Luigi Chinetti and Michael Lynch presented a history of the Chinetti family and North American Racing Team in Hanger K at the airport on Friday afternoon. Besides the audience of 200, there were some NART cars in attendance as well. This Ferrari 512 M, chassis # 1020, finished third at Le Mans, driven by Sam Posey and Tony Adamowicz. The car was later driven to several world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats by Luigi Chinetti, Jr., Paul Newman, Graham Hill and Milt Minter. The 512 won the Luigi Chinetti Award at the Concorso. Credit: Garret Vreeland
By Michael T. Lynch
The sixth edition of the Santa Fe Concorso took place over three days under beautiful Southwestern skies. Despite the good weather, wonderful cars and great fellowship, the event was poignant because of the loss last May of journalist/racer/philosopher Denise McCluggage who was a Santa Fe resident and involved with the Concorso from the beginning. That feeling was tempered because all of us knew a life well lived when we saw one, and you couldn’t go far without feeling Denise’s presence.
Events kicked off at the airport after lunch on Friday with a presentation about the Chinetti family, long-time sole Ferrari importers for the U.S. and their North American Racing Team. It was given by Luigi Chinetti who was involved in both the business and the racing team, for which he scored class wins in the great international endurance races like Daytona and Le Mans. Historian, Michael T. Lynch, added occasional background. Afterward, there was supposed to be a poster signing, but the crowd of 200 had also brought books and T shirts and probably some items I missed. A special touch was that cars from NART’s history were parked in the presentation space. That evening, the Friday night gathering included a dinner for entrants and the public in the same venue. The NART cars remained for everyone’s enjoyment.
Phil Mulacik enjoys the Mountain Tour from a good vantage point, his 250 GT Fantuzzi Spyder. This was a Chinetti family design that was executed by Fantuzzi. Conceived as a bare-bones street car, it had no roof, side curtains or windows. The wheelbase length remained standard GTE. Rebodied in 1964, it toured the U.S. auto show circuit in 1964 and 65. It was presented in silver then and the windshield had wind wings. The car won a Directors Award in the Tribute to Ferrari Class. Credit: Garret Vreeland.
Saturday saw the entrants in the Mountain Tour lined up along the four sides of the Santa Fe Plaza and its historic architecture as the crowds admired the cars. The mayor proclaimed the day to be Denise McCluggage Day.
The cars departed the Plaza on a route to Cerrillos that had been created by Denise. She did not choose the route strictly because of an abundance of challenging curves, though it had them, but for the aesthetics of the run, which allowed magnificent vistas of the high desert.
After Denise McCluggage moved to Santa Fe from Vermont, she instituted what came to be known as Tuesday Car Table, which took place at the Santa Fe Bar and Grill. Despite the name, the gathering was not all about cars and many matters of human existence were discussed. Although the event was not officially part of the Concorso, Beverly Little and her husband, Dennis, former Design Chief at Cadillac, arranged for Denise’s many friends and admirers to get together at the venue to tell of their experiences with Denise. I should remark here that Beverly and Dennis made sure Denise’s last year and final illness were as comfortable as possible. All Denise’s family, friends and fans owe them a great debt of gratitude.
The program was presided over by the always sartorially resplendent Jean Jennings, author, blogger and automotive personality extraordinaire. She allowed everyone a strict five minutes at the microphone, although she relented when necessary. I had the honor of reading a note from Tom and Elinor Burnside who were very close to Denise and as I was finishing their missive, unknown to me, Luigi Chinetti called them on his cell phone. We got the cell phone and microphone to work in unison and Tom was able to add to his remarks. He said, “Denise was always the sister I never had.”
Over the course of the afternoon, there were tears, joyous laughter and all the emotions in between. One of the last times Denise and I were together was at an Alfa Romeo National Convention. Before the event she had called to see if I would introduce her. I demurred, but she was unrelenting, “C’mon Michael, you give good word.” I was struck, as always, by the fact that she had the devil in her and could do wonderful things with words. When the afternoon ended, one thing was clear, anyone who ever spent any time with Denise was changed by the experience, and always for the better. Whether teaching someone to drive or ski, getting them to quit smoking, or encouraging them to overcome what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles in their careers and lives, the person always came out ahead on the deal.
Upon entering the Concorso grounds on Sunday, the entry had exotic bicycles on the right and race cars on the left. Entries that caught my eye included a mid-70s Pinarello Super Corsa and an 80’s Raleigh Team Pro. There was also an artifact of the last decade of the 19th Century, a Columbia Century Tourer. Across the path was one of the last of the Indianapolis roadsters, a Kurtis Novi that ran at Indy in 1983.
On the show field itself, the automobiles ranged from a 1907 Jewel Model E Stanhope to a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder. Motorcycles were well represented with the Italian Class going to Steward and Renee Garrison’s Ducati 750SS.
