GALLERY: SVRA French Quarter Parade

No visit to New Orleans is complete without a trip down Bourbon Street and a stop in the world famous French Quarter. So it was with the drivers, car owners and sponsors of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) on Friday evening to celebrate this weekend's inaugural race meet at NOLA Motorsports Park.

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Led by four F-Type models of series sponsor Jaguar and escorted by 13 motorcycle police officers, some 50 SVRA vintage racecars took on the 15-mile trek from the race course through Bourbon Street to finally park in front of the Friday night parade's sponsor, Harrah's Casino. People lined the streets along the way. Many recorded the event with camera phones while others waved at the drivers. Some simply stood there, slack-jawed.

The stunt was a product of some creative brainstorming between SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella and NOLA Motorsports Park President Kristen Engeron. Both share realistic expectations for spectator interest in their inaugural weekend as well as a vision for its growth.

"Patience is important," says Parella. "Stunts like this grab attention. Look at the faces of people here; they didn't expect this. They are asking questions about what's going on. Next year when we do it again I want those same people answering the questions because they know our event and have enjoyed it."

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