[ photo gallery ]
September 18, 2002
Story and photos by Marcel Massini
The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO is 40 years old. This gorgeous automobile was introduced in 1962 and today many car enthusiasts and Ferraristi all over the world believe it represents the summit of all classic Ferraris. Only 39 examples (all versions) were built and today command prices of up to $9 million. The 250 GTO was the last true Gran Turismo car produced by Ferrari. It was the end of a line of cars that one could drive by road to the circuit and, with minimal alterations, race and win. It handled superbly. Former GTO racer Michael Salmon once stated “The GTO was the most beautifully balanced GT car – literally a ballet dancer on four wheels.”
To celebrate the GTO’s 40th anniversary, U.S. owners P. Paul Pappalardo and Peter G. Sachs organized a one week GTO tour through the burgundy area of France. The program was relaxed, with various optional activities each afternoon. A number of private residences with great historical significance was visited. Lunches were of the highest quality –but the organizers refused to accept responsibility for any liver transplants required after completion of the tour! No fewer than twenty three GTOs had been flown in from all corners of the world. It was THE super exclusive Ferrari meeting.
On Monday 9 September 2002 the GTO owners and their cars arrived at Château de Gilly near Dijon. The origins of the Château de Gilly date back to the 5th century as a Benedictine priory. Destroyed during the Hundred Years War in the 16th century, the priory was rebuilt as a residence for the abbots of Citeaux and became a hotel in the 1980s. Following the welcome champagne, registration and gifts and the assignment of the rooms the Moet & Chandon Anniversary dinner took place. The chef was Pascal Tingaud from Moet & Chandon’s famous Résidence de Trianon. Among the VIPs and invited guests were former Ferrari race aces Alain Prost, Jacky Ickx, Jean Guichet and Jack Sears. Tomorrow’s classic, one of the brand new Enzos was displayed (chassis# 128781, painted yellow), in front of the French Château.
For Tuesday the theme was “Medieval Burgundy and Le Morvan”, a trip of 170 miles. The morning started with a drive to Château d’Epoisses, a lovely Château of the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries and the private property of Count and Countess Hughes de Guitaut. Here the twenty three GTO owners and their passengers enjoyed a tasting of local cheeses.
Shortly afterward, during the drive for lunch at Château Bazoches de Morvan, an elder local driver of a small car crashed into the Ferrari 250 GTO owned by former Microsoft president Jon Shirley. This happened at a junction and the GTO was hit on the left front. Fortunately nobody was hurt but this accident meant the end of the GTO Tour for the Shirley’s. The GTO was placed on a flatbed and trucked back to the hotel.
Meanwhile the GTO owners enjoyed lunch. The site of Bazoches was an administrative center in Roman times and the Château was constructed beginning in the 12th century. It is nearby the town of Vézelay and was visited by Richard the Lion Heart during the Crusades. It is now home of the Vicomte de Sigalas, whose wife, Hélène de Vibraye, is descended from Claude de Beauvoir who owned Bazoches in the mid-15th century. Lunch was prepared by Marc Meneau, a two-star Michelin chief. Lunch was followed by a visit to the hilltop of Vézelay with its outstanding and impressive Basilique Ste. Madeleine which dates from the period of the Crusades. The dinner was held at the Orangerie of Bouchard Père et Fils in Beaune.
Wednesday morning most of the GTO owners drove to the fast and challenging Dijon-Prenois circuit where the French Grand Prix was held for many years. This interesting racetrack is located 10 miles north of Dijon and has a length of 2.4 miles. The circuit was opened in 1972 and is a popular venue in French circles, but no longer has the international clientele that graced its dipping curves in the late 1970s. It was here that we witnessed one of the most enthralling Grand Prix of all time. In 1979 Jean-Pierre Jabouille gave the Renault Turbo its first win in Formula One. However, most fans remember this race for the epic battle for second over the final two laps between Jabouille’s team-mate René Arnoux and Ferrari’s Gilles Villeneuve. Both cars left the road on many occasions, changing position at almost every corner, before the legendary Canadian bumped his way clear.
For the GTO meet there were free laps and regularity tests similar to that used in the Tour Auto. From the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Dott. Carlo Tazzioli appeared, he has been with Ferrari for more than 33 years now. The original owner of GTO 3705 GT, Frenchman Jean Guichet, was re-united with the car he placed 2nd overall at Le Mans in 1962. Florida collectors Leslie and Ed M. Davies proudly presented 3705 GT to the former French race ace.
Until noon the weather was perfect , but then it began to rain heavily. The Ferraris were now driven to Château de Commarin for lunch. The Château is an important private residence which dates as a fortified house from the 14th century and has always been in possesion of branches of the de Vogüe family. In the afternoon followed a drive to the springs which are the source of the River Seine. Dinner was held at sensational and renowned Clos Vougeot and was prepared by Jacques Lameloise, a three-star Michelin chief.
Thursday the GTO owners drove through the vineyards of Montrachet and paid a visit to Maison Joseph Drouhin for a wine tasting. Lunch followed at the private Domaine Chandon de Briailles. Count Chandon, a friend of French Ferrari collector Pierre Bardinon, has owned a number of one-off Ferraris in the past 40 years (including a bottle green 400 Superamerica Coupé Aerodinamico chassis #4443 SA). After the optional visit to the Hospices de Beaune a private dinner followed at “Les Coquines” near Beaune.
Friday, 13 September 2002, was the last day of the GTO tour and consisted of a drive through the spectacular mountains of the Jura for coffee, and the Manufacture d’Arc et Senans. The Arc et Senans is a large and architecturally impressive multi-building 18th century structure which was originally the Royal Saltworks. Lunch took place at Château d’Arlay. The Château was a fortified house in the middle ages and home of the Princes of Orange and is now the home of the Count de Laguiche. It produces a range of important wines of the Jura region. Jean-Paul Jeunet, a two-star Michelon chief, prepared the lunch. The GTO tour ended with a Dom Pérignon gala black tie dinner at Château de Gilly.
The GTO owners came from 9 different countries. While most of the cars were painted in various shades of the traditional red, there was also a French blue one from Japan, the NART blue Series I car owned by Bernie Carl, a silver grey formerly owned by The Cavallino Collection, and Brandon Wang’s deep blue GTO. The Series II GTO of Sir Anthony P. Bamford looked especially spectacular with its Cambridge light blue decoration originally seen with the Maranello Concessionaires Racing Team. Pink Floyd pop group drummer Nick Mason and wife Annette drove their GTO with appropriate English registration plates 250 GTO. The 2002 GTO 40th Anniversary Moet & Chandon Tour in France was absolutely fascinating and sensational and the author already looks forward to attend the 50th anniversary tour in 2012.
Poster celebrating 40 years since the GTO was created.