In recognition of Veloce Today’s Continental bias, here are some French and Italian award winners, not mentioned in the captions.
Class Awards
1st, Street and Racing Motorcycles, Parilla Sport Racer, Hiroshi Murata
3rd, Italian Motorcycles, Benelli Sei, Vince Ciotti
Directors Awards
Ferrari Street Cars, 2010 Ferrari California, Melanie Peters Thorne
Italian Motorcycles, Benelli Sei, Vince Ciotti
The Santa Fe Concorso concluded another successful presentation. We thank the organizers for both the outstanding collection of entries, but also for honoring the memory of Denise McCluggage.
Luigi Chinetti (tie) signs posters after the NART presentation while author Michael T. Lynch assists. Credit: Fred King
Surrounded as usual by beautiful women, at the end of the day Luigi Chinetti signs mementos after the Chinetti/NART presentation on Friday. The admirers are Beverly Little, Organizer of the Concorso, Vicki Lynch and Jacqueline Tardif. Credit: Garret Vreeland
Paul Emple’s Bugatti T57 started life as a Galibier Sedan. The owner sent it back to Bugatti to turn it into something more sporting which they definitely did. Not only did they give it a new body by Paul Née, but a new engine and hydraulic brakes as well. The owner made sure the original chassis numbers survived so he would not have to pay duty on the car again. It is seen on the Santa Fe Plaza Saturday morning awaiting the departure of the Concorso Tour. Credit MTL
The fitted luggage of Paul Emple’s Bugatti T57 included a piece specifically shaped for champagne. Details like this resulted in the car winning the Pre-War European Open 1930-42 Class and a Directors Award. Credit: MTL
The Honorable Javier Gonzales, Mayor of Santa Fe, proclaims Saturday, September 26, 2015 to be Denise McCluggage Day. Credit MTL
With a picture of Denise McCluggage behind her, Lyn St. James told a wonderful story. Lyn was at a Ford promotional event in 1985 and part of the program had journalists drag racing Lyn. At that time, she didn’t know who Denise was and when Denise got into the competing car, Lyn thought, “Who is this old broad?’ She soon found out, as she related, “She cleaned my clock!” One of many fond remembrances of the great lady. Credit: Beverly Little
Hiroshi Murata brought two rare MV Agusta tiddlers. The 125 2 Tempi 3 Velocita in the foreground is a two-stroke with a three-speed transmission. It scored some of the marque’s early victories. In the background is an MV Germano Sport that is powered by a German DKW two-stroke. The Germano took second in the Italian Motorcycle Class and the 125 also took a second in the Street and Racing Motorcycle Class. Credit: MTL
On the show field, there were more memories of Denise. In 1967, she drove this 275 GT4 NART Spyder at Sebring to a close 2nd place finish in the GT Class. This was a street car straight off the boat and she and Marianne Rollo were only beaten by a race prepared Mustang. Their pit board was the spare tire-covering floor panel from the trunk of the car with chalk messages scrawled on it. When reunited with the car at Saratoga, New York in 2009, she wrote some typical Denise heretical statements, “Then there’s driving it. The cornering forces remain pure. But the steering needs some wrestling, and the wheel, as large as a supersized pizza, is hard and skinny in the hand. The gated gearbox wants more effort than comes easily to me after a few hours. I yearn for paddles. The brakes…aren’t great, but I locked them to a screech just once when the line accordioned suddenly for a turn. Old cars feel old.” This was her opinion of a Ferrari icon which had also been driven by Steve McQueen, with whom she had once been an item, in the movie, The “Thomas Crown Affair.” The car was given a Directors Award in the Tribute to Ferrari Class. Credit Garret Vreeland
Two lovely examples of early Ferraris that were part of the Salute to Ferrari. Admiral Phillips has owned his blue 500 Mondial since 1960. The Mittler Family’s 250 MM had the nose modified in period into a shape thought to be more streamlined. Credit Garret Vreeland.
You don’t see these ASA 1000s very often, as the Chinettis only imported around 30 to the US. It started as an attempt by Ferrari to build a less expensive car, but after the design work was completed, it was manufactured in a Milan factory of the De Nora family, who were primarily electronics manufacturers. Bodies were by Bertone. The 1000 cc engine is literally one third of a Ferrari 250, with the same bore, stroke and pistons. Brakes are directly lifted from the 250 GTE, providing excellent stopping power for a car of its size. The fit and finish are in keeping with Ferrari GT standards. Somewhere between 50 and 75 were made between 1964 and 1967. There were even racing versions, which were quite successful in the small displacement class of Italian club racing. Ugo Piccagli won a Directors Award in the Sports & GT 1960-67 Class. Credit: Garret Vreeland.
