Andrea Levy: Interview. He Brought Automobile Back Home In Turin

17 June 2019 Redazione Lifestyle, News, Stories

ANDREA LEVY

HE BROUGHT AUTOMOBILE BACK HOME

Edited by Alessandro Marrone / Photos by Salone Auto Parco del Valentino

I always enjoy an entertaining chat with a car collector, regardless of whether you’re talking about a garage full of modern supercars or icons from the past. In many cases, however, I felt a sense of regret for the fact that not everyone see cars for what they really are and end up putting layers of dust in a dark corner only being able to remember old anecdotes, without having the opportunity to create new ones. But not all collectors are jealous keepers of art and beauty on wheels, Andrea Levy, mastermind of an event that revolutionized the automotive scene in Italy, is a striking example, attracting the interest of enthusiasts from all over the world and awakening the awareness of a city that knows something about cars. Andrea is an entrepreneur who has managed to combine work and passion, expanding the concept thanks to a total sharing of this fantastic world of his. After five minutes you likely think you know him from a long time and his kindness is just one of the many sides of a character imbued with inspiration and focus towards ever new goals. I exchanged a few words with him a month before a new edition of the Salone Auto del Valentino (much more than an open air motor show) that once again will roar the splendid streets of the elegant city of Turin. Here’s what he told me.

THE CHARACTER

Ciao Andrea, so who are you?

An entrepreneur who comes from marketing, with a great passion for cars.

How the spark and your great love for cars has struck?

I have been a car enthusiast since I was a little child, partly because my father is a car enthusiast and also because I have always seen the prototypes of Pininfarina, Giugiaro, Bertone and the great designers of the area, as well as the camouflaged cars leaving the FIAT facilities outside my window.

Tell us an episode that you experienced at the wheel and that left its mark inside you.

I love to drive my cars on the track, I am more of a racing guy than a gentleman driver. In the last few months I have been on track several times with my Dallara Stradale and among the most memorable races is that of the Time Attack championship won at Mugello. But also the victories at Monza and Imola with the Ferrari Club Italia Trophy, at the wheel of the Ferrari 488.

We know that you are also a very open-minded collector. You have supercars, one-offs, track weapons, but also electric cars. How do you choose the car in the morning, before leaving home?

Depending on several factors, like the weather or what I have to do that day.

Now choose only one of them, as if you could not use the others for a whole year.

The Aston Martin DB11.

Let’s go back a second on electricity, until a few years ago it represented the future, now it is our present. Do you think this technology will distort the world of cars as purists and more traditional enthusiasts intend it, or can it bring benefits not only in terms of emissions?

These are long-term changes that will integrate and enrich the automotive world, so there will be space for racing lovers, for those who use cars on a daily basis and for those who combine environmental sustainability. I love track driving, but I am also an electric cars supporter, I have two of them in the garage. For the city, for example, the electric has no rival.

SALONE AUTO PARCO VALENTINO

You have brought automotive back home in Turin. Was it a difficult adventure? How much work does it lie behind this project?

Since I am from Turin, I began to think of creating something that would bring the city back to being the car’s capital, an event that could bring it back to the center of public interest. So we started to study automotive events, indoors and outdoors, and we noticed that if the first, the so-called traditional Motor Shows, suffered, the latter, like Pebble Beach and Goodwood, instead grew in popularity and success. Hence the idea of Parco Valentino, an outdoor motor show, with the same stands for all brands and dynamic events along the streets of the city.

What are the organization phases of your Show?

The day after the closing of an edition, my staff and I sit at a table and sum up: the things to be strengthened, to be modified, to be created. We collect feedback from car manufacturers, visitors, and our partners, and the updated project takes shape.

What’s awaiting us for the 2019 edition?

First of all, this is going to be the edition with more car manufacturers ever. To date (May 27) there are 47, representing 93-94% of the Italian car market. And then 5-6 Formula 1 single-seater that will parade through the city center, in addition to important anniversaries such as Citroën’s centenary and Bugatti’s 110 years, at the Parco Valentino Classic meetings, of American cars, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Mazda MX-5. An increasingly rich calendar, updated on our website www.parcovalentino.com

A part from the Salone del Valentino, what is your favorite automotive event?

As a visitor, nothing excites me like Goodwood. As an enthusiast, the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

777 CLUB

Your projects are not only related to the international event in Turin, but you gave life to the “777 Club”. Tell us a little more about it.

This is the desire to create a space in which to bring together collectors and enthusiasts, owners with whom to organize tours, meetings. A great opportunity to meet people and talk about cars as well as testing new ones.

When you’re not a car enthusiast, who is Andrea Levy?

An entrepreneur who has worked for years in marketing communication, a father who transmits his passions to his daughters, a traveler.

What about your next adventure?

We have more than one in store, but you will be among the first to know what’s coming.

Andrea is one of those rare people with whom you could talk for days and who manages to convey inspiration from every single word, not just regarding automotive, but for his human side. A true enthusiast, a great connoisseur, but above all a man who has the merit of having brought the Italian (and not only) automotive scene back home, in Turin.