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Inaugural Saratoga Fall Ferrari Festival Impresses

Story by Leigh Dorrington and photos by Tom Sullivan

1965 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250LM, the last Ferrari to win Le Mans, driven by Jochen Rindt and Masten GregoryThe inaugural Saratoga Wine & Food and Fall Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York on September 10-12, 2009 featured a Ferrari Concours, honored guests and automobiles from Ferrari’s North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.), a spirited N.A.R.T. racing discussion, exhibition of historic racing images by Tom Burnside and a Ferrari tour of the Adirondack-Lake George area.

A surprising field of Ferraris included former Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach and Amelia Island winners, the 1965 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250LM — the last Ferrari to win Le Mans, driven by Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory — and other notable special bodied and competition Ferraris.

Best of Show Competizione was presented to the Ferrari 250LM, owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and Best of Show Stradale to the 1957 Ferrari 4.9 Superfast of Lee Herrington of Bow, New Hampshire.

Other outstanding Ferraris included the 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica of Peter Kalikow, which previously earned Best of Show at Villa d’Este in 2006, and the 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder originally driven at Sebring by Denise McCluggage and Pinkie Rollo. McCluggage drove the N.A.R.T. Spyder on the Fall Ferrari Festival Tour with N.A.R.T. mechanic Francois Sicard, who presented the Ferrari for owner Larry Auriana.

N.A.R.T. competition Ferraris also included Auriana’s Ferrari 512M, driven to third place at Le Mans in 1971 by Sam Posey and Tony Adamowicz, and Peter Sachs’ Ferrari 365P2 which won the 1965 12 hours of Reims one week following Le Mans with Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet. James Glickenhaus, who has announced plans to create a Competitione version of his Ferrari P4/5 for 2010 also exhibited the P4/5 by Pininfarina and his Ferrari P3/4.

A N.A.R.T. racing discussion presented for the public included former N.A.R.T. participants Luigi Chinetti Jr., McCluggage, Posey, Sicard, team manager Dick Fritz, Gaston Andrey, mechanic Roger Colson and photographer Tom Burnside.

Saratoga Fall Ferrari Festival Photo Gallery (photo credit: Tom Sullivan)

Denise McCluggage leading the tour in the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder that she and Pinkie Rollo drove to 17th overall and 2nd in class at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring
Denise McCluggage leading the tour in the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder that she and Pinkie Rollo drove to 17th overall and 2nd in class at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring
Ferrari 365P2 won the 1965 12 Hours of Reims with Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet
Ferrari 365P2 won the 1965 12 Hours of Reims driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet
Best of Show Stradale Winner - 1957 Ferrari 4.9 Superfast of Lee Herrington
Best of Show Stradale Winner - 1957 Ferrari 4.9 Superfast of Lee Herrington
N.A.R.T. racing discussion included Sam Posey, Roger Colson, Tom Burnside, Denise McCluggage, among others
N.A.R.T. racing discussion included Sam Posey, Roger Colson, Tom Burnside, Denise McCluggage, among others
1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica of Peter Kalikow
1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica of Peter Kalikow
Sam Posey and Tony Adamowicz drove this Ferrari 512M to a 3rd place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sam Posey and Tony Adamowicz drove this Ferrari 512M to a 3rd place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder
Best of Show Competizione went to the 1965 Ferrari 250LM that won Le Mans at the hands of Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory
Best of Show Competizione went to the N.A.R.T. Ferrari 250LM that won the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans at the hands of Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory

[Source: Leigh Dorrington; photos, Tom Sullivan]