Gallery: Simeone Museum Demo Day
An intimate view of five of the greatest Ferrari race cars.
Fans of the Prancing Horse got the opportunity to experience an intimate view of 5 of Ferrari’s greatest race cars on a beautiful late spring day at the world renown Simeone Foundation Museum near Philadelphia Saturday April 12.
Images and story by Bob Craig
A rarity among automotive museums, Simeone invites fans to see and hear some of the greatest racing machines in history as they stretch their legs. The scream of iconic V-12’s in some of the most beautiful bodies ever designed for racecars was joined by the magic sound of the monster 4 cylinder of well known collector Bob Dusek as he circled the area in his very rare 857 Monza.
Dr Simeone’s life-long dream of assembling one of the finest collections of racing sports cars was enthusiastically acknowledged by the International Historic Motoring Awards as “Museum of the Year” in 2011-2012.
More than 60 important cars, brought together by the world renown neurosurgeon Dr Frederick Simeone , just minutes from Philadelphia International Airport , allows car lovers to wander through a collection of some of the greatest the sport of auto racing has ever seen including winners of some of the most famous road races in history including LeMans , Nurburgring, and Mille Miglia. Twice monthly when weather allows they bring some of the cars out and run them for the fans.
Dr Simeone, one of the foremost automotive historians and the force behind the museum’s desire to only do what is necessary to the cars to make them mechanically sound so they retain the look and accurate historical presence when they finished their racing life, talks with the audience to explain what makes these iconic masterpieces important in history.
Two of the Foundations Ferrari’s, 1958 250 Testa Rossa, 0710TR, and 1954Ferrari 375 MM , 0412AM were joined by 1962 250 GTO 3387, on loan to the museum
Considered by some, as one of the most original 1964 250 LM’s in existence, the ex John Mecom car #6047 that won Road America in 1964, and the 1955 857 Monza 0570M , very successful Phil Hill car, were brought by 3 generations of the Robert Dusek family .
Many modern Ferrari’s, brought by a local group of friends that attend a popular Cars and Coffee gathering added to the show as the museum allowed them special parking near the race cars for the fans to enjoy. About 20 Ferrari’s from an 80’s Testa Rossa to the first 458 Speciale delivered by local Ferrari dealer Algar added to the sensory overload enjoyed by the lovers of Ferrari.
Images and story by Bob Craig
