Festa Italiana 2008

Festa Italiana is an annual event at the Seattle Center, usually in October to commemorate Christopher Columbus's birthday.  However, this year it was held on the September 27th and 28th weekend, probably to celebrate my 61st birthday (though my wife said happy 62nd birthday the first thing in the morning).  I reminded her that if I was a year older, so was she.  The organizers always invite Italian automobiles, motorbikes and bicycles to participate.  Bringing a Ferrari is an excellent way to attend as you have free reserved parking right in the middle of the Seattle Center.

We attended both days this year.  Saturday wasn't a good Ferrari turnout with only 4 cars, our 330 GT, two 308s and a 550 Maranello.  There were a few Alfas and Fiats there too.

One of the Fiats died just outside of the entrance to the center.  After we got in, I pulled over, went back and pushed him over the sidewalk hump into the center.  From there, it was downhill to where the cars were parked.  It turns out that his coil fails when it gets hot.  He got a ride to a local auto parts store and replaced it later in the day.

The 330 seemed to get the most attention.  It was at the end and with the hood open, people could get a good look at the V-12, eliciting lots of questions.  One guy came by and mentioned that friend's father from high school days had owned a four headlight 330 GT.  Since I run the 330 GT Registry, I immediately started asking questions.  When he mentioned that his friend's last name was Towey, I said that he was mis-remembering the car style as this was Towey's old car.  He said that it had been silver and I agreed but I painted it red in the process of restoration.  Small world!

The food was great as usual with lots of other booths to look through with the dessert one being the best.  On the way home, the instruments died, which also takes out the electric radiator fans assuming it was a fuse problem.  We were close enough to the freeway that I didn't have to worry about overheating immediately.  Once I got home, I checked on the fuse and it was good (at least until I tried to clean the ends and twisted the metal off the ceramic base).  Then I noticed that the copper attachment strip in the fuse block at one end seemed to be loose.  These strips are just riveted together and the rivet has gotten loose over the years.  I was tired, so just bending the 2 strips closer together fixed the problem, but I'll need to take that fuse block off so I can solder the rivet and solve it permanently.  I don't know what it is with Festa Italiano and the 330, but last year I also had a leak in a water hose on the way there.

On Sunday, we drove the 308 since the weather was going to be hotter.  Not that the 308 is much cooler, but with the top off and the hot engine behind instead of ahead of you does make for a cooler passenger compartment on the way home.  The car turnout was better with seven Ferraris, a 246 Dino, 308, 348, Testarossa, 550 Maranello and 355 and 430 spyders.   A Lamborghini Diablo, Fiat and three Alfas rounded out the Italian car section.  A bunch of Vespas arrived in a convoy.

There was even an all-wheel drive Ferrari present.  Actually, it was 2 wheel drive, but since Segways only have 2 wheels, that does qualify for all wheel drive.  James, the owner, has decked it out with Ferrari red fenders, logos, etc.  I think that his looks better than the official Ferrari Segway.

One likes to think that Ferraris are special cars, but the seagulls don't seem to care.  One decorated Joe's beautiful black F430.  Luckily it wasn't either 6' earlier (or later depending on the flight path) or the splat would have been in the interior.

I was surprised at the number of people wandering around looking at the cars.  There seemed to be quite a few more than in previous years and most certainly more than the day before.

Going both days let us sample a different food booth for lunch.  The event organizer, Michael, managed to find beer or wine drink coupons for those who brought a car.  That was a nice touch and saved us about $20.