Ogling Italian Cars on the Pier Story by Angela Photos by annieo We were given the full range of weather and culture as well as Italian motor design at the Eighth Annual Italian Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, September 5th. Italian scooters, motorcycles, and cars were displayed on Pier 62/63 in Seattle. As if the cars were not enough, the organizers also engaged an opera singer to entertain the visitors, for about 90 minutes of the five-hour event (that pleased this opera-and-cars fan). The music accentuated the Italian-culture theme of the day. There were some surprises, though. The weather changed continually, from cloudy and windy to sunny and warmer, to rain and back to sun and blue sky. Soprano Rebecca Graves sang beautifully and bravely as the wind threatened to topple the tent around her! After the weather improved, the crowd at the Italian Concours experienced the height of cultural clashes as the celebrants from the Festival of India on Pier 58/59 spilled over. Ms. Graves was still singing at this time, so while the speakers projected her voice singing the "Vissi d'Arte" aria from "Tosca", the Hare Krishnas on the sidewalk sang and danced "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" complete with tamborines and a throne-like representation of Lord Krishna. What a scene! The folks at the Concours simply watched and accepted this quintessentially Seattle happening. After a few minutes of Hindu-style euphoria, the Krishnas went back to their pier. As Ms. Graves left, I thanked her for her singing and for being such a good sport with the atmosphere and the weather. She thanked me for the comment, and joked that if she could sing through the weather, the Metropolitan Opera should be easy! Indeed. We were there for the motor vehicles, and they didn't disappoint. Even this fan of yacht-sized American cars was impressed by the Italian style. The look of the cars and scooters reminded me of old movies set in Rome, with sophisticated Romans tooling around town in these smart vehicles: Fiats, DeTomassos, Lancias, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Lamborghinnis were all represented. The Ferraris were a hit with the Greasergrrls and the judges. Pitchief's favorite, a black 1967 Ferrari 300 GTC, came in second in the Ferrari division. A beautiful silver 1954 Ferrari 375 MM won the award for Best Competition Car. It's a racing vehicle whose power was evident in the sound of its engine as it drove by the podium. Jon Shirley, the owner, told the audience that the car had been literally in pieces in a box when he bought it many years ago. I was taken by another 1967 Ferrari 300 GTC, this one red with fine styling inside and out. In my constant pursuit of interesting chrome and grill, I admired the red 1961 Maserati 5000 GT. It's grill featured a large Maserati "crown" insignia on it and lots of chrome. Ahhh...I photographed it as if she was Claudia Schiffer. The most popular car of the day, winning the People's Choice Award and the Special Interest Award, was the fabulous brown 1931 Isotta Fraschini motorcoach. The owner, Alan McEwen, gave a little history of the car company. The Isotta Fraschini car company focused its sales in the United States after World War I, as the post-War European economy was unable to support it. The cars sold well until the world-wide Depression of the 1930s, when even Americans couldn't buy the cars. The company got out of the automobile business, but continued in boating and airplane manufacturing until today. The Isotta Fraschini at the Pier had been used in the movie "Giant." This rare motorcoach seats four, with the backseat having its own small windows as a barrier from the front seat. A striking hood ornament adorns the car, and wood styling made for a classy interior. Best of all, it runs without a hitch. *Everyone* gave this car the supermodel treatment. The casual atmosphere of the Concours d'Elegance was a lovely alternative to Seattle's overcrowded annual Bumbershoot Art Festival. The day ended with the sun shining and the Italian-car enthusiasts coexisting peaceably with the nearby Hare Krishnas. Everyone has a different definition of bliss; Italian motorsport lovers tasted theirs at the pier.