Atlanta's Italian Car Day Report

by John Montgomery

Italian auto enthusiasts completely filled the show field with finest and most expensive Italian machinery in the Southeast. Some estimates at the show valued the assembled Italian Artwork at well over $10 Million dollars! Thirty vendors donated $2000 in raffle prizes in support of the event, 250 delicious hot lunches were served by Giovanni's Italian Restaurant. The registered car owners choose "People's Choice" Winners for each marque, a "Best Modified" and "Best of Show" winner. Estimated attendance was over 500 guests. Special thanks to T. Rutlands for underwriting the rental fees for the entire park venue!

The most beautiful models in the world were there:
Alfetta, Berlinetta, Berlina, Bertone, BiTurbo, Bora, Countach, Diablo, Duetto, Espada, Ghibli, Giulia, Guilietta, Jalpa, Longchamp, Merak, Mercielago, Mexico, Miura, Milano, Mondial, Modena, Pantera, Pininfarina Spider, Spider Veloce, Testarossa, Uracco, Zagato

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo owners had thirty-seven cars, representing virtually every contemporary model. Favorites were Carol Wagnon's 72 Junior Zagato, along with husband W.L.'s 69 GTV. Joe DeCarlo brought his 66 Giulia 1300TI while Bettye DeCarlo drove the 92 Spider Veloce. Chuck Lipper's ultra rare Callaway Twin Turbo GTV-6 was on display along with Milanos from Adam Bardi and Todd Spruell. Jacob Gidey brought his Duetto Spider, Bud McIntyre had his 69 Alfa 2600 and Iason Rusodimas drove his Guilia. Glen Stroud and Jack Hackler led an Alfa Spider squadron while Mike Hollinger, Joe Dolgetta and Mark Strohauer brought three of many more fine Alfa 164's.

DeTomaso Pantera

Mike Dailey and the DeTomaso club brought twenty-eight cars, virtually every Pantera in the Southeast! What a thrill they had during the pilgrimage to the show, especially the huge caravan from Chamblee to Lake Lanier. Dick Koch's 700 HP twin turbo machine and Jerry Pentaleri's 396 C.I. dark blue Pantera was from Greenville, SC. Bruce Nardoci and Andy Parks came from Charlotte, and Mike Dailey's dark red 1971 was from North Atlanta. The Florida group consisted of Lou Agro, Pompano Beach; Gwen Foster and Chris Cox, Tampa; Bonnie and John Dent, Ft. Myers; Nina and Roger Gossett, Jupiter; Sandi and Dave Pratt, Melbourne; Fran and Al Rubin, Ft Myers; Jeff Vozeh, North Port; and Dave & Lianne Clark from Jacksonville. Allen Morris and Mike Coffel brought super rare "Pushbutton" models. The outing tied the record for the most de Tomaso's ever in the Southeast. Fred and Cindy Zesewitz were the organizers of the Florida Pantera group were responsible for the outstanding Florida Pantera participation. Read about their excellent adventure and see the great DeTomaso group cars at www.panteraplace.com.

Ferrari

Twenty-six Ferraris were at the show this year. A Ferrari 360 Spider was displayed by Paul Spruell. Gail Sabia brought Don's 1983 Ferrari BB512i, while Brian Strasberg, Clyde Romero brought 512TR's, while Robert Russo drove a pristine red Ferrari Testarossa. John and Carol Apen along with Kim Watkins brought two Ferrari 275GTB's, while Mark Moon, Mark Pilcher and Jeff Davidson entered Ferrari 355's, two Spiders and one Berlinetta. Chuck Barton and Todd Reed displayed a pair of Ferrari 348TS while John Libbos showed his 88 Mondial Coupe. John Delvac and Mitchel DeFrancis led a host of others with almost every version of the Ferrari 308 and 328. Also present were Ferrari 575M, 400i, 275GTS and a 308GT4. Much thanks to John Delvac who was the parking director for all 126 cars on the ICD show-field.

Fiat-Lancia

The Fiat-Lancia Club hosted the show for the third year. Sixteen great cars were there including Bob Stanek's 65 Fiat 1500, James Seabolt's Fiat Spider and Doc Hamway's Pininfarina Spider along with several rare X 1/9 models. The Fiat club's electronic mechanic "Gianfranco" (mannequin) stayed busy all afternoon under a red Bertone X 1/9, delighting young and old alike with clanking wrenches and ratchets, and his hilarious repair tips. Lancia cars included a red Lancia 037 brought by David Beales, a Lancia Zagato by Ernie Abbott and a 82 Lancia High Performance Estate by John Montgomery.

Lamborghini

Nine Lamborghinis attended the show, including Paul Spruell's brand new, 580 HP Lamborghini Mercielago. Alan & Jennifer Schuster, Chuck Rosemblum and Robert Ball brought a trio of fantastic Diablo's. Vail and Linda Frost brought two cars, a wonderful red Countach and their silver Espada. Rick Russo showed his jet black Lambo Jalpa while Don White brought his ultra rare Uracco S. Kirk Stevenson's Miura P-400 was a favorite crowd pleaser.

