Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News
Green-shirted judges go over Drew Alcazar's 1960 Ferrari 250 Pininfarina cabriolet, the oldest of the Ferraris on display at the annual Concorso Arizona.
Exotic Italian cars blossom at Concorso Arizona
By Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News
Concorso Arizona began in 2001 as a parking lot filler staged in conjunction with the Gautier Classic, a vintage car rally organized by the very upscale local jeweler, Scott Gautier. Funny thing, however, was that after the rally cars left the streets of downtown Scottsdale for their drive, spectators stayed around to continue their admiration of the Ferraris and other Italian cars taking part in the Concorso.
By 2005, the organizers of the Concorso -- the Ferrari Club of America's Desert Region -- realized the event was big enough to stand on its own, and moved it to the upscale, north Scottsdale el Pedregal shopping center, which is adjacent to the famed Boulders Resort.
The event continued to draw Italian exotic cars and motorcycles, but again in 2007 found itself sharing a venue. This time it was Tempe Diablo Stadium, spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team and the site of the start of the annual Copperstate 1000 vintage sports car rally.
While the venue was outstanding, with the cars arrayed around the baseball field, Concorso organizers again found their event playing second fiddle.
The local Ferrari dealership, Scottsdale Ferrari, brought its racecar transporter, a pair of Ferrari Challenge racers and a road-going version of the 430 Scudera car.
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Thus, on November 15, Concorso Arizona was back at el Pedregal, with huge rock outcrops providing a stunning background for an event that attracted all sorts of Ferraris, more than a dozen Lamborghinis, nearly that many De Tomaso Panteras, a trio of Fiats, a lone Alfa Romeo -- and even a Bugatti.
The oldest of the Ferraris on display was a 1960 250 Pininfarina cabriolet owned by Drew Alcazar, who with his wife, Josephine, runs the Russo and Steele collector car auction company, which annually stages collector car sales events in Scottsdale; Monterey, Calif.; and Hollywood, Fla.
Alcazar's 250 Pininfarina convertible is one of only 200 such cars produced and is one of the first 100, the so-called first generation version. He has had the car for two years and has nicknamed it the "Owner's Manual." Why? Because he's using it as a model for the restoration of another 250 Pininfarina cabriolet he's in the process of restoring.
Proceeds from admission and other Concorso Arizona fees were used to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix.
Robert Simyar of Phoenix had not one but two 2009 Bugatti Veyrons on display.
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