Racing-team veteran routes social traffic for car condo
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - by Cathy Weselby
Dennis G. Hendricks
Diana
Mazza, who worked for a racing team as well as the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, brings her expertise to San Jose’s Club Auto Sport. “Anything
car oriented — I can make it happen,” Mazza says.
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Most people think of event planners as people who arrange tables and chairs and write seating charts. Not so with Diana Mazza, club director for San Jose's car condo facility, Club Auto Sport. Mazza drives the social events for Club Auto Sport and is more likely to be assigning pole positions for the club's open track events.
"Everyone tells me, 'You have the best job,' " Mazza says.
Gracious and energetic are just two of the words that come to mind upon meeting Mazza. As the club director for Club Auto Sport, she is responsible for the club's monthly social events, driving days, private parties and charity fund-raisers. Right now, she's vigorously planning Club Auto Sport's grand opening, scheduled for May 29.
The party will be a fundraiser for the Canary Foundation -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to the early detection of cancer -- and the first time Club Auto Sport is opening its doors. Mazza says there will be exotic cars and exquisite food and wine, along with unique raffle prizes such as a day's rental of a Bentley.
Hospitality and auto racing go hand-in-glove for Mazza. She was previously the event coordinator for the racing teams of Della Penna Motorsports and Kelley Racing, media room and hospitality coordinator for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and most recently group operations manager for a large meetings and incentive company in Chicago.
Commercial real estate developer Ralph Borelli of Borelli Investments and mechanical contractor John Davis, founder of Air Systems Inc., recruited Mazza to handle the social events and oversee the concierge services for the club's members.
"Diana worked for a race team for seven years in Indy and knows a lot about cars, can communicate with vendors and secure the right hospitality places, as well as she's very organized," Davis says.
The vision of Club Auto Sport is to have a secure place for car collectors to store their vehicles, as well as a place to socialize with like-minded racing enthusiasts. The club will hold monthly social events for members to meet and mingle. It also plans NASCAR Sundays, with seven plasma televisions in the lounge airing sporting events.
Club Auto Sport is teaming up with Hooked on Driving to hold open track events at Laguna Seca Raceway. The group will have exclusive use of the track and catered meals.
"It's quite an upscale event," Mazza says.
Social events for the summer include a Parkinson's Institute fundraiser in June, an event for Ballet San Jose and the California Baron's Ball in September.
Club Auto Sport provides valet service, where car condo owners can have their cars detailed and get basic maintenance services such as checking fluids, checking tire pressure and periodically starting the car.
"People have wonderful cars, but they don't have the time to maintain them," Mazza says.
Condo unit owners have 24/7 access to their cars, and they can rent the showroom or state of the art conference room for private events or corporate meetings. There is a full catering kitchen, and Mazza is available to coordinate menus with caterers for a fee.
"From tickets to racing venues to getting your motor coach serviced -- anything car oriented -- I can make it happen," she says.
A racing enthusiast, Mazza drives a Honda Civic EX, but she notes that it has a rear-wing spoiler. Her dream car, however, would be a Maserati.
Mazza says she's glad to have moved from Chicago to Silicon Valley, an energetic place where "things happen." But she has noticed one stark difference from Chicago.
"The stoplights are forever here -- what's up with that?" she says.
Cathy Weselby can be reached at (408) 299-1821 or cweselby@bizjournals.com.
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