In REview: The 2016 COrtile Italian Car Show

The 2016 Cortile Italian Car show was quite an event.  

We started things off with a special presentation by Jeff Mahl on Friday evening  about he 1908 New York to Paris Race.  It was a lively and very informed presentation about Jeff's great great grandfather's experience racing around the world over 100 years ago.

On Saturday we had several very special cars show up for the De Tomaso feature as well as a Stanguellini race car!

Take a look at some of the live footage below that we posted on our Facebook Page during the weekend activities for more details.

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THE 2016 CORTILE CUP WINNERS CIRCLE

Our Cortile Cup winners for 2016 proved once again to be some of the most unique cars to grace our showfield! 

The Best in Show, Cortile Cup Winner was a wonderful De Tomaso Mangusta. An original unrestored 1986, purchased new by the owner, Alfa Romeo Graduate took the Alfa Romeo Class and for the first time the judges just could reach a conclusive decision for the Fiat Class and there where two winners chosen: a wonderful original condition Fiat X-19 and a lovely restoration of a 

In the Best Italian Speciality Car category that Stanguellini race car took top honors. Our Proiettore Macchina feature winner was a gorgeous white Pantera.  

​The Ferrari and Lamborghini winners added the iconic Italian sports car colors to the Winners Circle and a very very unique Maserati joined us from Erie, PA to take the final spot in the Winners Circle!

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THE 1908 NEW YORK TO PARIS RACE. 

For the Friday Dinner presentation Jeff Mahl took us back to the legendary 1908 New York to Paris Race. 

This international competition pitted the best of European automotive technology against the one American entry bold enough to take on the challenge of circumnavigating the globe in horseless carriages.  Germany, France and Italy had national honor at stake.  The Americans had Teddy Roosevelt!

Jeff is the Great Grandson of George Schuster, driver of the American Thomas Flyer and winner of the 1908 New York to Paris Race. 

​For his victory, George was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame beside other racing greats including Andretti, Bugatti, Ferrari, and Shelby.

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1959 STANGUELLINI MONOPOSTO JOINED US IN 2016!

Since the inception of the Cortile in 2009 we've been searching for Italian Race Cars for display on our showfield.  However, since this is the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix more often than not those cars racing on the track.  This year, however, we were very pleased to feature a 1959 Stanguellini Monoposto Formula Junior on the showfield at the Cortile.

This car was first sold to Peter Carpenter and he raced it extensively throughout Europe during the 1959 series of Formula Junior, placing 5th place at Monza and 2nd at Di Salerno.

This car was partially restored in 1970s and spent approximately 20 years in a private museum of an Italian car collector in Miami, Florida.

The current owner purchased the car in 1994 and has spent the last 8 years restoring it to the original racing condition. This was it's first showing since coming out of the garage! ​

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NEXT MONTH: ROB STRAW'S NIGHT PHOTO'S!

Next month we are featuring a story on Rob Straw and sharing some of his great night photography from the Cortile

Rob also has some great photography of the Italian Race Cars in the paddock.  

You are really going to want to see his work!

​Be sure to check back!

Here's a sample of what's in store for you! 

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According to Rob:
"The final gallery of "night" images is complete! Included is this beautiful 1959 Stanguellini Monoposto from the #PVGP Cortile Italian Car Show, as well as numerous race cars from the Schenley Paddock and the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Thanks to all those that brought their cars out for the races and car shows. I hope you all enjoy the images I stayed up late to shoot!!!!

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Make plans now to join us next summer at the Cortile when we will feature Alfa Romeo as our 2017 Proiettore Macchina!