First ride!!!

My 17-year old son and I both had our first ride in a Ferrari this past weekend, thanks to the generosity of the fine folks at Sport Auto in Summerfield, NC, in particular Steven Jones who is one of the nicest and most unassuming persons I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Steven took my son and I each on a, shall I say, spirited ride through the beautiful countryside in Summerfield in this incredible and ridiculously fast '92 512 TR and it was a ride neither my son and I will ever forget! My son rode first and when they returned I could tell from the look on his face that it was something extraordinary. He was beaming and literally shaking with excitement. "Nice car Dad" was about all he could get out.

I jumped in the passenger seat next and I just couldn't have been more amazed at the fantastic sound of those 12-cylinders when the rpms were let loose. We crept out of the parking lot slowly, the warm autumn sun beaming down on the twisty and picturesque country road ahead of us, and I was thinking, "ok, I'm finally in a Ferrari...it's a dream come true...this is so absolutely amazing...am I dreaming??!...the smell of the leather is intoxicating...the sounds coming from behind our seats is indescribable but just what is it that people get so excited about a Ferrar..." WHOOOP!!! Steven pushed down on the throttle and rapidly goes through the gears, sending us flying down the road at an enthusiastic pace as he expertly demonstrated what a Ferrari is all about. I was speechless, totally in sensory overload trying to take it all in: the raw power and acceleration, the tremendous grip and sure-footedness of the handling and those powerful brakes! After several miles of thrilling excess, Steven pulled over into a neighborhood and said, "alright, I hope you're doing ok because you're going to drive us back!".

"Oh!!! My!!! God!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!! YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME DRIVE THIS FERRARI???!!! YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME DRIVE THIS FERRARI TESTAROSSA???!!! THIS 12-CYLINDER BEAST??!!! OK!!! I'll DO IT!!!

It's difficult to put into words how excited I was to sit behind that wheel, to press on the throttle and hear that beautiful music coming from the exhaust pipes. Instantly addicting. I adjusted the seat and was amazed how easy it was to depress the clutch, expecting it to be much heavier. Couldn't quite figure out how to release the hand brake but Steven was able to walk me through it. The steering caught me by suprise-very heavy when going slowly but once we started going and got up to speed it was like driving a go-cart: very VERY quick and nimble, instantly responsive. So responsive that it made me even more nervous than I already was but it was something I realized would take getting used to. As we pulled out to the road, I asked Steven if we should go left or right. He said turning to the right would be the longer way back so you know which way I went.

The whole way back I had to keep telling myself I wasn't dreaming. Steven's enthusiasm inspired confidence and his calm voice assured me that I was doing ok and that I was, in fact, driving a Testarossa.

Words fail me. I have never in my life had as much fun as I did driving that amazing machine back to Sport Auto. I'm 43-years old and told my wife that by the time I'm 50 I wanted to at least sit in a Ferrari. That dream also came true at Sport Auto, last year, when I sat in a 308GTS. So I raised the bar to at least drive a Ferrari by the time I reach 50. Thanks to Steven and Sport Auto again, I've realized that dream this weekend.

Lord willing and the river don't rise, I'll be behind the wheel of my own Ferrari by the time I reach that '50' milestone, giving someone else the ride of their life!!!

I highly recommend that if you're ever in the area, anywhere even remotely close to Summerfield, NC, stop by and pay Steven, Steve Barney, Darrell Kimrey and their staff a visit. You'll be glad you did.

Steven, if you read this, please allow me to thank you again for your hospitality and for the memories you helped create for both my son and I. It was literally a dream come true! It'll be several weeks before I get this grin off my face!

 

Congratulations...! That's an awesome story...! Steve Barney's a nice guy - i've never met Steve Jones, but, working for Barney, i'm not surprised that he was anything but nice...

So now you're screwed, you know that...? You're going to think about that drive every day; and, after a while, you're going to start going through withdrawl; you're gonna NEED to feel it again... You're going to need the acceleration; you'll feign for the sound of the engine ferociously rising to redline in between the metallic clink of the gear shift... Yeah... You're screwed...

Congratulations.

 

it pains me to read these posts cause i still havent had a ride yet.

congrats though

 

Just wait until you drive a Ferrari race car and you will think it was pale in comparison. I used to race Mini Coopers, and the first time I drive a Ferrari race car (340MM spider), it scared the **** out of me!

 

Congrats on your first Ferrari experience! It's safe to say that just about everyone here remembers in vivid detail their first F-car ride and/or drive. Now, the only downside is that your Ferrari enthusiasm will transform into an fiery obsession.

