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This Week: Ferraris, Friends, and Bambi
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When I think back on the Ferrari Club of America Annual Experience in Monticello, New York, the first image that comes to mind isn’t a Ferrari at all.
It’s a doe standing quietly along the roadside with her young spotted fawn.
Now, don’t worry—I didn’t accidentally drive to a wildlife preserve instead of the FCA Meet. The Ferraris were definitely there…hundreds of them. But sometimes it’s the unexpected moments that become the most memorable.
The Catskills provided a spectacular backdrop for several days of driving, friendship, concours judging, and enough Ferrari conversations to make Enzo smile.
And yes…there were a few beautiful cars, too.
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Judging the 360 Modena Class
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One of the highlights of the weekend was serving as a concours judge. This year’s assignment was judging the Ferrari 360 Modena class alongside Chief Class Judge Jim Wallner, fellow judge Scott Severson, and Judge Under Instruction Jerry Wiersma.
One of my favorite parts of judging has very little to do with score sheets. It’s getting to know the owners, hearing the stories behind their cars, and hopefully making the experience enjoyable instead of nerve-racking.
If you’d like a deeper look at the FCA Annual Experience, keep an eye out for an upcoming issue of Prancing Horse, the official magazine of the Ferrari Club of America. I recently had the opportunity to write a fun feature article about the event, including behind-the-scenes stories, memorable conversations, and a few moments that didn’t make this newsletter. It should be arriving in members’ mailboxes soon, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Concours judging isn’t about intimidating owners. Think of it as an educational conversation…that just happens to involve clipboards, score sheets, and judges crawling around on the ground looking underneath your Ferrari.
By the end of the judging, I think the owners realized we weren’t there to ruin their weekend—we were there to help them enjoy it even more.
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New to this newsletter?
Don’t miss out—subscribe over there—->
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An Ohio Reunion…Completely by Accident
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One of the weekend’s biggest surprises involved fellow Ohioan John Kwik.
Through the luck of the draw, I was assigned to judge his Ferrari 488 Spider for its Coppa Bella Macchina certification. Fortunately for John, the car passed with flying colors, which made for a much shorter conversation afterward.
As part of the certification process, we headed out for the required “high speed test.” While everyone else was understandably focused on the Ferrari’s performance, I somehow became the only person to notice that doe standing quietly beside the road with her young spotted fawn.
Apparently, when you’re surrounded by a Ferrari, your peripheral vision shuts off.
Mine, however, was busy watching Bambi. The Ferrari passed. The deer passed.
And for one brief moment, I think I was the only judge evaluating wildlife instead of horsepower.
I briefly considered deducting points because neither deer was wearing Ferrari Rosso Corsa…but decided against it.
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The People Make the Weekend
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As spectacular as the Ferraris were, weekends like this remind me that it’s always the people who make this hobby so rewarding.
One of the highlights was catching up with Leslie Blinn, Chief Concours Judge and one of the contributors to The Enthusiast’s Guide to Collector Cars. Leslie has forgotten more about Ferraris than most of us will ever know, and every conversation with her turns into an impromptu master class.
Ironically, one of my favorite contributions to the book wasn’t about Ferraris at all. Instead, Leslie shared the story of learning to drive a manual transmission in her brother’s Pontiac GTO. I loved that story because it perfectly illustrates something I’ve always believed: every enthusiast has an origin story. Some begin behind the wheel of a Ferrari. Others start in an old muscle car with a nervous left foot and a patient (or perhaps not-so-patient) instructor. The destination may be different, but the passion usually starts the same way.
The weekend was also filled with conversations with owners proudly sharing the stories behind their Ferraris, judges catching up between classes, and plenty of good-natured joking that seems to happen whenever passionate car people get together.
Some hobbies collect cars. This one collects friendships. Ok, that’s a little hokey but it is true.
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As I flew home from Monticello, I couldn’t help but laugh at what I’ll probably remember most from the weekend. It wasn’t judging Ferraris, carrying around a clipboard, or even the spectacular lineup of Italian exotics.
Instead, it’ll always be the image of a doe and her spotted fawn standing quietly beside the road while a Ferrari 488 Spider blasted past with a concours judge who was apparently the only person looking in their direction.
If that doe and her fawn weren’t Ferrari fans before our “high-speed test,” I’m pretty sure they are now.
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If You Enjoy These Stories…
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One of the reasons I wrote The Enthusiast’s Guide to Collector Carswas to capture stories just like these.
Yes, the book covers buying, selling, collecting, judging, auctions, and everything in between. But more importantly, it’s filled with the experiences and wisdom of some of the hobby’s most respected enthusiasts—including people like Leslie Blinn, whose stories remind us that every collector’s journey has to start somewhere.
If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, I hope you’ll consider adding it to your bookshelf. And if you’ve already read it, thank you. I hope it inspires a few more great automotive adventures of your own.
Until next time, stay driven!
Greg
The Enthusiast’s Guide to Collector Cars is now available online through Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble, making it easier than ever to find your next dream car—or at least justify why you’re still searching for it.
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Need Help With Your Collector Car?
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If you’re considering selling a collector car and would like guidance, I’m always happy to help.
Whether it’s a blue-chip car for a live auction or a modern enthusiast car better suited for an online format, just reply to this email and I’ll personally walk you through the options, timing, and next steps.
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New Podcast Episodes Every Thursday
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Before Jonathan Ward became synonymous with ICON 4×4, he played an important role in the design development of the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, helping shape one of the most recognizable modern off-road vehicles ever built.
In this episode of The Collector Car Podcast, Jonathan takes us back to those early days at Toyota’s CALTY Design Research before sharing how that experience inspired the creation of ICON 4×4. We dive into the philosophy behind ICON’s legendary restorations and reimaginations, why craftsmanship still matters, how the company balances vintage character with modern engineering, and what exciting projects are currently in the works.
Whether you’re an off-road enthusiast, classic truck collector, or simply appreciate world-class automotive design, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside one of the industry’s most respected custom vehicle builders.
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Then catch up on some of my previous blogs:
As always, thanks for listening, watching, liking and sharing fun automotive content. I will talk to all of you this Thursday on The Collector Car Podcast.
Greg Stanley
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