FOG Rally: There's always that one apple...

Being an automobile enthusiast I was very pleasantly surprised to find a seemingly endless caravan of Ferrari's rolling past the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills last Saturday. Being that we needed to travel west on Whilshire the plan was to make a right out of the hotel and a u-turn at Crescent. For whatever reason we did not complete the u-turn but rather proceded down Crescent and then turned back towards Whilshire. Rather then interupt the caravan I suggested to my friend in the vehicle in front of me that we make a right on Whilshire and immediatly proceed to the middle lane.

We waited for a break in the line and did just that. Anticipating a left turn at Santa Monica the vehicle I was following moved to the left lane, it was at this point that a convertable Ferrari in front of me (middle lane) decided to stop and converse with someone in the FOG caravan occupying the right hand lane. Not to worry, I could still see my friends vehicle. I'm familiar with caravaning and assumed that the driver in front of me was attempting to merge with the rest of the FOG group. I waited patiantly until a gap was opened for the driver in front...which he simply ignored only to move forward and converse with another driver.

This guy proceded to pull the same manuever over and over again as we travelled along Whilshire. Meanwhile, he is impeeding traffic from clearing the intersection behind us and forcing anyone heading west on Whilshire to use a single lane even though he was given numerous opportunities to merge by other FOG drivers.

We made eye contact numerous times via his rearview mirror, he was well aware of the commotion he was creating. It was several blocks before I finally hit my horn (hit not layed on) and raised the palms of my hands in a "C'mon man, work with me here" motion. His reply was to look in his rearview and slowly extend the middle finger of his right hand which was resting behind the passenger seat head rest as he exhaled cigar smoke grinning.

Stay classy FOG.

 

Hi Chivo,

I'm sorry to hear about what sounds like a very frustrating experience you had during your encounter with our caravan. This is not the kind of impression FOG wishes to leave with anyone. As the driver who was leading that caravan I offer my sincere apologies for how you were affected.

 

I second Vraiments comments and extend my appologies as well. Not Cool. If you could pm either one of us with additional information about the car/driver we could speak with the individual regarding their actions and how it reflects upon the group.

 

Chivo....
Im so sorry to hear about your experience.... This is not in any way the characteristics of any of our members at FOG....
Although, thanks for bringing this up so we can all be aware next time.

k

 

Well,

A Ferrari spider
Middle age
Smoking cigars
Has a middle finger.

It sounds like me, but I was not even in LA.

Sorry for the bad experience.

 

That is unfortunate, it is a solid group of people.

Maybe you mistook Tom with his tiparillo's and Jess blowing kisses to the paparazzi?

 

...but no spider. Sorry about that.

I can be relied on to do them oter tings though.

 

I appreciate it. It wouldn't have been nearly as frustrating if a member of our party hadn't made a comment about "exotic car owners creating a traffic situation with their "parade" to which I quickly assured her that these caravans are usually well orgainised and designed to minimize the impact on other road goers. Due to this knucklehead I quickly failed the red faced test on that one. I Understand the difficulty associated with organizing such an event and getting it to go off without a hitch which is why as a chance spectator I was disappointed to encounter someone detracting from an otherwise (seemingly) well orgainised charitable event. It detracts from the spirit of your endevour.

Thanks. Sounds like you guys located the culprit.

I understand where you're coming from however, as a spectator all I had to go by was the FOG sticker on the offending vehicle which unfortunately to an outsider puts the whole of your group in a bad light. As stated in the thread title, I understand that it only takes one idiot to F things up for everyone. While I have taken the time to bring the situation to the attention of FOG I can assure you I was not the only driver frustrated with the situation that day.

Definatly too large of a ring gage to be a tiparillo. Guy was rather rotund, balding, female passenger, sunglasses. Honestly central casting couldn't have done better if you asked them to provide what hollywood might depict as a "villianous expensive car driver".

Not sure if you're serious, but I would expect you owe FOG a bigger appology than you do me.

The bottom line here is that situations like this impact not only future FOG rallies but any car club caravan. And lets face it, not everyone out there is an enthusiast willing (or sometimes even able) to differentiate one car club from another so in some regard any caravan failure is a failure for us all.

I for one hope your future endevours are free from this type of situation because it really was an enjoyable surprise and quite a sight to see.

 

Classy response.

 

...my comment was meant to enlighten the circumstance with a bit of humor.

Most of the FOGsters know me an a rogue, irreverent, and one who enjoys bringing a knife to a gun fight. I am not beyond showing someone that they are number one. I like the good cigar.

I think your concerns have been sincerely addressed and I will only ask that you allow me to be in charge of who I owe apologies to.

For me---Friends are those who: When you have made a fool of yourself, you know you have not done a permanent job. My jesters hat fits fine thanks.

