La Macchina Molto Bella Sept, 22, 2024, Akron, OH

    For eleven years Akron, Ohio, has been the home of the La Macchina Molto Bella auto show. Founded by David Nelson and Frank Todaro this has become one of my favorite events.

    For the last several years, the show was held at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. This lovely property has all the charm of a great industrialists’ home on par with the Biltmore Estate, Carnegie Mansion and Hearst Castle.

    This year the show was moved to Hale Farm and Village. Hale Farm is a living history museum showcasing life on a working farm from the 1820s. There are many historical buildings that have been saved from the surrounding area on the property.

    There were many aspects to a farm in the turn of the century. Blacksmithing, brickmaking, glass blowing and pottery were all necessary in addition to agriculture and animals. The experience is enhanced by period-dressed interpreters demonstrating those same skills today.

    It is here you can tour the Jonathan Hale house made with brick from the mud of the Cuyahoga River that runs nearby. Each day he handcrafted a couple dozen bricks, fired them in the kiln and ultimately built a fine three-story house as a centerpiece for his farm.

    This area is hilly and forested, with walking trails that border the old tow path along the Cuyahoga River. It was here that shallow draft barges were towed by horses along the riverside as it made its way toward Cleveland and Lake Erie.

    History abounds in this area and while nestled between Akron and Cleveland there is no hint of over-population or over-building as was portrayed in the Pretenders song My City Was Gone with the lyrics:

        “The farms of Ohio
        Had been replaced by shopping malls
        And Muzak filled the air
        From Seneca to Cuyahoga falls”

    So, with this backdrop, welcome to La Macchina Molto Bella 2024.

     Friday starts with a charity dinner at Frank Todaro’s Party Center. It is here we find food, fun and fellowship.

    There are silent bid items along the back wall. Everything from golf outings to lottery tickets can be bid upon. There are Ferrari mugs, (and Lamborghinio and Maserati), there is wine and spa certificates all waiting for donations for a good cause.

    The donations go to several great causes. The Summit County Kidney Foundation was the first charity.

    The inspiration, the show, the reason, for this entire event is to honor Camillo “Mel” Todaro and his battle with kidney disease.

    This year the Harry Donovan, Jr. Valor Home and the Akron Food Bank also will benefit from proceeds of the event.

    Todaro’s Party Center is filled with people and accented by a few specially displayed cars. Of course there is a Ferrari, an SF90 Spider in red, with many people crowding around looking at this special car.

    Dinner and drinks are served and fitting to the title of the event and Frank Todaro’s name, Italian features heavily in the food choices. Molto Bella!

    The food and drinks help to prepare the crowd for the auction items on the stage. It is here sponsors have donated items, and the crowd does not disappoint. The bidding comes fast and furious with everything from a pair of Summit Racing folding chairs and Cornwall Toolboxes to a professional photo session with your car by Chris Petry.

    There was something for everyone, and all were in a mood to contribute.

    Sunday dawns early and the cool morning mist reveals Hale Farm’s empty green fields, soon to be filled with nearly 450 automobiles of all kinds.

 

    Areas are set aside for American muscle cars, and Restomods. British makes fill their area with MGBs and Jaguar. There is even a TVR, a rare sight indeed. Brass- era machinery has its own area and is filled with Packard and Marmon along with other little-known makes.

    Being Ohio farm country there is even a section for tractors. Trust me, these are not your basic farm tractors. Well, yes, they are, but fully restored as if they were sitting on a dealer’s showroom floor in the 1950s.

    There was even a section for trucks, encompassing pickups to hay haulers. In short, there is something for everyone at Molto Bella.

    It was interesting to have the juxtaposition of automobiles intermixed among the farm buildings. As the road twisted and turned around each building there was another batch of cars to discover.

    Hale Farm is a wonderful place to explore and discover what might be just around the corner. A short walk down one road led to the village.

    A collection of buildings arranged around a central greenspace. It was here Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and other Italian makes were gathered.

 

    Ferraris were lined up along the road. I could see a 308 GTS and a California. There were several 458s and 488s. Mostly modern Ferraris, as if we can still consider a 308 as a 45-year-old car ‘modern’.

    But this being Molto Bella, there was still some ‘vintage’ Ferraris to see. Tom Vail brought three excellent examples to display. A beautiful 330 GTC in black, or was it dark blue? The color seemed to change during the day as the sun and shade from the trees played across its painted surfaces.

    The 2+2s were well represented with a 330 GT Series II in ivory with red leather and a 365 GT in black with tan interior. The 365 GT had a sign that identified it as a 500 Superfast. As I approached the car and saw the sign I thought “This can’t be right!”.

    A further glance confirmed, no this was not a 500 Superfast. Ferraris being Ferraris the 500 was not cooperative on show morning and the 365 GT was put in its place.

    While slightly disappointed not to see one, the other certainly made for a great display.

    Another 2+2 was nearby, a 612 Scaglietti. The owner parked and cleaned out the car for display. Two car seats were stuffed into an already full trunk. Laughingly he explained his kids enjoyed riding in the 612 and isn’t that what rear seats are for?

    I should note here there is no judging. No official judging for sure. Bring your ride and display for all to see. No Q-Tips to be seen. Low key, high fun.

 

    I visit with several Ferrari owners, answering questions and describing the market and what the Ferrari Market Letter is and does. There are always those  who may not realize this resource is available.

    I try to bring others into fold whether they are current owners or may be thinking of Ferrari ownership in the future.

    Molto Bella brings a large crowd of people through the gate to experience all kinds of automotive history. The beauty of a show like this is the variety and range of things to see.

    Be it a Mustang, Camaro or Pontiac Bonneville, Rolls-Royce or Ferrari, everybody loves their car and that is what makes the atmosphere exciting. Stories abound of how they found their car, the restoration, the family ties and the stories never end.

 

    This is what makes a grand car show. The benefits come from the people. The ones who share their car and the ones who come to see. Because the funds raised are put to good use around the community.

    I want to give a shout out for the Harry Donovan, Jr. Valor Home of Summit County. This organization is supporting homeless veterans within their community by providing a residence and therapy to support self-sufficiency and self-improvement.

    I know La Macchina Molto Bella is proud to add them to the list of recipients from the event. Local good doing local good things. It does not get better than that.

    In the eleven years of Molto Bella, donations have totaled over $1 million. This year nearly $200,000 was raised to benefit The Kidney Foundation, Grace House, and Valor Home along with others.

    Is there any better reason to show off your car?

    Sponsors included CocaCola Consolidated, Cornwall Quality Tools and Summit Racing, along with many other loyal supporters.

        To continue a donation contact:  info@moltobellacarshow.com
 

BONUS PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT