Events Coverage
Concorso Italiano 2004
By by: Bryan Joslin
Aug 27, 2004, 14:00

The Italians are known for being a passionate people. Their passion for life is visible in everything they do, whether it’s food or wine or clothing or machinery. Ah, Italian machinery, now we’re talking. Italy has a reputation for producing some of the most distinctive, most stylish, most visceral machines on the planet.

This reputation has bred a very passionate, very loyal owner base. These are the owners that descend upon the Monterey Peninsula every year to celebrate their beloved cars, and indeed all things Italian, at Concorso Italiano.

The atmosphere at Concorso Italiano is festive, and why wouldn’t it be? It’s hard to imagine another affair that could attract so many Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and Alfas in a single day. Spread out across the 18th fairway of the Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Club in Seaside were over 1600 cars, nearly 600 of which were Ferraris alone.

Cars are not the only objects of desire at Concorso. After all, it’s a celebration of Italian style, so we must not leave out the gorgeous Riva wooden boats and the variety of two-wheeled machines ranging from classic Vespas to modern Ducatis. The vendor row consisted of over a hundred tents offering everything from posters and die-cast models to driving shoes and vintage leather racing helmets. And for those with no interest in Italian machinery, there was even an Italian fashion show.



Special features at this year’s Concorso Italiano were the Dino reunion for both Fiat and Ferrari Dinos and special acknowledgement of the 50th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Lamborghini chose to debut the new Murcielago Roadster at Concorso, where it was surrounded by over 100 other Lamborghinis on and around the 18th hole green.

Concorso Italiano takes place in conjunction with the other events that make up the Monterey Classic Car Weekend in August each year. The event is always held on the Friday of the big weekend, and is located just a few miles down the road from Laguna Seca. In fact the sounds of racecars at the Monterey Historic Races can be heard echoing over the nearby canyons. If you plan your day right, it is possible to attend Concorso and still have time to see practice sessions at the racetrack all in the same day. Either way, it is one part of a great automotive weekend.

For more discussion on this story, click on the link to our discussion forums to the left.	For more photos of the car in this story, click on the link to our gallery at the right.

© Copyright 2004 by YourSITE.com