A Palisades intersection the it should always look -- filled with a 275 GTB, a 365 GTC/4, a 456 GT, and an F355 Sypder.

More than 100 cars showed up for the Ferrari-only show, including several from dealers and restorers who brought from one to nine each, and individual owners, both FCA and FOC members, as well as non-members. (Not bad, considering initial planning estimates were between 30 and 40!). The weather at the beautiful beach-area village was perfect, and almost all the cars were in place by the start time of 10:00 am. The few stragglers had no trouble getting positioned and people began to swarm in early.

Just a few of the many fine older Ferraris at the first Annual Pacifica Palisades Concours and Street Festival.

LAPD estimated 6500 spectators at the peak, which translates to 12 to 15 thousand over the 6-hour period of the show! Between the spectacular sheet metal to look at, music and all kinds of entertainment for kids and adults alike, food booths, shops and restaurants specially opened for the occasion, and a generally festive Sunday-in-the-sun atmosphere, everyone had a good time. Police security was happy because no one got hurt, no cars damaged, there was no trouble and there were smiling faces everywhere.

More old Ferraris.

The Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce was also delighted with the turnout and the whole event. Drumming up local business, recognition, and providing entertainment for the community is their purpose, and they accomplished those goals with a Ferrari flare. Reportedly, the event was a break-even, with income from booths, sponsors and individual car sponsorships covering all costs. This, too, made the Chamber happy; they don’t expect to make money, but they don’t want events to cost their members, either. Pacific Palisades is the kind of place where local resident Billy Crystal patiently sat in Mort’s Deli, treating his family to Sunday breakfast, while registration activities went on around him at the next table. Mort’s was event headquarters. And the owner, Mort Farberow , was a key driving force in the Chamber in making the day successful. A rumor circulated that Billy Crystal’s wife later spotted a green 456 that she fancied at one of the dealer exhibits, and he bought it. If true, it made the day for at least one dealer.

Speaking of dealers, special thanks are due to Ogner Motor Cars of Woodland Hills, who brought a 512M, among others; to Ferrari of Beverly Hills, with another 512M and a 275GTB, and more; to Symbolic Motors of La Jolla, with a spread of nine cars, including two Daytonas, one Comp and one prototype, a 750 Monza, a replica P4, a 288GTO and a 250MM VignaleSpyder; to Shin Takei and Modena Motors of L.A., with an ex-VonTrips 1960 250 GT Cabriolet, and a BB 512 Boxer; to GT Motors of Glendale, also with nine, including a ’61 250 GTE; and to Steve Tillack, who drove up in his ’51 Export coupe.

It was noted by many that this was the first time in memory that all these companies have participated together in one event. They did it as a team, and they have the organizers great big thanks for their efforts in making the event such a success.

There were lots of special cars among the 107 on hand, including:

Paul Forbes ---------1959 250 PF coupe
Fred Peters-----------1958 250 GT Tour de France
John Zambetti--------1956 250GT Boano
Emily Bloom-----------1957 250 TR

Many others to numerous to mention. Not to make commodities out of all these great machines, but there were 7 Testarossas, 4 Mondials, 9 GT4’S, 8 246 Dinos, 5 Daytonas, 4 275 GTB’s, 4 308GTS’s, 3 365GTC/4’s, 3 330’s, 3 328’s, 3 365GT 2+2’s, 2 each of the 400GT’s, Boxer, Lusso, 288GTO, 250PF, 250 Cabriolet, 512M, 456, and 355’s; plus (at least) one each F355B, 330GT 2+2, 365 GTC, TDF, 212, and a Boano. If we missed anyone or didn’t single out a special car that deserved it, we know you’ll let us know. But, our thanks to all who came.

This event was smoothly organized by Marshall Leib with a committee consisting of Vivian Foster, who raised a ton of money and ran the fashion show; Shin Takei, in charge of street layout and placement; Alan Bishop, for registration, and Earl Gandel on publicity. They met with the Palisades Chamber weekly for several months, and managed a few miracles along the way. The Chamber, under the direction of Executive Director Arnie Wishnick and the outstanding coordination of Cris Fulwider was enormously supportive. They made a couple of miracles of their own, including member Steve Cunningham of the LAPD getting streets closed and plenty of effective security, and Arnie talking the City’s Board of Health out of a last minute cancellation of food service. A very special gratitude of thanks to Ferrari Club of America - Southwest Chapter President, Judd Goldfeder, for his untiring assist in getting a turn out of so many rare cars.

Following is a list, probably incomplete, of people and organizations who deserve our thanks---with the fond hope that they’ll be here to help again next year:

The Ferrari Club of America, Southwest Region, and the Ferrari Owner’s Club, for their cooperative participation.

The Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
The LAPD, and Sgt. Steve Cunningham
The Palisadian Post
Mort’s Delicatessen
Dante’s Restaurant
The Palisades Bakery
Vivians Boutique and Vivian Foster
Santa Monica Bank and Cris Fulwider
Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories
Siesta Party Rentals
Misto’s Dave Williams, for coordinating all communications
Gary Kawakami from Ferrari of Beverly Hills, for his organizational help
Wally Clark, Marv Landon and DonWest, for car placement help
Michael Lederman from Ogner Motor Cars, for organizational help
Judd and Kat, for their usual outstanding job of mailing, call and follow-up work

And, all the others mentioned earlier, plus a lot who weren’t, for making this first-time event a Broadway smash. See you there next year!