Prepare yourself for a flashback. 

I can just barely remember seeing the Lambo for the first time twenty some years ago. Lou (my step-dad) had driven it home with Mom from California. It was this bright red beast, as big as a fire truck and as loud as a roaring lion at the zoo. It had a wood steering wheel and tan leather interior. It smelled good on the inside, like a new baseball mitt or a soccer ball. It was then that I fell in love with cars. I remember going for rides in it and waving at all the people who stared at it, and answering all the questions people would ask about it. I remember holding up my hands and pretending I was driving. I remember laying in bed making car noises of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Maseratis, Fiats, Abarths, Alfa Romeos, Bizzarinis, Iso Rivoltas, and any other car I could think of, closing my eyes and pretending that I was driving them, at not so safe speeds.

Somehow, as the years went on it lost its nostalgia. I got used to the idea of us having a Lamborghini, an Alfa Romeo, a Fiat, an Abarth. Then about seven years ago, the spark reignited and I realized what I could have been working on all those years, learning from Lou, instead of sitting in my bedroom playing videogames. By that time it was too late for me to work as much as I wanted. I was in college studying graphic design. I realized, I believe in my second year of college that I wanted an italian car of my own.

Now, years later, I have a Fiat of my own, that I work on when I can with Lou (who does most of the work for me, the man is a miracle worker) and filling in graphic design work, website design, and such at their animal hospital to pay for parts. Perhaps next year it will be driving, one can dream, but until then it now sits there in Lou’s garage staring at me, begging to play, begging to be driven hard and fast around hairpin turns at dangerous speeds. I understand the glamor now more than I ever did as a child… When I was a kid the cars were untouchable things, like something in a hand-blown glass store. But now that I have one, one of my own, one that I can drive, touch, tweak, and add to the pack, I feel part of it. It’s something that I never want to be parted with again or ever let lose its flair as I let happen as a teenager. It’s a part of me, and that’s the way it will stay.

Fast forward to Thursday night.

Lou and Mom show up in there Jeep Cherokee trailering the Lambo on the back. We’d never trailered it before. Cars like these are meant to be driven. Gas prices however make a 10mpg car driving 600+ miles a bit of an expense however. Again though, we’ve never done this before. It’s a bit frightening looking behind you and seeing the red menace glaring back at you, angry for being tied down to some chair. She was not intended for this wheelchair thing that we’ve strapped her to and she wanted loose, NOW.

The whole thing bounces wildly as we go down the road, I fear for my life at times, praying to God the thing doesn’t jackknife as we take exit ramp after exit ramp. Finally at sunset we get off at a rest stop and realize it’s a great time to snap some photos!

Once back on the road my Garmin GPS dies (forgot the charger thingy) and we have to resort to maps. Thankfully, I’ve always been good with maps and we all make good co-pilots for Luigi. None of us want to drive the Jeep+Trailer. None of us. We’re evil, horrible people for making him drive the entire way. We stop in Ohio and then get up the next morning and drive to Pennsylvania. We snap some photos along the way.

Lou reading the map at a stop.

The Pennsylvania countryside was beyond gorgeous.

Finally after arriving at the hotel, and dismounting the trailer, we go up to Skytop Lodge late at night in the pouring rain and fog to sign our registration papers. I drive the Jeep back to the hotel since I have good night eyes while everyone is freaking out, Mom especially (she keeps thinking I can’t see the road when she can’t). The next morning we get up at early as heck and wipe all the rain off the Lambo, give it a good shining and drive it up to the show. Cat rides with Lou and I drive the Jeep with Mom as we fly up the mountain passes at high speed. Mom fears for her life. Finally we arrive at Skytop Lodge and Golf Resort. The thing looms on top of a hill and we gasp at it’s magnificence. I want to shoot a wedding here. Bad. 

Mom and I park the Jeep, and Cat and Lou drive the Lambo in. The lines of cars are just awe inspiring. So finally after much storying-telling and setup. Here’s the show!

Meet the rest of the family!

My step-dad Luigi. He drove the Lambo without Coffee?? Scary!

And my beautiful wife who tolerates my car obsession.

Pulling up to the show, Le Belle Macchine d’Italia. “The Beautiful Cars of Italy”.

All the beautiful cars!

Over 300+ Italian Cars. Egad!

All of the Alfas! One of my favorite Marks!

The new Lambos. That green one being the possible future color of my Fiat.

The older Lambos (my favorite). Lou’s is the third on in from the left.

Ferraris

Cathy really liked this old Ferrari, she took like 60+ photos of it!

