I had answered Mark's question before he asked it. My plans at the moment are to watch and wait, nothing has changed. I am not going to buy into the drama or the need for a hasty decision. The event is in August, its only March. We have until the end of May before the prices go up. I am in no hurry to make a decision, does that surprise anyone? I'm half Okie, I'm not in a hurry to do anything. I believe anyone in the DeTomaso hobby that has committed to LDV has committed too hastily in light of what is happening with the Concorso since Tom McDowell has come aboard.
Everyone was disappointed in the location of last years Concorso, but all was not negative, that venue did have some positive aspects, the event moved forward in some ways. I asked many attendees if they would return the following year, and surprisingly to me the response was universally yes. Why? Because its not about the venue, its about the gathering, its about seeing old friends, its about the cars, its about passion. Those of you who didn't attend missed out on a good day (and a nice sun burn,
). I think its a shame that we have two events now, with the possibility that they shall create division amongst the various marques, and the clan of Italian car owners as a whole. For this the blame lies solidly on the upstarts. What about loyalty. The Concorso organizers have given the clan of Italian car owners 23 years of memorable events. They screwed up last year, so do we now abandon them? Or do we admit that everyone screws up every now and then, and give them a second chance, like an old friend? I would be ashamed to tell anyone that I am abandoning the Concorso because they screwed up once in 23 years. It wasn't a malicious screw up, they didn't fool anybody, they announced the event was being held at an airport long before they collected any money. Don't the preceding 22 years they didn't screw up count for something? In my book they do. Everyone who has expressed unhappiness with last years event has asked the Concorso to return to the greens. Well .... its done just that. Tom McDowell has only been on board a few short weeks, and already he's inked a contract with a golf course; and judging from Mark's earlier comment, it appears he has the support of the Ferrari clubs. I say WOW! and kudos Mr. McDowell. He's given us what we asked for, but now that's not enough? If the LDV had not been established, wouldn't everyone be excited that the Concorso was returning to the greens? Give Tom McDowell a chance. What if in the next few weeks the 50th anniversary of the founding of DeTomaso becomes part of the Concorso program? April is going to be a month of change in regards to these two events. From my point of view there's many aspects to my decision regarding which event I shall attend, including a test of my character.
Whichever event has the momentum, whichever event the majority of Italian car owners & spectators shall be attending, that's the event where our marque needs to have representation.
-George ... watching and waiting