Maserati

Maserati was very well represented with a great selection of seven models. Carson Cornell from Maserati of Atlanta displayed a brand new Maserati Spyder with the new 4.2 liter and the latest styling by the great Giugiaro. Ivan Ruiz brought his flawless Glibli Spyder while Gary Farmer showed his beautiful Maserati Biturbo Coupe. Andy Williams brought his bright yellow Merak SS from Knoxville and Steve Curlee had his 73 Maserati Bora to compliment Ivan's Bora. Dick Preston displayed his classic Maserati Mexico, one of three Masers in his garage.

Italian Cycle

Jim Conley, Mo Kia and sponsor Eric Lindquist from Performance Powersports brought a trio of Ducatis. The threat of rain kept many bikers from the show.

Congratulations to the "People's Choice" winners for 2002:

Alfa Romeo (1st, 2nd & 3rd)
Carol Wagnon
1972 Alfa Jr. Zagato 1600

2nd Brian Westbrook
Alfa Guiletta

3rd Vickie Acuna
Alfa GTV

Ferrari
Kim Watkins
275GTB (Yellow)

Fiat
Bob Stanek
1965 Fiat 1500

Lamborghini
Kirk Stevenson
1968 Lamborghini P400 Miura

Lancia
Ernie Abbott
1981 Lancia Zagato

Maserati
Ivan Ruiz
1971 Ghibli Spyder

DeTomaso Pantera
Mike Dailey
1971 Pantera

Italian Cycle
Jim Conley
Ducati Monster

Best Modified Vehicle
Robert Ball
1994 Lamborghini Diablo (Competition Race Prep.)

Best Of Show
John Apen
275GTB (red)

Credits

Mille Gratzie to the following people who made Italian Car Day possible:

John Montgomery - Show Coordinator
Jeff Davidson - Assistant Coordinator
Chris Birchfield - Assistant Coordinator
Tony Haney - Registration Leader
Brett Melancon - Registration / Parking / Scoring
Andy Williamson - Registration / Parking / Scoring
Marci Haas - Registration
David Beales - Setup
James Seabolt - Setup
Carl Birchfield - Setup / Prizes
Chris "Hopper" Birchfield - Setup
Joe Dolgetta - Setup
Brad Artigue - Photography / Website www.italiancarday.com
Mike & Pam Dailey - Website www.panteraplace.com / DeTomaso Group
Gary Farmer - Maserati Group Leader / Setup
John Delvac - Ferrari Group Leader / parking Director
Alan & Ellen White - Alfa Romeo Group Leader
Joe & Bettye DeCarlo - Lunch Venue / Scoring
Mike & Vickie Acuna - Lunch Venue / Scoring
Julie Montgomery - Raffle Sales Babe
Codi Kirkpatrick - Raffle Sales Babe
Mike Murphy - Raffle Sales
George Meals - Raffle Prizes

Special thanks to T. Rutlands for underwriting the rental fees for the entire park venue!

Photo Sites

www.italiancarday.com
www.panteraplace.com
www.melanconfamily.com/ICD2002/index.html

2002 Italian Car Day Sponsors

Auto Delta, 3698 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA, 770-451-2277
Automod, 5940 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA 30341 770-457-9663
Auto Motif, 2941 Atlanta Rd.,Smyrna, GA 770-435-5025
Bayless Fiat Lancia World, 770-928-1446, 1-800-241-1446
C. Obert & Co. (Fiat Plus) Chris Obert 1-800-500-3428
Car Care America, Suwanee, GA, Bob Menzies 770-614-4667
Complete Interior Restorations, Gary Smith, 770-451-3914
Dixie Construction Products, Atlanta, Greenville, SC
FAZA, Al Consentino, Daytona Exhausts, 818-707-2301
Ferrari Of Atlanta, Roswell, GA 678-802-5000
Fiat Auto Services, Duluth, GA, Dave Weaver 770-623-4680
Fiat Lancia Unlimited, 770-932-2380
Giovanni's Restaurant, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, 770-232-1123
Gran Turismo East, Tires, Alignment, 770-455-0347
Grassroots Motorsports
International Auto Parts, Alfa/Fiat Parts 1-800-726-0555
Italian Motor Works, Hans Milo, Alfa Specialist, 770-433-0552
Leatherique, George, 904-272-0992
Marti Bishop Exotic Cars, 770-365-1254
Maserati Club Intl., Gary Farmer 770-569-9289
Maserati of Atlanta, Roswell, GA, 770-802-5000
Performance Powersports, Ducati-Aprilia, 770-623-1992
Pirelli Tires
Sports Car Market Magazine
Star Motorsports, Todd Rice, Fiat Repair, 770-465-4854
T. Rutland's & Maranello Auto Parts, 770-493-8852
Vick Autosports, Alfa/Fiat 1-800-466-3428
Zaino Brothers Show Car Polish