UNLIKE OTHER YEARS…

The seemingly interminable gloom of winter in England is always brightened by the thought of getting away from it all, for a few days to the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic in Florida. Boarding the 747 is almost like entering a time warp – you invariably leave a wet and grey London and arrive a few hours later in the warmth and bright sunshine of Miami. It’s almost like being on another planet!

Initially 2003 was no exception, as it was cold, grey and wet in London, and hot, sunny and dry in Miami. However, even in Florida the weather can play tricks, as residents are only too well aware, and this was to be one of those periods. The northern states had been suffering a record cold spell since the beginning of January, and on hearing about the Cavallino Classic, the cold front decided to head south to see what it was all about. Fortunately, it only paid a brief visit, but while it was with us it brought record low temperatures throughout the state, and froze all the participants at the Moroso track on the Friday. It moved away overnight leaving only a brief lunchtime rain shower to dampen the Concorso field on Saturday. Come Sunday and Florida was back to what one expects at this time of year – hot and sunny!