John Weinberger’s Maserati A6GCS was one of Maserati’s earliest post war sports racing cars. This one competed in the original Mille Miglia. Under Weineberger’s stewardship, it has done the modern era’s great events including the California Mille, the Monterey Historics, the Colorado Grand and the Mille Miglia. The Mitler Family’s Cunningham C2R was one of three built and competed at Le Mans in 1951. It won the 1951 Watkins Glen event with Phil Walters driving. Credit MTL
This is the last Ferrari to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race. The year was 1965 and it was entered there by the North American Racing Team. Now owned by the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the car was declared Best of Show – Sport, and winner of the Tribute to Ferrari Class. Credit: Garret Vreeland.
Master of Ceremonies Donald Osborne announces the Best of Show – Elegance winner. It is Ken and Ann Smith’s Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible. This was hardly its first trip over the ramp, having won Best of Show numerous times at significant concours. The Smiths have been excellent stewards of this magnificent automobile. They took the time to go to France and meet with Claude Figoni, the son of the original body builder, Joseph Figoni, to make sure all details were correct. French cars from the late 1930s are considered the ne plus ultra of automotive styling and this Delahaye is a standout even among them. Credit: Garret Vreeland.
Dear veloce–
Memories of Denise..ah yes, she had the devil in her and magic with words.
Some of her stories could even be allowed in print..!
Never failed to make me laugh aloud, even so many years since our
first encounter in 1957, So long ago.
Our last meeting at the Birthday party for our mutual pal, Phil Hill.
My friend from England came over expressly for occasion and asked me
for a favor. “.Sure Steve, if i can”. He just wanted an introduction to Denise.
How very British, but yet, indicated how much this would mean to him
Michael T..we can always count on you for keeping the flame going.
Jim Sitz
Oregon USA
Thank you MichaelT. Nicely done. Denise touched and encouraged so many of us, and loved her adopted town. It’s also great to see her old pal Luigi looking well and happy. Great memories on all fronts. Sorry I missed the food fight.
A great tribute that brings Denise to mind in a very wonderful way. Beautifully done. Thank you. At Monterey in ’84, I was walking past the V.I.P. tent when someone spoke out, “You should be in here.” Denise brought me in seating me with Fangio and Phil Hill. Anything said here would be an understatement. We loved her. Walt
Thank you Michael T. Lynch, for your wonderful article about the Concorso. You’ve really captured the ambiance of the event, and the presence of Denise that imbued it. You didn’t mention that the articles you contributed to the program elevated it to must-have status. I’m sorry I missed you there and look forward to meeting you, perhaps next year.
Excellent article. It was a joy to see Denise at Pebble Beach every year where she was a longtime honorary judge. She was always positive and always smiling even in the last years when it was getting difficult for her to get around. There are numerous shows and the Santa Fe Concorso is on our bucket list. I wish we had made it while Denise was still with us.
Few could inform and entertain so well with the written word as Denise McCluggage, who made an impact on the track and with her typewriter. Where I would write “rained,” Denise would write the “biblical drenching.” Dan Gurney might have said it best: “Denise McCluggage was a true original. The way she wrote, the way she talked, the way she behaved and the way she lived her life, nothing was ordinary.”
She was a racer who wrote about racing, providing insight and perspective that others couldn’t, relying on her innate talent and her personal friendships and experiences. She did it when it was difficult for women to even get into the garages and pits, much less drive a racing car. In an interview with Matt Stone for Road & Travel magazine, she said, “I had to interview drivers through a chain link fence. Women just weren’t permitted in. I was told people wouldn’t accept news from a woman.” But Denise rose above the prejudice and unfairness of the time, earning the trust and respect of some of the greatest names in the sport. She told me more than once that she wasn’t trying to make a statement; she simply wanted to win the race. Many called her a pioneer for equality for women, but that wasn’t her purpose. She wasn’t a woman racing driver or woman journalist; she was a racing driver and a journalist.
On her blog, she wrote that many had asked, “Why don’t you write your memoirs?” She replied, “I don’t do fiction.” That was Denise—no ego, humble, self-deprecating, witty and sharp as a tack. Her race may be over, but she helped shape the history of motor racing and her legacy will live on through our memories of her and her writings. Indeed a life well lived!
Great article, Michael, with your special thoughts about Denise. They awaken lots of memories, and Diana and I will also treasure our recollections of this particular Santa Fe weekend. All the best, and keep on writin’ !
Larry
Despite living in Santa Fe I never met Denise. I do have a very clear memory of a picture of her dating back many years. It probably appeared in Road & Track. Not long after the original Mini came out, they quickly became used in sedan racing. Somewhere along the line Denise was, of course, involved. She had a left hand drive version, and one of her opponents, the colorful Innes Ireland, had a right hand drive version. The crossed the finish line together, holding hands. Maximum style points!
charley
Hi Michael,
What a nice article. Makes me regret not having taken a greater interest in the car world.