Concorso Ferrari puts on a show in Pasadena

WITH VIDEO -- Most people have seen the Old Town section of Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., once a year--during the Rose Bowl parade.

Well, finally, there's a new and good reason to interrupt traffic on Colorado: Concorso Ferrari. It's a splendid gathering of beautiful Ferraris for which the city closes down two whole blocks of the busy thoroughfare for anyone who wants to ogle the hundreds of Italian works of wheeled art parked there for the day. This year it happened on May 16. A total of 152 Ferraris (and a Porsche Carrera GT, a Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and at least one Lamborghini Gallardo) blocked the street as thousands of spectators took photos and gawked at the best of vintage and modern Maranello.

It was a good mix of cars. The first car we came across was collector Bruce Meyer's 1957 Testa Rossa, first owned by John von Neumann, who alternated driving with future Formula One pilot Richie Ginther. After that, the car was driven by Ken Miles and now, by Meyer, as often as he can.

"It's like catnip to car people. It's a wonderful, wonderful car and it's just great fun to bring it down and share it," the ever-enthusiastic Meyer said.

Watch video of the 2010 Concorso Ferrari in Pasadena, Calif.:

Auto restorer Steve Tillack brought a 1958 Ferrari Grand Prix car, which he also occasionally drives.

"It's a delight to drive. You kind of drive it like a sprint car; you throw it at a corner and power-slide it out. If you can get used to doing it, it's so much fun you can't imagine," said Tillack. "You can look like a hero and not be a really good driver."

Peter McCoy won Best in Show with his stunningly simple 1958 PF Cab Series I.

"It's been two years in restoration," said McCoy. "It's been in a fire. A lot of parts melted, and we had to remake a lot of parts . . . a lot of great Ferrari collectors helped put this thing back together."

A well-deserved win, in our opinion.

There were many tifosi on hand who just loved the marque, and who can explain that?

"Once you hear a Ferrari run, you're done," event organizer Marv Landon said.

"My veins are filled with Ferrari-red blood," vintage-racing organizer and former Hollywood Sports Car employee Chris Vandergriff explained.

The region also benefits from a large number of Ferrari owners and fans.

"We have more Ferraris here in Southern California than they do in all of Italy," said racing historian Alan Bolte, master of ceremonies of the event, explaining why this region of the FCA is such a huge success.

The event is put on by the Ferrari Club of America's Southwest Region, a relatively new branch of the club that just happens to be headquartered in the place of highest concentration of Ferrari owners in the country, Southern California.

Next year's Concorso is scheduled for May 22. Get all your shopping out of the way now.

By Mark Vaughn