By Carl Goodwin and Chuck Hazle
Photography by Chuck Hazle
September 15th. The annual Boniface Picnic just passed, marking the beginning of autumn in eastern Ohio…specifically Poland, Ohio a pleasant small town in the Warren/Youngstown area. It’s one of the better car shows in and around Cleveland, especially if you like Italian cars. Hosted by Dr. Ray Boniface, it’s a benefit fundraiser for a free clinic in Youngstown.
Many such gatherings are for the benefit of some important cause. Sports car owners seem to support these generously. This event was for the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in nearby Youngstown, Ohio. This clinic is the foster child of Dr. Nancy Gantt, the daughter-in-law of Dr. Boniface. It features state-of-the-art digital imaging equipment and other diagnostic procedures for early detection of breast cancer which markedly increases the chance of a complete cure. The clinic makes these services available free-of-charge for people without insurance and the ability to pay for these critical screenings. Many of the needy clientele are from surrounding rural areas. To donate to the clinic, contact Dr. Nancy Gantt, (330)480-3260 or nlg@neomed.edu. A short profile about the center can be located at NAPBC.org. Over 500 women have been served by the “Joanie’s Promise” fund which provides under-served women with both breast imaging up through biopsy and transportation to the center.
At the show, older Ferraris included a 275 GTB, a Daytona coupe and a Lusso. There were several variations of Alfas from the Giulietta to the Bertone coupes to the Touring spyders. Interestingly, there were two examples of the Touring Superleggera body style: one on a Lancia chassis and the other on a Maserati .
Oddly enough, the stars of the show were a couple of Darrin custom-bodied Packards. Even the Ferrari owners were raving about these cars. There were about 60 people attending the show, each of whom donated $20 for a chance to look over the cars assembled, talk with other car enthusiasts and enjoy a tasty lunch of salad, tubular pasta, chicken, roast beef, eggplant and a special cake decorated with the Alfa Romeo emblem.
Christian Philippsen says
Greetings,
Wouldn’t the Maserati on the top picture simply be a 3500 GT? The Sebring sported different coachwork altogether and, as I remember, was bodied by Vignale.
As to the two red Alfa Romeo’s, they are indeed by Touring but the 2600 is the one on the left whilst we only see the nose of the 2000.
Best wishes
Christian Philippsen
pete says
Christian…you are right about the Alfas and it is corrected, but we are checking on the Lancias with the owners.
Pete
John Slater says
Pete,
The Lancia is a Flaminia GT and the Maserati a 3500 GT.