A 1,125-horsepower Ferrari might seem an unlikely starting point for a story about connection, friendship, and caring for others. Yet that is precisely what makes "Fiorella," the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano campaigned by professional drifter Federico Sceriffo, an effective conversation starter. The car gets people's attention. What happens after that is the point.

On November 13, Fiorella will be among the attractions at Ferrari of Atlanta in Roswell, Georgia, for an evening benefiting Drive Toward a Cure. This nonprofit brings automotive enthusiasts together to support people living with Parkinson's disease. Motorsports broadcaster Bob Varsha will join the gathering, alongside a rare 1961 Maserati 3500 GT from enthusiast Ivan Ruiz's collection. But the most important connections will not be between drivers and machines. They will be between people.

Automotive enthusiasts enjoy high-horsepower vehicles, acceleration that pushes them into their seatbacks, and precision machinery, but there is more, which is much harder to measure. Comradeship and friendships develop around a shared interest—more challenging to quantify, but they give that interest a different kind of value.

Drive Toward a Cure builds its events around that human connection. Founded in 2016, the national nonprofit has raised more than $1.5 million for Parkinson's research, patient care, educational outreach, and its own assistance programs. Its approach pairs automotive and lifestyle experiences with opportunities to help people facing the disease.

The upcoming Georgia event continues the theme. The opening reception on Friday offers a chance to hear racing stories, admire unusual automobiles, and spend time with fellow enthusiasts. On Saturday, enthusiasts get behind the wheel at the Ride Lounge Midtown to begin a scenic drive through North Georgia and a tour of a private automobile collection, ending with a gathering at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. The itinerary leaves room to enjoy the journey—and the company—rather than chase a lap time.

Called "Take a Drive with Kevin," the two-day event honors automotive public relations veteran Kevin Smith, whose career included work with Saab, Lotus, Cadillac, and Genesis. (On a personal note, I worked closely with Smith 15 years ago, when he led North American public relations, communications, and marketing for Lotus.)

Smith was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's in 2018. Through his longtime friendship with Drive Toward a Cure founder Deb Pollack, he became closely connected to the organization and its work supporting people and families living with the disease. Sadly, he died on November 11, 2025. "Kevin believed in relationships, and he spent his career building them throughout the automotive world," Pollack said in the event announcement. "This evening brings together the people, cars and camaraderie that defined so much of his life."

Connecting like-minded people with common passions often builds meaningful support. Over the years, Atlanta's automotive community has helped Drive Toward a Cure contribute more than $60,000 to Emory University's Jean and Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program, supporting research and patient care.

Sceriffo, a Drive Toward a Cure brand ambassador since 2022, uses his involvement in Formula Drift to introduce the organization's mission to a motorsports audience. "Through Formula Drift and Fiorella, we can capture people's attention, introduce them to a cause they may not know much about, and show them how the automotive community can make a difference," Sceriffo said in the announcement. "For me, it's about using the passion and visibility of motorsports for something bigger than racing."

That is the larger story behind the weekend. A remarkable car can draw a crowd. A familiar voice on the broadcast may spark a conversation. A scenic drive can give friends—and people who have just met—time to connect. And those experiences also serve a common purpose: supporting people living with Parkinson's.

The Friday reception takes place November 13, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ferrari of Atlanta, with the North Georgia driving experience following on November 14. Together, the events remind us that automotive enthusiasm is much more than a physical vehicle or its performance—it is also about what people do together.

For more information about the event click here.