Winter Dreams of an Elegant Florida Concours

Every year at this time I start dreaming of winter getaways and find myself tempted by visions of spending the entire month of March in Florida. What a month for car enthusiasts! My dream trip would start at Amelia Island, March 7-9, for the annual Concours d'Elegance and RM auction. In 2008 Amelia Island will feature the cars of the 1966-1972 Trans-Am Series, appropriately honoring the great Parnelli Jones, an Indy driver who was equally skilled on road courses. I'd see, among others, the Bud Moore-prepared 1970 Boss Mustang 302 driven by Jones and the 1968 Penske-Sunoco Camaro piloted by Mark Donohue. Both drivers competed in the only Trans-Am race I was fortunate enough to witness live, at Lime Rock in 1969.

Then I'd head to Sebring for the historic races preceding the annual 12-hour enduro, which I'd broadcast for the CBC back in. well, never mind. From there it would be the Barrett-Jackson auction at Palm Beach, March 28-30 or the Russo and Steele auction at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida, from March 27-29. A racer to the core, I'd hang in until April 06 for the IRL street race in St. Petersburg. Now, that's my idea of a winter vacation. (Thanks to Vintage Motorsport magazine for reminding me of these events.)

[Photo: 1953 Ferrari 375MM owned by Bruce & Jolene McCaw of Bellevue, WA]. Posted by: Philip Powell    Source