferrari collectors from around the world, the event is reserved for automobiles epitomizing Ferrari’s engineering ingenuity and its classic style.
With 125 vintage Ferraris up for judging, collectors compete for 25 awards, including the coveted Best in Show awards, a collector's potential ticket to the famed Peninsula Hotel Group’s “Best of the Best” competition alongside winners from seven other prestigious classic-car events, or concours.
This year's Concorso d'Eleganza also marked the anniversary of three notable Ferrari models, the 60-year anniversary of the 275 GTB and GTS, the 40-year anniversary of the 288 GTO and the 40-year anniversary of the Testarossa.
Kicking off the event was a welcome ceremony featuring a speech by Luigi Orlandini, founder, chairman and CEO of Canossa, the Italian car show organizer leading the event.
Orlandini was flanked by notable guests including the great-grandson of the late Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, Enzo Mattioli Ferrari; Italian Consul General Michele Mistò of the Consulate General of Italy in Miami; Andrea Modena, head of Ferrari’s classic car division; Bud Root, experience manager for Ferrari of Palm Beach; Palm Beach Fire and Police Foundation founder and CEO John Scarpa; and John W. Barnes Jr., founder and president emeritus of Cavallino.
“John Barnes is the one who created all of this. It’s his creation, I’m just the custodian of it for the time being," Orlandini said. “I’m so glad that I have this opportunity to continue this incredible, incredible show.”
Orlandini had purchased Cavallino, the American-based magazine centered on the Italian car brand in 2020, with the goal of expanding the already renowned brand and the Concorso D’Eleganza.
“I think Cavallino should also be a connection point between the two countries that the Cavallino calls home, here and Italy,” said Orlandini. He was followed by Mistò, who reflected on both Cavallino and Ferrari’s storied history.
“This (event) epitomizes what Ferrari stands for; traditions passing through generations, traditions passing through a community’s hearts and minds,” said Mistò. “That's what we are celebrating today, cars which are not only cars but pieces of art, our history in the making.”
Finishing off the welcome ceremony was the ribbon-cutting, featuring flag ribbons from the United States and Italy.
Enthusiasts and collectors alike filled the lawn, chatting about their favorite models, snapping pictures next to one-of-a-kind vintage Ferraris, or waiting for the judges to examine their car. Guests could also peruse the custom Formula 1 posters on display, created for every Grand Prix from the 2017 through 2023 seasons. The day also featured a catalogue of panels led by Ferrari history expert Massimo Delbò, editorial director of Cavallino magazine.
Some of Palm Beach's most notable residents also made an appearance at the Concorso d'Eleganza, including actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone with his wife, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jennifer Flavin, and daughter Scarlet Rose Stallone; and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.
Judging for the event follows the framework set out by the International Advisory Council for the Preservation of Ferrari Automobiles (IAC/PFA), an independent organization that has set the standard for judging vintage Ferraris. Cavallino Classic judge Steve Ahlgrim, board member of the IAC/PFA, said the judging takes a two-step format, beginning with assigning a numerical evaluation between zero and 100.
Those who score 97 and above receive the platinum award, a mark of quality for the preservation or restoration of a Ferrari. Once awarded, the judges meet again to choose the winners of the 25 awards, which he says takes a more subjective approach to choosing a car.
“You may take factors into considerations (like) the car was a competition car, the car was a show car, (or) the car was the first one to feature a particular technical innovation,” Ahlgrim said. “And that can be added together (with the numerical score) to help really determine which is the best of them.”
In the end, 25 out of the 125 Ferraris would drive down the red carpet to be awarded the platinum award.
The winners of the 33rd Palm Beach Cavallino Classic Best In Show awards are:
Best of Show Granturismo was awarded to the 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Ghia owned by Dennis and Susan Garrity
Best of Show Competizione was awarded to the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM owned by Chris and Ann Cox
Best of Show Ferrari Classiche Certified was awarded to the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB "Competizione" owned by Brian Ross.
Midway through the Concorso D'Elaganza, Orlandini couldn't hide his joy with how the event had turned out.
"You know, you work one year to put this event together, and it's all for one day, but that day compensates all the effort you have to put in," Orlandini said to the Daily News. "It's been amazing."
He also noted the efforts of his "great team" of 100 staff members.
Beyond Canossa efforts, Orlandini said it was the passion of the collectors and enthusiast that truly make the event what it is. "It makes the atmosphere so friendly," he said.
A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation and the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts through the Cavallino Foundation.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Cavallino Classic returns for 33rd year
