By Nick Kurczewski
Pictures copyright Nick Kurczewski
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Before the plumes of tire smoke had even cleared from last November's inaugural 'Running of the Bulls East', Richard Solomon – organizer of the event and Director of the Eastern Region of the Lamborghini Club America – was busy planning the next step in his revival of Lamborghini club activity in the New York Metro area. Held on June 12th, Running of the Bulls East 2 added to this momentum by once again getting classic and late-model Lamborghinis out of cozy garages and on to public roads.
"You owe it to yourself and club members to have at least two major events a year", says Solomon. "We were overwhelmed with the response to the first Running of the Bulls. We expected 50 cars and got double that".
Running of the Bulls East II included a fantastic array of Lamborghinis and other exotics. Dodge Vipers, Ferrari Modenas, and Porsche 911s rubbed shoulders with Diablos and Countachs. Meanwhile, Manhattan Motor Cars – one of the event sponsors, added extra sizzle by entering a sinister black Lamborghini Gallardo.
Groups of cars rendezvoused at locations in Connecticut, Northern New Jersey or New York City, before embarking on a two-hour drive to East Haddam, Connecticut, site of Consumer Reports automotive testing grounds. Located deep in the Connecticut countryside – and faraway from neighbors who object to the sound of howling tires - the 327 acre site was formerly home to the Connecticut Dragway until being purchased by Consumer Reports in 1986. Today, the facility is state of the art and includes everything the magazine needs to push today's vehicles to their limits.
At first glance, this union of testosterone-laden exotic cars and a famed consumer watchdog magazine might appear a strange one. However, David Champion – Director of Automobile Testing at Consumer Reports and informal emcee for the day – explained: "We want to dispel the myth that we [Consumer Reports] are not passionate about cars. We're all car nuts here". Champion described how the Auto Testing Facility is opened to groups of students for educational purposes, but that the tie-in with the Lamborghini Club was something new and exciting.
With the nearly 50 gleaming exotic cars parked neatly in a row, Consumer Reports' talented test-drivers treated participants to thrill rides in the magazine's own fleet of vehicles. With helmets on and seatbelts tightened, participants got a passenger view of water-soaked brake testing track, a suspension mangling rock hill and enormous skidpad.
Following a quick lunch and reapplication of sunscreen due to the perfect sunny weather, winners were announced for the casual concours that had been set up. Proving that democracy reigns – at least in the exotic car world – 'Best in Show' went to a car with a prancing horse on the hood and not a rampaging bull. Michael Barber's stunning 1984 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, with only 2,400 original miles, took the laurels, looking as though it had just rolled out of the Ferrari factory in Maranello.
The day's activities were rounded off by a tour of the tire testing facility, followed by riotous rides around the handling course in high-powered luxury and sports cars. The final event was a 5-mph bumper impact test conducted on one of today's most notable performance cars. The resulting carnage was not a pretty site.
Where Running of the Bulls Northeast III might head is anyone's guess. Judging from the success and creativity of editions one and two, the third installment should prove equally thrilling. For more information about the Lamborghini Club America Eastern Region go to
(www.lamborghiniclubeast.com.)
At the test center,
the informal concours took place and featured a good lineup of Lamborghinis.
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And an occasional Porsche---
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The occasional
Ferrari among the bulls.
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1984 512 BBi owned by Michael Barber which won Best in Show.
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A De Tomaso
shares the limelight with a Lamborghini Diablo with some very desirable tags.
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Lamborghini LP400 owned by Richard Solomon.
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Brake test track and test car- CR's drivers took one passenger at a time for a wild ride on their water-soaked brake testing track.
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