| Author | Message | ||
| Ron (Easy_rider)
Member Username: Easy_rider Post Number: 619 Registered: 12-2002 |
JEEEEESSSSSUUUUUSSSS JL, where have you been? We've missed you around here.  | ||
| Jean-Louis (Jlm348)
Member Username: Jlm348 Post Number: 619 Registered: 11-2002 |
DES I loved all six parts can not wait till our paths cross again. JLM | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5454 Registered: 8-2002 |
Sunny, it was a great time; i look forward to returning and once again, getting together... Bob, unfortunately, i don't think i'll be able to make it to Montreal, however, if things change, i have your number and will most certainly give you a call... Thanks for the offer... | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 697 Registered: 2-2003 |
I had an incredible time and finally had a chance to meet a wondeful batch of people, thanks to F-chat and everyone who made it happen. Dan, Tom, Byron.. thank you especially for your company and friendship on the long weekend drives.. I can't wait to do it again. Sunny | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
Member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 280 Registered: 7-2002 |
Des, I'll be in Montreal during the end of August. Come on up. We'll rent a cool car and do the scene. But...what happens in Montreal, stays in Montreal | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5441 Registered: 8-2002 |
LOL, John, i can't get it out of my mind... Rob will surely delete my account once i leave, so i won't come back and spongewhatever bandwidth he has left; he's probably getting letters from the FCC about internet violations and such... He continues to send me hate mail under an assumed name... | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Intermediate Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 1125 Registered: 1-2002 |
>>Is he going to be able to keep up with these Ferraris?� I thought; had I only known.<< >>So where�s Hubert�? I searched high and low in the rearview mirror, but to no avail. That�s because he was riding right next to us. At one point, we were on a one-lane road that got really twisty. JL blasted through the turns, ensuring that no one, not even the 360 would keep up; lo and behold, Hubert was so close behind us, he might as well have been in the car with us�! The dude can drive to say the least. If he wasn�t right behind us at any point during the drive, it was because he was in front of us.<< I'm blushing, thanks Des. PS: Good to meet you, too bad we didn't shoot the •••• for longer than we did. Next time though. Ack, stop, Byron, I already hear you... "...well, if you would've come to the launch party..." I know, I know. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 780 Registered: 3-2002 |
DES, The French Quarter Concourso awaits you here in Nawlins!!! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5440 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jordan, Byron, Martin, BobD, et al: thank you, but the praise should really go towards everyone on the other coast who made my trip so awesome... Sunny, Tom is right, we owe you large; come out here, i'll speed around in the Saturn - in fact, Bring Bob with you, he can chip some paint off my bumper if he'd like. Thanks everyone for being patient with my posting of each part. Pictures will go up today or tomorrow... Let's hope Forza will publish this... Everyone cross your fingers... | ||
| chris cummings (Entelechy)
Member Username: Entelechy Post Number: 384 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bravo DES! | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 5349 Registered: 5-2001 |
Byron I told you over and over: You upshift not: 1-2-3-4-5 and then into R for RALLY!  | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 1581 Registered: 12-2002 |
Another great recap! Thanks for the kind words DES and Martin...You guys were both a lot of fun! The happiest day of my life will be when I get my Ferrari and am able to give those people who have done so much to help me live a dream a ride in my own car Dan, hurry up and move out here! | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Intermediate Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 1011 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bird... sorry 'bout that... you'll have to share DES with the rest of the world. He is a celebrity now. | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Intermediate Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 1010 Registered: 10-2002 |
Tranny problems? Last I checked, the gearbox was done!! Thanks to the generous efforts of a few Fchatters (CARL - you rock!!, Matt, Sunny)... I may have the car on the road as early as this thursday or friday!! Martin, I'll send you the bill. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 5337 Registered: 5-2001 |
Fraeulein, you can still be "friends" long distance! | ||
| Schnelles Fr�ulein (Miss_m_treiber)
Junior Member Username: Miss_m_treiber Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2003 |
hey Byron, don't remind him about moving! | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 5331 Registered: 5-2001 |
...makes you even forget you have tranny problems, right?  | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Intermediate Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 1009 Registered: 10-2002 |