The other Islero that was there. Lou also runs a website on the Islero.

There were more than just cars. There were other things too… like this bicycle thing. The Go-One3.

And Motorcycles! Great shot Cathy!!!

Me filming my documentary.

The people were great characters too. How cool are these two???

There were some fun non-italian cars too in the parking lot. Also, best license plate, EVER.

Suffice to say it was a long day in the beautiful sun and we got … well. Burned.

Clockwise from the top left. Me, Mom, Cat. Lou wore shoes.

After the show they had a beautiful dinner for all of us and the food was just spectacular. The views were too from the Lodge. Before dinner though they had some of the best cars outside in the late day sun and I had to snap some photos.

Probably one of the best looking Lamborghini 400GT I’ve ever seen.

An old Maserati. Mmmm..

Then I realized I could get on the roof of the lodge and one of the photographers that was there let me borrow his 16mm 1.8L glass. Thanks!

The next day we were meant to go on the track, and race at high speed alongside other beautiful vintage cars. Unfortunately however it rained like crazy and track day for us got cancelled. We headed home (through hail! holy cow!) and finally arrived the day after back in Bloomington.

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of ways of summing up what an awesome trip and what it meant to me and for once am at a loss for words so I figured since I’m a photographer I’d simply show a photo that Cat took of Lou and I to express what the show meant to me.

Thanks for reading!

-David.

UPDATE: Special thanks to ExoticCars-USA for posting about our blog! You can check them out here!

Italian Car Show Photographers | Le Belle Macchine d’Italia originally appeared on Chicago Wedding Photographers | Cathy and David (www.cathydavidphoto.com) on June 25, 2008.

So we’re back home safe and sound after a long.. long long long… long drive yesterday. I can’t wait to put up pictures from the trip and will be getting to them later today (hopefully) for a good blog post, video to come later. But until then I’ve enclosed a sneak peek photo from the trip!

How hot is that?

Also, we got tagged by our friend’s over at The Fairmount Bride and now I guess I have to mention 5 songs I’m embarrassed to like… so here goes!

1. Blue – Leann Rhymes. I am a self-professed to not care for most country music but for some reason I can never, ever, hate Leann Rhymes. She’s got an awesome voice. Argh.

2. We’re Going to Ibiza – Venga Boys: I always liked the Venga’s back in the day and even when I hear this stupid (really stupid) song I still bob my head. I bought it on iTunes. I’m so ashamed.

3. Mahnamana – The Muppets: Start humming it, then try to stop humming it. Yet I actually enjoy listening to it when I’m having a bad day. Ugh.

4. Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog – Elvis: I love the Elvis. Always have, always will.

5. The Themesong to Evangelion – Evangelion. Cat and I are big time anime nerds. So much so that I have the sound track to one of our favorite series on CD. I love this stupid song even though I can barely remember what they are saying in Japanese.

There.

Love to all! – David.

(Btw, Cathy, I didn’t mention Jimmy Buffet because I’m not embarassed, unlike you, to admit that I like him! Ha!)

Car Show Photography Sneak Peek | Tagged Wedding Photographers originally appeared on Chicago Wedding Photographers | Cathy and David (www.cathydavidphoto.com) on June 24, 2008.

Hello hello hello!

Why am I so crazy-uber-sooper-dooper-pumped this morning??? WHY YOU ASK??? I’m going to an amazing car show that’s why!!!

For the second time Luigi (my step-dad) and I are going to Skytop Lodge in Pennsylvania by the coast to attend and compete at Le Belle Macchina d’Italia, otherwise known as ‘The Beautiful Cars of Italy.’ This is the nations largest 3-Day Italian car gathering. As with last time we will be entering Lou’s beautifully maintained 1968 Lamborghini Islero. Last time we were there (2005) we were able to snag second place in the Lamborghini division!

This time will be just a bit different however. The wives are going!

We’ll also be racing on the racetrack. The Pocono Speedway. At speeds easily at excess of 100mph. How cool is that?? Next time we go I’m planning on bringing my 70% completed Fiat X1/9 for a couple laps as well.

Vintage Italian Cars Racing on the track. A preview of things to come!

Italian American TV. Check out the clip of our friends Joe Corbacio and Valentino Balboni!

And lastly the video I did for 2006.

Thanks for checking it out! This is one of the few chances that Cat lets me blab forever about cars so thanks Baby!

Preview Car Show Photographers | Le Belle Macchine d’Italia originally appeared on Chicago Wedding Photographers | Cathy and David (www.cathydavidphoto.com) on June 19, 2008.