RIDE OF A LIFETIME
Exclusive cars take part in Adirondack Road Tour
BOLTON, N.Y. » The Saratoga Wine & Food Festival roared to life Friday as some of America’s hottest, most high-priced cars motored from Spa State Park to the historic Lake George Club, where guests enjoyed a gourmet luncheon and rides aboard luxurious Comitti boats.
About 70 late-model autos such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa-Romeo and Porsche took part in the Adirondack Road Tour, one of many activities in the weekend-long festival.
Saratoga Springs resident Jim Clemmer, CEO of Latham-based Angio Dynamics, drove his bright blue 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider in the rally.
“It’s crazy fast, with a twin turbo V-8 engine,” he said smiling. “This was a beautiful ride. We took a really scenic drive up through Corinth and Lake Luzerne.”
Auto enthusiast Alex Loh, new head coach of the Adirondack Thunder hockey team, was especially impressed by the vehicle. A Lake George resident, Loh previously
worked for a company called World Class Driving, which lets people experience exotic cars.
“I was only 21, right out of college,” Loh said. “I got to drive some high-end stuff the normal human being never gets to drive. It was pretty cool, a lot of fun for sure. My most memorable experience was taking a half-million-dollar McLaren to Walmart, in Minnesota.
“I definitely got a lot of looks. I also went out to Monterrey, California, for the big car shows out there.”
Mike Mastrangelo is general manager of Wide World Ferrari in Spring Valley, a co-sponsor of the festival, which is a fundraiser for Saratoga Auto Museum and Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
He recently delivered a brand new Ferrari 812 Superfast to former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, one of baseball’s all-time greats.
“We actually traveled together to the factory in Italy, to build a car,” Mastrangelo said. “It was a huge thrill because I’m a big Yankee fan. We’ve become good friends.”
Red Sox fans at the Wine & Food Festival were afforded a treat, too, on Friday as retired slugger David Ortiz took part in a special Fired Up! grill competition at Spa State Park.
At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, a parade of 80 Bugattis — the world’s most exclusive car — will start at the Avenue of the Pines and head north on Broadway to Ellsworth Jones Place, near Saratoga Springs City Center. Spectators will be able to view the “Bugatti Parade” from the sidewalk and other public gathering spots.
The procession will be led by the only two 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics in existence — worth $40 million apiece. They’re owned by Mullin Automotive Museum and fashion mogul Ralph Lauren.
Jeff Drajin, general manager of festival co-sponsor Lamborghini Paramus, was a first-time participant in Friday’s Adirondack Road Tour.
“It’s exceeded my expectations,” he said. “The beauty and number of different exotic cars is just amazing. I’m very happy to be part of it.”
Lamborghini has just launched a new super sport utility vehicle called, Urus.
“It’s almost like driving a sports car, but with an SUV body,” Drajin said. “It’s really amazing. The first cars, which have been on order for about six months, will begin arriving the end of this month and early October.
“We’re very excited. It’s going to be a game-changer for Lamborghini.”