Panteras
owners were most eager to meet Tom Tjaarda. This is John Johnson's blue '72 DeTomaso Pantera. Photo by Chris Layton.
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This year's ItalianCarFest, held on September 8-10th, was a full weekend of show and track, and topped by the presence of Pantera designer Tom Tjaarda, the guest of honor.
For those of the ItalianCarFest’s 12,000 visitors who could not attend Sunday's track day or the soothing Sunday morning scenic drive to Texas Motor Speedway, Saturday’s concours did not disappoint. Grouped by marque around the south shore of Lake Grapevine, the Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Fiats, Lancias, Lambos, Maseratis, Panteras, and the lone Intermeccanica Indra 2+2 and de Tomaso Mangusta created the ideal parking lot, full of the Italian style Tom Tjaarda celebrates as “the natural way to design an automobile”.
A very rare Intermeccanica Indra 2+2. Photo by Chris Layton.
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Sprightly modern Vespas and an Aprilia held their own with eye-catching Ducatis among the cars. A 1957 Rumi Junior and a 1959 Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport added historical depth to the cycle and scooter entries. In the real parking lot, full of the usual Texas suspects--i.e., trucks and SUVs--two Ford GTs and a Lambo on the front line provided an extra perk.
Moto Guzzi Falcone Sport. Photo by Jerry Pyka.
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The majority of the 160 concours cars and numerous two-wheelers were Texas vehicles, but there was representation from as far east as North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and as far north as Alaska.
and as close as Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado. The rare Intermeccanica, one of three displayed over the four years of the CarFest’s run, traveled from South Dakota. Every year the ICF expands in visitors, participants, and the number of states represented by participants, to date 17. Getting to Texas even from another part of Texas is no easy feat.
An especially encouraging sign of continued enthusiasm for Italian style is the number of youngsters and teens who attended the concours, albeit chanting the only adjective NASCAR permits them to use--“awesome”--as they checked out the Ferraris and Lambos and fantasized knee-brush cornering on the Ducatis. Tom Tjaarda claimed he made the trek from Turin mainly to acquire a Texas cowboy hat, which goal he accomplished.
Alfa Romeo was the ICF’s featured marque and Pantera the featured model. A 1930 Alfa C6 1750 GS was the oldest vehicle in the show and led the parade of Alfas, whose 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal was judged Best of Show.
Gray Gregory's 1972 Comp Pantera. Photo by Jerry Pyka.
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Two 1972 Panteras won first and second in their marque class. John Taphorn, president of Pantera Owners Club of America, proudly surveyed the array of Panteras (1971-1985), including two race cars, Gray Gregory’s (Houston) much raced 1972 Pantera and Dennis Quella’s (Castle Rock, Colorado) 1985 GP5. Race cars that do not look like objets fit only for an etagere, cars that show their work history inside and out, please this writer immensely. An Italian red 1969 Mangusta, one of only 400 built, sporting rare late model dual headlights, completed the de Tomaso stable.
Maserati had an admirable showing. Bob Smith’s (Dallas) 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS (first place for Maserati’s before 1996), the 2005 Quattroporte and the 2004 Coupe Combiocorsa (first and second, respectively, in the post-1996 Maserati class), and the 1966 5000 GT, by Frau, one of 34 built, caught the eye. The GT has suede interior. Among the Lancias, the dark blue 1967 Lancia Flamina GT 2.8 generated considerable spectator excitement and won first in its marque class. The 1976 Scorpion took second place. The Fiats also fascinated. No doubt, the 1935 Fiat 508 S Mille Miglia Aero Coupe, one of 11 built, stirred the crowd and the cameras. The burgundy-hued car, with its “Viva Nuvolari” tribute, was “For Sale.”
A very rare Fiat 508S Mille Miglia coupe, for sale with papers. Photo by Jerry Pyka.
