History of the Tennessee Chapter

Nashville at the end of 1997 had a number of people who drove Ferraris.  A few had joined the Ferrari Club of America but most Ferrari owners were not affiliated with any organization. The common thread was that most people had their cars worked on at the same shop, specialist Roberto Branchizio's place, called Bob's Auto Shop.

An ad placed by one of the owners asked for people interested in forming a club to call Pam at 242-9000.  The response was overwhelming.  She soon had a list of thirty Ferrari owners or enthusiasts who wanted to get together for socials, drives, and other events involving the red cars from Maranello.

The first dinner was held on Enzo's birthday, 1998, at the Legends Country Club in Nashville and was attended by the following founders of the club:

Members Randy LaGasse and wife, Janice -- 328 and 246 GTS (Dino)       Bob Biscan and wife, Eveyln -- Testarossa Ron Moore and wife, Diana -- 328 Bart Durham and son, Blair - 355 spider Gerry Gross  Rachel Paul  Rosie Cantaruitti  Steve O'Brien Phil Schmidt Sanon Brady Chris Thorison -- 308  Kevin Demers -- Testarossa Lisa Stewart Erik Nielson -- 365  Lance McKinnon -- 308  Edward Gamble -- 308 Mark Lineberry and wife -- Testarossa  Jeff Landman and son -- 365gtb Daytona

The next morning the group gathered at the Kroger parking park in Brentwood for a guided drive through scenic Williamson County. Ten miles into the drive, John Carnes, the lead vehicle,  overturned his Lotus throwing both him and Roberto Branchizio, his passenger, out of the vehicle and breaking two of Roberto's ribs. 

This ended that weekend on a sad note.  Thereafter, the group went on Sunday drives but in a much more restrained manner.  There were get togethers at various restaurants with special parking for the Ferraris.

The summer of 1998 the group went to meet with a group from Huntsville and on to Talladega and drove the motorcycle track there, know as the Grand Prix Raceway.  That weekend the group continued on to Road Atlanta and watched the Walter Mitty there on Sunday.
 
There were more parties and meetings during the following months.  Bob and Evelyn Biscan opened their house for Enzo's birthday in February, 1999:
 
We had begun to attract the attention of Ferrari owners in other cities.  There were cars and drivers from Birmingham and East Tennessee at our meeting at Kevin's house.  Some twenty FCA members signed a petition that our club be accepted as a chapter of the national FCA.

This petition was given to Bill and Wendy Djang, Southeastern Regional Directors,  in August at Road Atlanta at the annual meeting of the FCA.  The petition was approved and on March 5, 2000, the Tennessee Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America was formally recognized.

 Ready to get started...

Blair Durham, master of ceremonies, welcomes the group to Legends.

This room is where it all began. Edward Gamble, the Mid-South Ferrari Club's second president, is pictured on the right.

Article from Franklin paper.

The cars take over Logan's parking lot after a Sunday drive.

Kevin Demers in Springfield opened his Estate Mansion for a summer patio party that June.

Johnny Fleemon treated the group to dinner at his restaurant, Legends, in Shelbyville. Seated clockwise from left: Evelyn and Bob Biscan, Patsy Ann Conner, Kevin Demers, Johnny Fleeman, Jake and Ann Murdock, Laine and Crawford White, Jason and Kelly Cunningham, Julie Smith and Bart Durham.