Few local shows this year have featured an entourage of exotic cars from Europe. Only one will feature exclusively Italian vehicles.
Now in its fourth year, The Viva Italia Concours D’Elegance is sponsored by the Ferrari Club of America this Sunday in the Harbor East neighborhood of Baltimore. With more than 70 high-end examples of Italian craftsmanship already registered, the public will be able to see unique models from Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat as well as Ducati motorcycles and Vespa scooters.
The show will benefit the Children’s Guild, a local nonprofit organization that serves children from preschool through high school struggling with emotional and behavioral problems.
Andrew Ross, M.D., president of the Children’s Guild, said that organizers approached him about the show.
“We initially had two people from the community say, ‘We’d like to help you raise money and we have Ferraris and Maseratis and is there anyway we can help you put this together?’” said Ross. “It just kind of grew from there.”
The show’s successful three-year run has brought much-needed attention to the work of the Guild.
“It has assisted us in raising funds. We have basic money for taking care of the children, but a lot of the extras … these funds provide that. These kids really do need a lot of enrichment activity. A lot of them are very deprived or need a specialized environment to succeed in,” said Ross.
Chuck Leutner, co-chair of the show and member of the Ferrari Club of America, who also owns a 1999 Ferrari 456 M GTA, said that the show’s location was no accident.
“The cars themselves are in the new Inner Harbor East area where there’s a lot to do. It will be more of a festive atmosphere. The cars are so exciting. These are cars people haven’t seen in years,” said Leutner.
Aside from the main attraction, there will also be a silent auction and live auction, which features a trip around the city in a Maserati and a chance to ride shotgun in a Ferrari race car. For those who don’t have cars to show, for $60, a person can buy a pit pass which gives them access to wines and foods available to those showing their vehicles.
“Cars are good for kids. To see these cars is a fantastic sight. No one ever gets to see automobiles that go from $250,000 to a million dollars just sitting on the street all at once,” said Ross.
If you go:
- Where: Harbor East, Baltimore
- Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun.
- Details: Free; www.childrensguild.org
