I
had grand plans on Friday to catch a ferry up the lake to the township
of Lenno, have some lunch, then travel back for the 2:00pm credential
pick-up.
Before
this though was my first visit to the Villa Erba, which was conveniently
located at the end of the street where I stayed (albeit, I was right
down the other end!). this visit was to collect the media pass for
the RM Auction.
The
funny events that led to me gaining entrance into Villa Erba were
at the two gates. I went back and forth a couple of times as is guard
directed me to the other, mainly as I did not have a pass. Finally
got the message though that my pass was waiting for me inside! Following
collection of this inside the exhibition building.
A
very bleak day of low, dark clouds and drizzle, but I chose to wander
the grounds of the Villa Erba and found first the motorcycles entered
in the motorcycle Concorso, the setting up of the inside located BMW
Motorad, an exhibition celebrating 90 years of the BMW motorcycle,
and finally the raised platform where the auction cars were located,
and fittingly by the lake were the two Riva boats on stands, two Lots
in the auction.
Looking
out over the lake I chose to ditch the aforementioned ferry trip plans
as I was not going to see much with the weather like this. But instead,
extended my stay in the grounds of Villa Erba, had a wander around
the outside of the Villa Antica (main historic building in the grounds)
and continued watching the auction cars arrive.
Knowing
that Germans stick to time schedules, following lunch I made my way
to Villa d’Este to pick up the credentials from the tent that
they had located beside the entrance gate. The two very nice girls
here were not entirely ready for people, so suggested I have a wander
and come back after 2:30pm.
My
wander found me back past the Grand Hotel building, where again behind
a number of participating Concorso entrants were arriving, and viewed
the setting up of a Rolls-Royce display. This included the Centenary
model of the Silver Ghost. A four-door saloon in ‘light blue
greyish’, silver and black radiator & wheels.
Here
I met and had a long conversation with the General Manager Bespoke
– customised Rolls-Royce, Lars Klawitter It was he who confirmed
that the James Radley 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is what this Centenary
model is based on, and yes the term ‘light blue greyish’
as the main panelwork colour is what is written as the colour in the
original model book! The other detail of the black grill & black
wheels are to represent those on the veteran, as too to the silver
bonnet.
By
the time he had explained this, and that the current custodian of
the Radley car was due to drive in at any moment following the 1,100km
drive from the UK, the 1913 example arrived.
In
a separate area of the estate Rolls-Royce had rented a Villa and surrounding
grounds in order to provide space to unveil the new model ‘Wraith’.
This is a 6-metre long fastback model. Quite a stunning car, with
Lars advising that more than 130 deposits from the Middle-East alone
have being taken, production commencing August 2013.
I
drew myself away from this, and this is when the fun started!
I
arrived back at the credential tent where others were present collecting
their passes. My name though, was not on the list, so I handed over
the print out of an email I had received confirming the accreditation.
Following a phone call to the main media office I was advised that
my credential had only being approved for the Sunday events at Villa
Erba, and not the Concorso events at the Villa d’Este on the
Saturday. Gutted that I had travelled all the way from Australia to
attend Villa d’Este, I asked if there was something I had not
filled in correctly and how I could go about rectifying the issue.
A visit to the Media Lounge (where I had attended the previous day)
followed, and the 24-hour flight sob story to the two very nice ladies
here took place. They said that they would see what they could do
& phone me within 30 minutes.
I
sooner found myself back at the registration area where I viewed an
immaculate BMW 328 and Mercedes-Benz 500K & 540K.
The
phone call came, and to my absolute delight they had managed to make
my week by advising that I could attend Villa d’Este on the
Saturday and could pick up the a few minutes later.
To
say I was relieved is an understatement, and the smile on the face
was huge. The pass included supply of a carry bag, inside it a lot
of goodies including a Villa d’Este logo embossed writing pad
and pocket (large pocket) sized catalogue of the Concorso & Concept
car entrants.
The
afternoon continued with the viewing of many more vehicles arriving,
and the arrival of a plane from Germany (by trailer), which was being
put together and started on the lake side of the Grand Hotel –
when started it had a strap holding it back, strapped to a nearby
tree!
Saw
quite a lot of vehicles coming out of trailers, but the one of note
was the Ferrari 212 Barchetta. Absolutely stunning, and when it was
being winched out of the trailer I found myself standing next to the
American owner who said to me “this is the first time I’ve
seen this car”. This had followed a two-year restoration. It
turns out though that this fellow has quiet a vast collection (a prerequisite
it seems for all entrants here), including a couple of bomber aircraft,
one of which he flew in WWII, and two further Ferrari cars –
the 1950 & 1951 Mille Miglia winners – amazing stuff.
A
Subaru “Concept Car” was also unloaded from a closed trailer.
This car was an SUV Hybrid. Interesting, but a very experimental move
for an event that usually showcases sports car concepts. The next
truck along the driveway remained closed and when I questioned the
German driver he declared he was sworn to secrecy as the car would
be making its world debut that night. It turned out to be the BMW
Concept Car for the next generation 6 series.
A
quick wander back to the front of the Grand Hotel building was next
as I followed a noise, which distinctively sounded like an aero-engine.
In the narrow 10 or so meters from the front of the hotel to the shore-line
was a German plane warming up! It had just arrived by trailer &
its minders had hooked a rope around the tail and a nearby tree so
that they could warm it up prior to later moving it along the way
& fitting the wings. It turned out to be a 1925 Klemm L25.
Around
the corner to the registration area where I first sighted the first
ever production model of the Lamborghini automobile, the 350 GTV.
A couple of weeks earlier I had met Fabio Lamborghini at the family’s
private museum in Dosso (separate article on this visit to appear
through the Overseas Action page of this web site) where I saw the
prototype & was advised that this stunning example (below) was
coming to Villa d’Este – well, here it is!
The
Ferrari 206 Dino was the next to foll out of a trailer. This particular
example, in both ready to race, but Concours condition competed in
several events in period, including the 1969 Targa Florio. Once warmed
up, it sounded great roaring down the driveway of Villa d’Este.
Historic
Racing Australia