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How does our honourable Secretary do it? Manufacture good weather I mean! There seem to have been numerous occasions when I have sat down to pen a few notes on the Concours and commented on the remarkable change in the weather, which has appeared just in time. Peter really knows how to use that prayer mat. Boughton House near Kettering proved an excellent location with plenty of space and a wonderful backdrop of a large county mansion while the sun came out to provide the additional trappings of an English Garden Party! The turn out of cars was slightly disappointing for an enthusiast of the older tipo such as myself. However, this was my twenty-something Concours and so I suppose I cannot expect a large range of old Ferraris every time.! I just live in hope of having my interest restimulated by something fresh and new. Stephen Pilkington brought along a black LWB 250 California Spyder, which had only recently completed its rebuild. In fact it was still missing its front and rear bumpers. This is a rather special California, S/N 1487GT since it was once raced by the Rodriguez brothers in the early 1960’s. Although a steel bodied car, it was bought by Papa Rodriguez for his boys to use and there are a couple of small pictures in the old book on the ‘Spyder California’ by George Carrick.. A second 250 SWB California was exhibited by DK Engineering. This was a delightful white version, S/N 3007GT now part of the Anthony Bamford collection. DK also had the 375 MM Spyder, S/N 0376/0382 MM of Mergard. This is a real sports car from the 1950’s decorated in its Pan Americana livery. The story goes that the car was displayed by Chinetti on the stand at the New York Motor Show. A very economically dressed John Shakespeare walked on the stand and told Mrs Chinetti that he wanted to buy the car. It was then entered in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana with John Shakespeare and Chinetti as drivers finishing a creditable 4th place. After other races Shakespeare advertised the car for sale in 1955 for $11,500. I gather for the right money the car is for sale today but not for that price! Other cars of interest included three 250 SWB Berlinettas, S/N 1995GT of Richard Colton, S/N 3037GT of Teichman, and S/N 3605GT of Lange while there was also a nice collection of 250 Lusso’s. Also on display in front of the house was the 250 Pinin Farina coupe S/N 0521GT and the Pozzi 3M 512BB/LM car of Nigel Chiltern Hunt. The yellow and green 206 Dino was loaned by Carlos Monteverde. This is a regular particpant in the Ferrari-Maserati Historic Challenge and is S/N 032, the last Dino built. I believe that there were quite a few modern varieties from the house of Maranello, including at least one Enzo and a recent Formula One car but I will leave those details for others more knowledgeable than I, to tell you. One of the greatest pleasures of the Concours is the chance to meet with old and new friends. I was missing one of my best friends from the club, archivist Terry O’Neil. Unfortunately he had been ill recently but I was pleased to learn that he was back home and making good progress.
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