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The grand-finale weekend of Italian Week drew thousands to Ottawa’s Little Italy area of Preston Street on Saturday to watch some of the finest examples of automotive engineering take part in a parade of more than 100 cars, motorcycles and scooters of Italian origin.
For many spectators, the stars of the parade were the Ferraris, those sleek, powerful cars that working people can only dream of owning, considering the base price of more than $200,000 U.S. The parade was part of the Ottawa Ferrari Festival, an Italian Week sister event presented by the Ottawa chapter of the Ferrari Club of America.
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In addition to Saturday’s parade, Ferrari owners registered in the festival showed off their rides Friday on the Concorso d’Eleganza, a stretch of Queen Elizabeth Driveway near Preston Street. They attended a cocktail party, a cannoli-and-coffee breakfast gathering, a lunch reception and an awards dinner. There was also a 90-km pleasure drive through the Ottawa Valley on Saturday morning.
Members of the public were able to get a sense of the horsepower capabilities at the Ferrari demo zone, located in an enclosed, three-block section of Carling Avenue just west of Preston Street. Owners, with proof of $2 million in liability insurance, were encouraged to “stretch your Ferrari’s legs and make some noise … in this safe, short course in front of thousands.” At a comfortable speed, of course.
Supercar aficionados also leaped at the chance to ride in one of the exclusive cars. Tickets are sold out for Sunday’s charity event, which offers a ride in a Ferrari for $75, raising money for Villa Marconi Long Term Care Facility. Funds raised will be matched by the National Bank.
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