 

Great post!

Your officially addicted now, and theres no turning back

 

Stuart,

Was it 030MT by chance?

Regards,

Art S.

 

That is a great story and I am glad they did that. Your son will be damaged (in a good way ) for ever!!

It has always been hard for my wife to understand what all the fuss is about a Ferrari and italian cars. So two Saturdays ago I took my wife to the Ferrari dealer here in Central Florida. She sat in a 360, 355, Testarossa, and a new Maserati coupe and also saw a 360 CS. All I can say is that she understands now... she could not believe the quality of the interior in these cars. The leather, the seats, the overall feel of metal and leather. She was very impressed by the lines (of course I was pointing out details and giving additional pointers)... Comments from here were "My God! This is like our living room decoration but inside a car!! The leather, the lines! Wow!!"

We were both amazed at the sale guy. We had our two year old with us and he is crazy about cars (not sure where he gets that ) And here I was trying to avoid Daniel touching any of the cars and the sales guy was like, "please, let him sit inside... and no problem with him touching the cars, we have someone that cleans them a couple of times a day..."

Mind you that as we entered the dealer I was very straight forward with the guy to let him know that we were there just to show my wife what a Ferrari was all about and that we had no intention of buying.

 

NNO- you're absolutely correct: I'm ruined now! No other vehicle will suffice in my life from this point on. I may have to take up skydiving to experience that thrill again.

 

Glad you had a fun ride. Yup, you should be addicted! I really enjoy giving young people a ride in my 308, especially kids that don't have a clue what they will do in life. Two kids in particular (18 & 19) that I gave rides to this year are now working their butts off and saving their money. Prior to the ride they lounged around at home all day playing XBOX and getting stoned. Both stated that they see the importance to have goals, as I did when I was their age.

 

Santini,

I am happy to read that you had a great time driving the car. I can remember the first time I rode in a Ferrari. It is etched into my mind forever!

Again you and your son are more than welcome to come back anytime and hang out and talk Ferraris.I had a great time as well, and I love being able to share the Ferrari passion with fellow enthusiasts.

Ciao'

Steven Jones
www.sportauto.cc

 

awesome story! Sounds like a great time ^_^

I'm screwed too! Earlier this year some friends in LA let me drive their 2003 360 Spider thru the twisties in Topanga Canyon. To make matters better or worse they invited me to go to the factory tour. We went to the factory last month on the 20th and now I am really screwed Its not a matter of wanting one I need one >_< droool heheee
Hopefully I'll be able to get a used 360 soon.

Cheers,

 

Oh Man I couldnt help but smile as I read that. Very very very qoole in my book. I await the day I get my first ride in an exotic.

 

Excellent story, I too not that long ago became addicted to the Ferrari thing. I love my newly purchased 308 and the sound it makes.
Hopefully you will be able to enjoy that feeling again.

Happy for both you and your son!!

 

The first time I rode in a Ferrari I was the driver.
It was a 308 GTSi.
Parade laps at the local race track during the Historic/Vintage weekend.
I had to drive in my socks because my feet were too big to hit one pedal at a time.
I bought my own GTS five months later.

A year after I bought my Oldslow308 I traded cars with a friend of mine to demonstrate what the Tubi exhaust sounded like on his Testarossa. He in my 308 with the top off, me in his TR, rolling at 50 MPH. Hanging back a ways I dropped down two gears and nailed it. I blew by him, going through the gears and rapping it out to 6800. By the time I shut it down I was a quarter mile away and over 100 MPH.

Screwed? Yes I'm screwed. A good screwed.
After that day I look at my 308 and enjoy it's beauty and handling but nothing will satisfy me again until I aquire a 12 cylinder Ferrari. PERIOD!.

I'm not 50 yet but close. Will I have a TR then? Probably not but I will have one before I die. In the mean time I will have fun getting there.

Welcome to the club Santini. It's a good thing.

 

congratulations! that is one of the best experiences i have ever read...far better than mine! it was a fun read and maybe by 60 your dream could be to OWN a ferrari! i'd say you have gotten a good start!

 

That story where really great!! If I got the chance to visit Sport Auto I would totaly freak out... It's a shop nearby me, and they have a Lamborghini Diablo there!! I was actually going to look at det Ferrari 360 Modena (black) they had, but he had sold it... But he opened the engine cover and ass I was looking at that V12 engine i thought i was dreaming... I got the chance to sit in it to!!! But maby I will be able to get a drive in it as well! He also has a De Tomaso Pantera in his shop! And this is Norway!