By the time Velostrada #1 was being viewed by F-Chatters for the first time, I was already throwing together a few ideas for issue #3.  One of those ideas was the article that would appear in this column to be titled “Details” and accompanied by this photo (showing some of the finer Ferrari details, in my opinion). The subject was to be a congratulatory note for Velostrada after having sorted out the “big stuff” with its first three issues as well as a change of focus toward ironing out all of the little details.  At this point, however, it’s looking like there’s still plenty more of the “big stuff” ahead so I figured, why not just go ahead and use that beautiful photograph?

The change of pace has happened for a couple of reasons: one was the failure of a two of my concepts to materialize as soon as I’d hoped, but the other issue has been a slew of ideas and possibilities that I’m hoping to have time to explore over the next few issues.  Absent from this issue are the planned revolving editorial and technical column.  Even though most of the editorial submissions I’ve received so far have been great reads, none of them have actually been what I would call an editorial.  One of the most opinionated F-Chatters sent me a two-part personal rampage via private message that would have been great but he refuses to let me publish it for fear of the response it would draw.  Heh, heh.  That’s exactly why I want to publish it!  And, as for the tech piece, well, my technical correspondent has been a little busy lately but he assures me that we’re a “go” for Velostrada #3.

I’ve also received gazillions (give or take one or two) of excellent suggestions from readers (yes, we have readers) and would love to implement every single one of them eventually.  For this issue though, we’ve really focused on improving the look and ease of use more than anything, both of which we’ll continue to fine tune as we go.  One of the biggest changes is the move from using Portable Document Format (PDF) to publishing Velostrada on actual Web pages using HTML, a move that has delayed issue #2 by an entire month.  This should make reading Velostrada much more like browsing F-Chat.  We’re also working on giving “V” a permanent place on FerrariChat where it can be accessed more easily.  This comes after having the link to V1 disappear entirely with only 1200 or so users even having the opportunity to see it.  (For those of you who missed it, V1 can be found in PDF format here.)

Anyway, onward and upward.  Thanks and “Welcome” to those whose material is appearing for the first time in this issue.  We were thrilled to learn that Matt Lemus’ from-the-heart confessions in last month’s Second Chances touched a nerve with several readers, enough so that one such reader was moved to open up in a similar fashion for Velostrada #2’s Third, Fourth & Fifth Chances.  At the same time, we’d like to welcome Erik Nielsen on board as a regular contributor with his new column, Classic Collector, in which Erik will deal with the ups, downs, ins and outs of owning and collecting the Ferrari models produced between 1969 and 1989.

As always, we love feedback!  Please feel free to send your questions, suggestions, comments and submissions to [email protected] but be sure to put “Velostrada” in the subject line so that your message doesn’t get thrown out with the garbage.

-LWA