DES - The pleasure was definitely ours. To reiterate what Martin said: >>DES's enthusiasm makes me enjoy Ferrari and Ferrari ownership so much more. Positive vibes from DES spill over to each of us and touch us, make us apprechiate what we have and will have.<< I'd like to second those thoughts. At the end of the day, all we're talking about is a car. However, the ownership of such a car has surrounded me with some of the most incredible people I've ever met. I'm glad we were able to give you the "time of your life" and can't wait for your next trip (and possibly move?) out to California. Hopefully, we can all learn from your experience here and really appreciate all that we have, live life to every moment, and cherish all the memories we make. Forza Ferrari, DES. Thanks for your reminder. | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 582 Registered: 3-2002 |
DES: Nice writing of your fantastic time. Sounds like everyone was nice to you. We want to see your pics. What about when you were picked "up" at the airport ? I enjoyed reading your posts. | ||
| Brian Saligman (Brisalig)
Junior Member Username: Brisalig Post Number: 131 Registered: 8-2002 |
DES, super job buddy. I loved reading about your trip. Glad you had such a great time. Your writing is also great! | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 922 Registered: 11-2001 |
Excellent writing, DES! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all 6 parts. You are blessed with a wonderful and gifted talent for communicating your thoughts, emotions, and experiences into words -- and your words paint a spectacular picture of reality that captures the reader -- much like an artist does with his brush (especially the way in which you ended your essay compositionally -- very good choice of words). If I were you, I'd definitely persue contributing to various car publications....especially with your passion for fine automobiles....it would be a dream job come true! It's also great to hear about the wonderful time all of you had with the Ferraris. | ||
| "The Don" (The_don)
Senior Member Username: The_don Post Number: 6182 Registered: 8-2002 |
Martin, Well said. I am looking forward to September | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 5322 Registered: 5-2001 |
Marion asked me on our way to LA who DES was. I kept on telling her who was coming and the relations to these people. That DES guy fascinated here. Well, the second we all met I knew why people loved DES. He is a true character. Friendly, outgoing, a true fan of exotics, lots of fun to talk to, hang out with and just a plain good guy. People are drawn to him and now I know why. Reading this recap again puts it all in perspective. DES's enthusiasm makes me enjoy Ferrari and Ferrari ownership so much more. Positive vibes from DES spill over to each of us and touch us, make us apprechiate what we have and will have. I know DES and Jordan will have thier own Ferraris soon. If you condition your mind your goals will become reality. I am patiently waiting for the day DES will give me a ride in NY and Jordan will give me a ride in LA. Till then my friends you are always welcome to get a ride in Miami! | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1388 Registered: 3-2001 |
When Peter Egan retires from Road & Track (Side Glances), I thing we should submit DES's name to take over! Great reading. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 4237 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sunny really did sacrifice his record for us - we owe him when he comes to the East coast, thanks again Sunny | ||
| Kuzi (Kzma)
Member Username: Kzma Post Number: 306 Registered: 3-2003 |
Great culmination to what seems like an incredible weekend. Great job Des! | ||
| Alex Lee (Alxlee)
Junior Member Username: Alxlee Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2002 |
DES, I can actually hear the Greenday song "Good Riddance (Time of your life)" playing in the background right now. Can't wait to see the pics! | ||
| Matt (Matt_lamotte)
Member Username: Matt_lamotte Post Number: 462 Registered: 10-2002 |
Congrats on the trip bud. Sounds like an experience you will never forget. | ||
| Pat Pasqualini (Enzo)
Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 798 Registered: 2-2002 |
Excellent Story DES | ||
| "The Don" (The_don)
Senior Member Username: The_don Post Number: 6172 Registered: 8-2002 |
Complete Recap http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/227687/287853.html?1058967553 | ||
| "The Don" (The_don)
Senior Member Username: The_don Post Number: 6170 Registered: 8-2002 |
well done Dan | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5430 Registered: 8-2002 |
Pictures will be soon, folks, i apologize for the delay... | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5429 Registered: 8-2002 |
Sunny, Byron, Tom and I were the first ones to arrive in the park, immediately accompanied by Tenney in a Rosso Barchetta 360 Challenge. Tenney was very hospitable in letting me take pictures and even let me sit in his car. A few minutes later, JL showed up, followed by Rick & Valerie only a short time after. Jordan and his brother Brian showed up in Jordan�s white Mustang right after Steve pulled in, in his 355 Spider, top down, dog panting out of the passenger�s side window. Lastly, Amanda pulled up in a black Corvette. Then I heard this low, blaring muffler. I instantly recognized it. I hear it all the time back in NY. It sounded just like an import with an aftermarket exhaust that you can hear from 4 blocks away. 4 blocks later, in pulls Hubert Otlick with his friend Kier, in a Honda Prelude. �Is he going to be able to keep up with these Ferraris?� I thought; had I only known. Phone calls were made as to where we would meet up with Ron and then Bob. Once everyone was in agreement with the itinerary and meeting points, we were off. �Hey, JL�, I called out, �do you have a passenger�?� �Uh, no�� he said. �Do you want one�?� I asked. �Sure, hop right in�!