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And then there were the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, breathtaking lines of them. Of the latter, in addition to the 2006 Murcielagos, there were Diablos, Gallardos, and Countaches. A 1999 Diablo SV won first prize in the Lambo to 2001 category. A 2006 Murcielago Roadster won the post-2001first. A 1987 Countach Quattrovaluole scored first in the Lambo Ltd. category.
The Ferraris included 308s, 328s, 348s, and 355s in the pre-2000 category. A 1994 348 Spider won first place in this class. A 2002 F360 was first in its class, and a 1974 Dino 246 GTS placed first in the Ferrari Ltd. category. Sonny Morgan’s (Dallas) 1968 Daytona 365 GTB Spider placed second. Perhaps the greatest disappointment for Ferrari and CarFest organizers was the absence of one of Tom Tjaarda’s favorite cars, the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Alas, one was en route but developed break issues that a quick stop at Auto Zone probably could not resolve.
Stories about their cars came “trippingly on the tongue[s]” of owners. One of my favorite restoration narratives was provided by Joe Colangelo of Carrollton, Texas.
Colangelo's surprisingly green Fiat 124 Spider. Photo by Jerry Pyka.
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The restoration--actually a combination restoration and customizing--of his Fiat 124 Spider took years, Joe said, and was replete with the inevitable frustrations. When the time came for painting the Fiat racing green, Joe gladly handed the car over to professionals. But at the grand unveiling, his first sight of the car sent him into a panic. He was looking at a John Deere! Joe calmed down when he was reminded that, under the fluorescent lights of the paint shop, color has a way of not being what it is to be.
I had a similar problem with my BluBlocker sunglasses as I toured the concours and jotted down my notes. I automatically translated the hot-pink Ferraris and Panteras I saw back into their customary red, but I had to be reminded that many of the white cars I so noted were quite yellow.
As if the luxury, beauty, and thrill of the cars and bikes were not enough, the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, the host hotel for the ItalianCarFest, extended its considerable hospitality.
Everything is big in Texas, including the Gaylord TV screen. Photo by Jerry Pyka.
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The large and lovely resort is a tiny, air-conditioned village unto itself, with restaurants, cafes, shops, spa, gym, hairdressers, pools, cocktail lounges, pianists and harpists, sportsbar, kiddie playgrounds, inside-outside walking paths, and shuttle service available on a regular basis. A Friday evening reception in the courtyard offered supersize video screening of the cars on exhibition. The only thing missing at the Gaylord was the fabulous gelato--try the mint chocolate chip--served up by Paciugo's to the happy, if hot crowds at the concours on Lake Grapevine.
Getting into a Lambo for some track time. Photo by Patricia Lee Yongue.
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Jerry Phillips and Bob Dezanny and their committee are to be congratulated for a superb, attention-to-detail production for participants and spectators. For information about the ItalianCarFest and contact addresses, check the website www.italiancarfest.com. Not to be at the ItalianCarFest is to be denied a distinct, distinctive pleasure.
Jeff Moore's 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS.
Photo by Garrick Whitmah
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Tom & Devra Atlas, 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. Photo by Garrick Whitmah
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2001 Alfa Romeo Spider. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Mike Elliott's 1967 Alfa Romeo Zagato Quatroruote Gran Sport. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Bob Golkowski's 1966 FIAT 600D. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Shaun Folkerts showed his 1972 FIAT 124 wagon before driving it home to
Pennsylvania. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Jeff Scheferman's 1972 FIAT 124 sedan. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Another view of the 1935 FIAT 508S Mille Miglia Aerodynamica Coupe owned by Rocky Santiago & Nathan York. Photo by Garrick Whitmah.
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Garrick Whitnah's 1978 Lancia Beta CoupePhoto by Garrick Whitmah.
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Three Panteras, part of the largest gathering of Panteras east of Las Vegas in over 10 years. Photo by Chris Layton.
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Engine bay of Pat Lobb's 1972 DeTomaso Pantera on display in the Winner's Circle. Photo by Chris Layton.
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George Coal's white 1988 Lamborghini Countach. Photo by Chris Layton.
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