St. Pete. Festival of Speed - March 23 & 24, 2007

[Matt]

The St. Petersburg, Fl festival of speed will take place in March. More info to come.

[pdisme]

Just got the formal announcement from Vinny @ RSA Events:


FOURTH ANNUAL GATHERING OF SUPER CARS TO BE HELD IN ST.PETERSBURG. WORLDS FINEST CARS, MOTORCYCLES, JETS AND WATERCRAFT ON DISPLAY.

ST PETERSBURG, FL. February , 2007 - A fabulous collection of exotic cars, motorcycles and watercraft is set for display at the Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg on Saturday, March 24th. The Festivals of Speed takes place over two days, Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th.

Friday evening will see a "Jet Port Reception" and Saturday will feature a display of 200+ exotic automobiles, motorcycles and watercraft displayed throughout beautiful Vinoy park. The charity will be the Children's Dream Fund of St. Petersburg.

Collectors of these rare machines are referring to the gathering as the ultimate lifestyle event. In addition to the display of rare and exotic machines, examples of the finer things in life are also on site. Products include fine wines & spirits, cigars, jewelry, confections, artwork, luxury real estate offerings, crystal and other luxury items.

The festival starts with a "Jet Port Reception" on Friday evening presented by the Grand Bohemian Hotel & Residences. The theme is "James Bond-Shaken not stirred". It takes place in a massive aircraft hanger amidst a surreal display of luxury aircraft, fine automobiles, custom motorcycles and stylish race boats. Aircraft scheduled to attend include everything from contemporary jets to vintage WW II fighter planes. In addition to the display of exotics guests will enjoy a premium brands open bar, themed food stations, a special display of the AUDI R10 race car and R8 street car, a silent auction to benefit the Children Dream Fund, DUCATI fashion show, displays of fine jewelry and other related lifestyle items, smooth jazz and more.

Saturday will see a fantastic display of 200 exotic cars combined with motorcycles and watercraft. Manufacturers product scheduled for display include Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Maybach, Jaguar, Ducati, Riva as well as many others. Vehicles will be placed for display amidst the waterside setting of Vinoy Park. Attendees will have the ability to stroll throughout the property while enjoying fine wines and sumptuous offerings from the onsite cafes while taking in the beauty of the "rolling sculptures". Rick Castillo of Makes and Models Magazine had this to say "We have been a supporter of this event since it's inception and look forward to it every year" Drivers from the American Le Mans Series & Indy Racing League will attend as well.

According to festival founders, The 2007 Festivals of Speed series will be a must see for any true enthusiast of speed. "With this being our Fourth year in St. Petersburg and the addition of our Orlando event at the Ritz-Carlton we could not be more excited, this year we have decided to cap the car count to just 200 of the "Best of the Best". Organizers feel this will guarantee a fantastic display of both raw power and elegant coachwork displayed by some of the finest companies in the world.

While at the show, attendees will visit with a Varity of lifestyle companies to see the latest and greatest luxury items. Names include Mont Blanc, Lalique, Tag Heuer, Lladro, Xellent Vodka, Cohiba and many others. The luxury salon display was conceived to form the ultimate complement to the magnificent display of exotic vehicles. Smooth jazz, fashion displays and professional race car driver signing sessions will also add to the excitement. The day will end with an awards presentation to recognize those vehicles that receive awards. "Best of Show" will receive a crystal award from the Paris based company, Lalique as well as an elegant timepiece.

The festival is expected to attract a capacity turnout much the same as the companies other events do in Orlando and Manhattan. Ticket information is available online.

What: Festivals of Speed.

Where: St. Petersburg, Vinoy Park.

When: Jet Port Reception, Friday, March 23rd 7:30pm-10:00pm.

Vinoy Park display of exotics. Saturday, March 24th. 10:00am-4:00pm

Contact Information: Joe Sabatini/ joe@festivalsofspeed.com
352-385-9450.

Or visit http://www.festivalsofspeed.com

[Minch00]

Only $10 to get in? I'm so there!

[Matt]

sounds like it should be a great event. Dave you going?

[pdisme]

As long as no work conflicts, I'll try to make it, should be some bad ass cars there to see, especially the race cars.

[jrfootin]

I will try to bring my Radical too!!!

[Jon913d]

I'll be out, probably with the wife and a few friends. No car to show (since their focusing on brit cars...)

