Bella Cielo, Fifth Annual Car Show What began as a gray day gave way to a feast of Ferraris for the gathering now known as “Bella Cielo.” Theevent featured stunning exotics parked in the classic Italian plaza for public attendees to enjoy their glory. Thusdid the San Diego Region of the Ferrari Owners Club host the gathering on Sunday, June 4th, 2023, for the Fifth Annual Cielo Car Show.
Not that anybody is counting, but the Club engaged thirty prancing horses including some other very specialexotics to turn the beautiful Cielo plaza into an Italian car lovers’ paradise. The featured show carsincluded many historically notable models such as the 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, Mondial T, 348 Spider, 355 Spider, 360 Challenge Stradale, F430, California T, Testarossa, 512 TR, 550 Maranello, 575 Super America, and 612 Scaglietti. The showalso included newer models with perfect examples of the 458 Italia Spiders and Coupes, 488, F8 Spider, 296 GTB,and SF90 Stradale. Together these fine Ferraris representedheritage and current examples of the marque whileallowing the show goers to meet-and-greet with the owners.
The prospect of involving both the public and Club members resurrected the People’s Choice Awards oncemorefor the show. Two categories for ballot voting placed each show car as models from before 1999 or aftertheyear 2000, with awards to go to the top three winners in each category. So, which of them won? Notsurprisingly did the beloved 308 Magnum-PI mobile earn top honors in the older category and the 296 GTBHybrid in the newer category. If allowed, some astute Ferraristi would have put money on those popular carsand won big time!
Speaking of Ferraristi as fans of the marque, what constituted the biggest attraction to the Bella Cielo show wasthe sheer spectacle of so many Ferraris gathered in a single spot. “I’ve never seen so many Ferraris in one placeall at once,” said one observer. “I like that a lot.” Other show goers echoed that sentiment as its major drawbesides the immutable beauty of all the cars on display. Forza Ferrari.
