Jim Jenne's Stanguellini heads up an impressive line up of entrants.
By Cliff Reuter
The 2010 etceterini meet has come and gone and I must say that it far exceeded my expectations!
Three years ago when I first thought of such an event, the goal was to gather the best etceterini cars in America for a show but most importantly I wanted to get the etceterini ‘isti’ together.
The network of etceterini lovers in America is quite extensive and dates back to the 1960’s and they had been corresponding since then via mail and most recently on the Internet, but most of these people had never met in person. So with this in mind I chose the Amelia Island Concours as a venue. Fortunately, Amelia founder Bill Warner loved my idea and told me to run with it.
Cliff Reuter, left, awards the Bandini book to Marc Richelsoph, winner of the VeloceToday Most Popular Etceterini contest.
Three years later, last Saturday afternoon at the Surf Restaurant on Amelia Island, Howard Banaszak hosted the pre event etceterini meeting. Almost all the car owners, a large group of ex etceterini owners and guys who just love etceterinis were there. Some of the old guard included Jerry Greaves, Jack Reuter, Marty Stein, Tim Ritter, Jim Jenne, and Judge Parker; of the new guard were Marc Richelsoph and Michael Swartz.
Michele Bandini, center, inspects the Jack Reuter Bandini, which tied for second.
The special guest of the evening in my opinion was Michele Bandini who came all the way from Italy to view five of his great Uncle Ilario Bandini’s creations for the first time. It was also his first time in America. I think he was a little amazed at the large display of love and respect for the cars that his family produced over 50 years ago that was shown by all. The conversation was fantastic and everyone felt like part of a large family and needless to say this was a very memorable afternoon.
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The next day dawned beautiful and sunny and I was up early after a largely sleepless night. Upon entering the green I was stunned by the beauty of the cars displayed: five Bandinis, two Stanguellinis, two Morettis, and a Siata coupe.
Howard Banaszak's Stanguellini tied for second place with the Reuter Bandini. Photo credit: Al Wolford / SportsCarDigest.com
I really can’t come up with the words to describe how I felt when seeing these cars lined up next to each other. It was a dream come true and I was very gratified when I saw the cars getting so much attention from the crowd who mostly had never heard of them. I want to thank Amelia Island and all who participated! Grazi!
Marc Richelsoph's Bandini 750 Saponetta placed first in the Etceterini class. Photo credit: Al Wolford / SportsCarDigest.com
Thank you Cliff! You changed a great concourse into spectacular for this atendee.
Molto bene, Cliff, per tutti difficile lavoro on this project. It was fantastic connecting with Michele again after meeting him in Siena last Fall. He is a charming and warm person I’m proud to consider a friend, and the display you put together was superb! I’m glad I got to renew acquaintances with old friends like Jerry Greaves as well as to “put a face” to people I had only known on the net.
Congratulazione e mille grazie
I really wish I could have been there, but my personal situation prevented this. Thanks Cliff, Pete, and everyone else who was able to make it and let the ones who couldn’t at least share via the internet.
Great venue, hope to make it next year. Any plans to bring it across the US? I think it would be ripe for the LA greater area. Let me know if you need help, whatever I can do. AlfaRomeo at Nickzart dot com
The below is a message from Michele Bandini to Editor at Large Lorenzo Marchesini, who translated it into English:
Lorenzo.
It has been an unforgettable week-end for me !
I saw cars that I had seen previously in pictures only and that my uncle (Bandini the constructor) had built driven himself, and of which he had told me so much about the races and anecdote.
It has been an incredibly emotional thing (Amelia Island) that I have difficulty describing. So many people seem to have knowmn my uncle, and they all wanted to know more about him. It was really a great experience !
Amelia Island is really a big event with about 250 cars and there were all sorts of cars, including some typical American taste ones as we call them in Italy, but that is all part of the game. Once again thanks for everything and hope to meet soon with you in person.
Great stuff!
As usual the Morettis are not shown. Pictures of all the cars present please!
It was great to see the etceterini get so much attention at Amelia. I also enjoyed meeting people in person at ‘The Surf’ like Tim Ritter whom I had only previously spoken to or corresponded with. The meeting also had a number of long time (does 30 yrs. qualify?) etceterini owners present not mentioned in your article like myself, Gary Ford and Bill King. It would be interesting to get a full roster.
Yes please, photos of all the etceterinis present — PLEASE!
I’m really sorry I could not be there. I wanted to bring my Motto-Cisitalia 1100 spider, but I am still restoring it. Maybe if I win the lottery I can throw money at it and get it done!
Karl,
I have photos and videos of the great Morettis on my site,
here are two links:
Videos (two great ones of Joel Stiens 1500cc Moretti):
http://www.ferrariexperts.com/etceterini%202010%20Amelia%20Island%20Videos.htm
Photos:
http://www.ferrariexperts.com/etceterini%202010%20Amelia%20Island.htm
I regretably missed Michael Swartz driving his Moretti on to the stand…
So sorry I missed that gathering. We would love to have a Etceterini Class at the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance in Lexington, Ky. Ferrari is our featured class for 2010 and Alfa will have thier national meet with us in 2011. Please consider us.
Best,
Jim Levenson
Director, Automobile Acqusitions
Hi,
I agree with Karl, pictures of all the etceterini present, PLEASE!
I would have loved to be there, especially with my Motto-Cisitalia 1100 spider corsa. Unfortunately there’s a way to go with the restoration. If I could only throw money at it!