Easily more good was done by FOG than could be erased by this momentary lapse in decorum.

Look to the big picture and ask yourself if in 10 years -will the ""bad apple incident"" matter?, when these children effected by the possible good done may have a different future because of a balding fellow with a big cigar, and like suited philanthropic minds.

 

Dayum, chivo, it really sounds like you were severely traumatized. Please allow me as someone who wasn't there but lives within 10 miles of Beverly Hills to offer my most sincere apologies as well. I can't bear the thought that you might look poorly on my fair city and it's mean streets, due to this most heinous act, unfairly perpetrated against you. How will you ever survive without those 4 minutes? Of course, please excuse me if this horrible and costly delay caused you to arrive at the Whilshire library, one minute after it closed......

How long did it take you to find this forum, register and post? Life is too short, chivo.

 

You know, I really thought that things had been handled in a very cool manner but...

Like I said, not sure if you were serious about taking credit for it. Apparently suggesting you owe the FOG an appology ruffled your feathers. If it were you than I can respect you for maning up to it. Clearly my concern was addressed and I thanked those individuals for it, in fact that was the reason I took the time out to respond. If you're the guilty party and you think thats cool behavior it's your perogative to argue that point all day, doesn't mean I have to agree with it. We can go back and forth on that point for as long as you want.

I enjoy a good cigar, and rarely hesitate to fly the single fingured salute when I believe I've been wronged, difference is, I don't go out of my way to inconvience others on the roadway and then try and justify it as "mid-life shenanigans" flipping the bird to those I've just offended. "It's cool man, I'm just a rougue, a modern day pirate, it's endearing when I act like a complete ass, my friends love me for it."

Ask yourself right now, does being involved in a philanthropic event grant me the right to inconvenience others?

Traumitized no. Inconvenienced? Yes. As stated I was following someone from out of town, out of country in fact. It made it very difficult to locate this guy again. Not sure why you feel the need to chime in anyways? Did I say anything derogatory about Beverly Hills? Like you said, you wern't there, don't even live in the city, so I'm curious as to why you feel the need to pull your own chain.

Make no mistake about it, I was NOT the only one frustrated by what happened. So far as taking the time to find this site and join to create this thread, about as long as it takes to drink my morning coffee at work.


I will reiterate, I appreciate the sincere responses and I trust that those individuals understand that the intent of the thread was to highlight an incident that reflected poorly upon the group as a whole. If it were my group, I'd want to know about it so that I might address the situation. If you're a member of the FOG group and you're cool with that kind of image than I guess there is nothing else to discuss.

 

Vraiment,

Sent you a couple of PM's but my sent message count shows 0. Not sure if you received them.

 

Got 'em

 

Really?

 

Chivo, at this stage, what do you seek to accomplish? You joined FerrariChat apparently to help FOG with it's public perception. For that we are grateful. But understand that this is a public forum and anyone, including you, can post here. Several of the posts on this thread have been made by individuals who are not affiliated with FOG and/or were not in Beverly Hills last Saturday. So, I will express my appreciation for your concern for our group and our charity once again and please rest assured that this incident is not representative of our group and its mission. I do not control the content of this site, but hopefully we can put this to rest.

 

It was explained to me via pm after the last email exchanges that some of the replies were from members outside of FOG. If you read my replies you can see that it wasn't/isn't my intent to flog this dead horse. As stated, I had a concern, voiced it, received replies and was content to leave it at that. I hope you too can understand why I might feel the need to reply to posts within the thread I created particularly if thay are inflamitory in nature. After all, I have no idea who is a member of your group and who isn't. Such is the nature of a social forum.

I hope this answers your question.

 

Let's change this thread. The group has apologized. Let's talk about some of the extraordinarily generous contributions of some of the FOG members. Personally I liked when Bob and Kai doubled up their bid on the dinner. That was great.

 

What about that guy who paid all that money for a watch?

 

Stop busting my balls.

 

Agreed. I would like to thank all the members of FOG who donated literally thousands of hours collectively to make the rally and the subsequent money raised and donated to help the kids at Opprotunity Impact to have a better life this coming year and hopefully a life long impact on their quality of life.

Sledge, it could be on your wrist right now if your intestinal fortitude was stronger than the wife of the man currently wearing that watch!

 

How do you manage to drive on LA roads when minor interactions such as this twist you like this?

Do you write 17 complaint letters per month as well?

 

Whats the matter princess? Didn't daddy hug you enough? You need attention this badly?

Guess every sites gotta have it's douchbags.

 

I knew from the get-go i was bidding a losing proposition. She had that look, and I know that look, we all know that look. The last few bids I place were to get the price up a little bit

 

I vote to end this thead. Its tarnishing what was an awesome, incredible event.

Can a moderator please shut this one down. The issue has been aired, and apologies made.