Jon

[lambo_freak]

Damn school!!!!!

[Matt]

so, did anybody go? i definetly forgot it was on.

[MarkStudy]

Yep I was there.

I met Paul.... nice guy, his blue 99 Diablo was in perfect condition.

I told him about DuPont Cars & Coffee, so hopefully we'll have another great Lambo to look forward to.

[MarkStudy]

a few more pics...... it was a real nice day to be out in the park. St Pete has really shaped up nice....since I last lived in Florida...10 years ago

I'm going down again this Friday. I like to watch the Indy Car practice. Friday's a great day (no crowds) and you can get so close to the track all the way around the circut. Very cool to stand 2 feet away from 7 cars doing 180 mph

[MarkStudy]

I've never seen shields on a G-car before

[pdisme]

I've never seen shields on a G-car before

Hopefully you won't have to very often, they should not have shields. :)

[pdisme]

Those pics look great, what a perfect day and venue. Kind of funny to see the FXX all roped off like a fragile piece of china; it's a f'ing race car people, are some fingerprints going to do more damage than rocks and tire bits hitting the car at 100 mph?!?! I would have hoped that FXX owners would actually track their cars, but maybe they just keep them in the garage.

[pdisme]

I will try to bring my Radical too!!!

Did you have the Radical there?

[MarkStudy]

Hopefully you won't have to very often, they should not have shields. :)

I stood there for a while.... Good? Bad? I couldn't really make-up my mind :crazy:

[MarkStudy]

Kind of funny to see the FXX all roped off like a fragile piece of china; it's a f'ing race car people,.

They had a IRL Indy car at the show to promote next weeks race. But I have to admit the FXX had some serious F1 race gear when you looked inside the car. Made the Indy car look like a Sunday driver. .......FXX was :evil5:




.

[Minch00]

Did you have the Radical there?

I saw a red Radical when I was there. A nice event, but it felt too much like a big dealer show off since there wern't actually that many private cars. Did get to sit in the new Audi R8 and play with the buttons, did the same with an Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, and a Bentley Arnage.


Good fucking times. I didn't see anyone I knew or I would have said hi.

[pdisme]

How'd the R8 look in real life?

[Minch00]

How'd the R8 look in real life?

I thought pretty damn sweet. It looks interesting, but it doesn't scream OMFG LOOK OVER HERE NOW! like it's sibling the Gallardo does, though sometimes I wish it did. The inside was very comfortable, nice and roomy, certainly a car I could enjoy driving (an accomplishment, me and supercars that fit!? =) )

I like the R8, more so now that ever before. I'm looking forward to they day they are around $40k and I can finally buy one!

[Matt]

I like the R8, more so now that ever before. I'm looking forward to they day they are around $40k and I can finally buy one!

You'll be waiting a while for that :lol2:

[Minch00]

You'll be waiting a while for that :lol2:

I know. That'll make it that much better.

[MarkStudy]

How'd the R8 look in real life?


I had high hopes that it would look better than its photos.....in real life.

I wanted it to jump-out.... be low, wide, and exotic looking!

It wasn't to be........... The R8 looked like a 350Z (only difference - engine in the back)

I'm sure its a great car! But it failed on looking like a $130k car. It might drive like a $130k car.... but at that price range I think "looks" are more important, but Audi gives you a $40,000 looking car with the 350Z twin.

Maybe it needs a pointy nose? There's no engine up-front so why does it look like there is?... instead of a slant-nose 911 look?

[pdisme]

I don't like that one, I think I only like the silver one with the carbon fiber side panel. I do love the engine look though, the side of the car just looks boring, like a Maserati.

[MarkStudy]

the side of the car just looks boring, like a Maserati.

That's a great way to think of this car. Just like Maserati.... the first time you walk into a Ferrari Dealer
kind-of dull? sitting next to used Ferrari or Lambos at all-most the same price?

[jrfootin]

here are some of my pictures from the show!

[pdisme]

Mark, did you meet Liam? He's the owner of SDS Wheels whose white SE with the custom wheels was in your pics.

[MovingViolation]

I was there. That was a very good display of quality automobiles in my opinion. I'll probably attend the Festival of Speed in Orlando in October as well.

[pdisme]

MovingViolation, welcome to the board!

[MovingViolation]

MovingViolation, welcome to the board!

Thank you!