� Awesome! I immediately replaced the empty space in his passenger�s seat with myself and away we went. A short time later, we met Ron and his wife, at a gas station. A few cars filled up, others just parked and as we all got out and mingled. A quick use of the bathroom or a beverage purchase finalized our pit stop and once again, we were on our way. Once we freed ourselves from the grip of traffic, the drive was a blast. JL stayed ahead of the pack for a majority of the ride up to Santa Barbara to meet Bob. Ever present, however, were Rick and Valerie in the 360, always looming in the rearview mirror. Further down the line, I could count the cars: Ron in the Mondial, Amanda and Byron in the black Corvette with the Jaguar immediately behind; Steve couldn�t join us, but drove with us to the freeway. Tenney was busy and couldn�t make it either. Bringing up the rear was Jordan and Brian in the Mustang. So where�s Hubert�? I searched high and low in the rearview mirror, but to no avail. That�s because he was riding right next to us. At one point, we were on a one-lane road that got really twisty. JL blasted through the turns, ensuring that no one, not even the 360 would keep up; lo and behold, Hubert was so close behind us, he might as well have been in the car with us�! The dude can drive to say the least. If he wasn�t right behind us at any point during the drive, it was because he was in front of us. Pictures and words can only throw together a collage of ideas of how gorgeous the landscape was. You have to be there, you have to see it for yourself. It was great. There was a one-lane-each-way, very twisty road we all went on and, save for the times we were stuck behind some slow-moving vehicles, the roller coaster-type ride was fabulous. There�s nothing quite like the feeling of a Ferrari on an open road. Of course, JL�s driving didn�t hurt, either. After some very spirited driving, we met up with Bob in Santa Barbara. There he was, sitting in his 355 Spider, waiting for the rest of us. One by one, we all pulled over behind Bob, so the drivers could communicate and a new plan could be made as to where we would be going from there. Neatly filed on the side of the road was a line of sports cars from a Prelude to a 360. It was definitely a pleasant sight for any onlooker who passed. Back in the cars, we all followed Bob� um� as best we could. Have you ever gone to Beverly Hills as a tourist�? You know those maps you can buy, that give you an exact route to take, to see all the celebrities� houses�? Well, I think Bob has one of those, except it doesn�t have celebrity homes on it; it has the location of all the windiest roads in California. So it shouldn�t take Sherlock Holmes to guess where he took us; we immediately found ourselves on a road that had virtually no straights, whatsoever. I think everyone�s steering wheels got a workout that afternoon. This continued for a while until we stopped briefly, so those who were behind, could catch up. There, the decision was made to relocate to The Enterprise Fish Company for a bite to eat. As quickly as we sat down, we had to get up; Tom realized it was getting late and that we had quite a ride in front of us, to get to our respective airports. Sunny decided he would part from the group and give us both a ride to each airport. And so it was time to leave. One by one, I gave my thanks and, regretfully, my goodbyes to all the wonderful people I had met. I�d like to say the weekend was about the cars, but it really wasn�t; it was about the people. Sure I drove a Ferrari for the first time in my life, but Ron�s kindness and generosity that allowed it to happen only made it that much better. Same thing with Bob; he didn�t have to make my second experience in the driver�s seat so good � especially considering his car came back with less paint than it left with � he was just as enthusiastic about me driving his car as I was. Matt, JL, Sunny, Byron, Steve et al � these guys didn�t have to be so kind to me and Tom and Martin and Marian; the hospitality, the kindness, the generosity, it all came swirling together blending a shared passion for cars and a great time. The theme of the weekend was Ferraris but the memories of a lifetime are the people. They�re what made it so awesome. Reluctantly, once in the parking lot, I enclosed myself within the tinted windows of the backseat of a Jaguar, like some hated politician cowering from an angry public. My heart is in California and it�ll stay there until I�m able to return for it. Time was of the essence and the �hurry up and wait� tension of traffic showed little signs of a checkered flag in our race against time to make our flights. Unfortunately, Sunny sacrificed a perfect driving record so both Tom and I would have sufficient time to check in. My airport was the first stop and I exited the car only a few feet from where I had been picked up just 48 hours prior. I lamented at knowing that the easy-going, carefree smiles of the airport employees would be replaced by hard-faced, defensive glares once I landed back in NY. Still, with my boarding pass in hand, I walked on air to my gate, recalling the great times I just had. From Massapequa to Pasadena; from Sunrise Highway to the Sunset Strip; from Long Island to Long Beach. I traveled from one end of the country to the other; 3,000 miles across a country filled with almost 300 million people. At the other end, I met a tiny handful of those people; unbelievably nice people who made dreams come true. A lifetime of anticipation, all cashed in for 48 hours of unreal reality. A year short of a quarter century of existence met with a weekend of living. The time of my life. |