Our Special Guests in 2025
Welcome Camilo Pardo
Camilo Pardo – Automotive Designer, Race Car Designer, Professional Artist, and a fantastic lifelong auto enthusiast.
Born in New York city, Camilo moved to Detroit at the age of 10 and had by that age developed a fascination with 60s and 70s era sports cars and modern art. After graduating from Detroit’s prestigious design school Center for Creative Studies in 1985, Camilo was hired by Ford Design Center in Dearborn Michigan. His assignments included working in the Dearborn Advanced Studios, Ford of Europe- Torino, Italy Studio , and the Design Studios in Cologne Germany.
After 15 years at Ford Motor Company, he took on what was, for him, the ultimate assignment … a state-of-the-art re-design of the classic Ford GT race car. This project developed the 2002 Ford GT concept car. As chief Designer of the Ford GT and the SVT Studio, Camilo’s team worked on the 2005 and 2006 production Ford GT. The GT became an instant success, capturing the interest of car enthusiasts around the world.
By evening, Camilo is a serious, multi-faceted artist with incomparable creative energy. This creativity is evident in his large, brightly colored oil paintings on canvas.This includes a large production of Automotive Fine Art. The same quality of creativity reaches a line of fashion design, that he describes as advanced fashion concepts. These fashion pieces have been created for auto shows and runway exhibits. As a dedicated artist who sets no limits on his creative endeavors, Camilo has found that his outside artistic expressions further strengthen and complements his passion for automotive design.
Welcome back, Bill Warner
Bill Warner – Automotive Racer, Author, Founder of Amelia Island, Collector, and 2023 Lake Mirror Classic Grand Marshal
Born in 1943 and hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Warner’s life work could fill multiple books. From a young age, Warner immersed himself in the world of automobiles, beginning as a teenager working at a local Volkswagen dealership. His love for racing was kindled during weekends working as a “gopher” for the dealership’s racing team. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel in 1966, he ventured into the family filter business while contributing to renowned automotive publications like Sports Car Graphic Magazine. His lasting relationship with Road & Track Magazine, established in 1971, further solidified his place in the automotive world.
Warner’s racing exploits are nothing short of remarkable. In 1975, he made history by finishing 14th in the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash and later clinched 26th place in the inaugural Cannonball One Lap of America. His racing career, spanning from the SCCA to IMSA, boasts top-five finishes at Watkins Glen, a triumph at Mid-Ohio, and a victory in the Escort Series.
In 1996, Warner founded The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, raising over $3.7 million for charitable causes. Warner’s contributions have received widespread recognition, from Meguiar’s Automobile Hobby Person of the Year to the Nicola Bulgari Award for contributions to automotive history. In 2021, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Historic Motoring Awards ceremony in London. He is the author of multiple books and continues to volunteer his time to automotive events around the world, including the Lake Mirror Classic.
Welcome back, Kip Wasenko
Kip Wasenko – Automotive Designer, Race Car Designer, Racer and an amazing, lifelong auto enthusiast.
Kip Wasenko began his 40-year Design Career at General Motors in June 1968. During this time his
career included the U.S., Europe and Australia. He retired in May 2008.
At GM Design Kip was Chief Designer of Saturn, Chevrolet Studio, Oldsmobile Studio, Cadillac Studio and
several Advance Studios. He was Director of Design of the GM Performance Division and Specialty
Vehicles. In 1973 Kip received his first Design Patent on the Two-Rotor Mid-Engine Corvette Concept Car which is
now on display at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
Kip also designed many Indy 500 and Daytona 500 Pace Cars. The most exotic was the Mid-Engine Buick Wildcat with its exposed Indy 500 Engine by Buick. This Mid-Engine Wildcat, designed in 1984-85, was a true Supercar Concept that would rival today’s million-dollar Supercars.
Kip is best known for the Design of the Cadillac EVOQ named “Best Concept Car” at the 1999 North
American International Auto Show. This Design initiated the Art & Science Design direction which was
recognized as a Design Renaissance for Cadillac. The EVOQ was sold to the public as the
Cadillac XLR-V. Kip applied the same Design Philosophy to the CTS-V, STS-V and the Cadillac LMP Race
Car developed with Riley & Scott that raced LeMans. In addition, he designed the winning CTS-VR World
Challenge Cadillac Race Cars by Pratt & Miller.
In February 2005, Motor Trend magazine recognized Kip’s contribution on their Top 50 Power List. “He’s
made Cadillacs cool again.” Kip is a Ferrari enthusiast and has owned his 1970 Ferrari 246GT Dino since 1975. As an amateur race car
driver, this is Kip’s 31st season racing his Corvette.
Mr. Wasenko was our Grand Marshal is 2024 and we are excited to have him back year after year.