Your biggest smile in the Fcar

The first time I gave my dad a ride.

 

Taking my 5 year old for a great drive to the historic ferrari races at lime rock, and having a spirited run on the track during a "parade" drive.

 

Getting to ride in my favorite automobile of all time, the 550 Maranello. O yea it was my first ride in a Ferrari too. So times it by 2

 

Bringing it to work for the first time, and proving to my coworkers that the car was not a figment of my imagination!

 

Finally getting my Mom to drive it. She refused to for 7 years - scared she was going to "hurt" it.

 

Watching my wife drive it. Very sexy!!

 

When it came off the transport truck dropped it off at a remote location becuase the bigrig was to big. Open road, noone around, just me and my camera, signed the paper he drove off. I walked around it, and let it warm up, rev the motor a couple of times, sat there is awe and drove away. I couldnt get out of the car for hours until i almost ran out of gas. I dont think i can ever get a moment like that again.

 

Either:

1. The freezing cold morning in Knoxville TN when I first saw it parked outside Mike Grande's (seller) garage,

or

2. The freezing cold afternoon in Winston-Salem, NC when I saw it arrive in Brad Owen's transporter at my home.


I look back on the pictures like a proud papa.

 

the first bj I got in it. sorry

 

Big Al, how did you fit a Black Jack table in your car?

 

Last fall while doing 78 in a 55 when the CHP pulled up next to me and gave me the 'slow down' sign with one hand. That was the best! I gave him a thank you waive and he gave me a thumbs-up.

 

Driving the car to work for the first time and proving my point that the 355 is a helluva car compared to my Partner's new 5-series which costs about the same...In Malaysia that is..( took a vote among our staff...355: 17 hands, 530i : Nil )

 

Whats it like driving a Ferrari in Aisa? Is everyone respectful of the car and the fact that you own it?

 

Took a friend's 12 year old car nut nephew on a cruise. Found an industrial area, and did a couple of 0-60 runs with my new G-Timer device. Seeing his face after a 4.65 second run was like seeing myself at 12 watching my first Top Fuel runs. Went by his friend's house and did a good burnout for him, then let him shift 1-2 at speed a couple of times. He said he bets he's the only 12 year old boy at his school who has shifted a Ferrari.
The whole thing made my day and his.

 

SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT IN MY 308, A 911 PULLS UP ALONG SIDE OF US. MY BUDDY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT COMMENTS TO ME ON HOW TALL THE 911 IS COMPARED TO THE 308. HE THEN ROLLS DOWN THE WINDOW, AND YELLS TO THE 911 OWNER - 'NICE SUV'!!!!
LAUGHED TIL OUR FACES HURT ...........

 

Awesome, just plain awesome.

 

So many great times in the short time I've had mine!

One was watching my Dad reach for something to hold onto the first time I took him into 3 digits.

Another was taking my nephew on a weekend trip with "the club" and hearing him talk about it STILL.

The last was just funny. I pulled up at a stoplight next to some kids in an SUV. The driver rolled down his window and asked "what does it have under the hood?". I reached down and hit the passenger window switch only to have it drop about 1/2" and stop dead. We both started laughing and the light turned green.

Oh yeah, this one was pretty good too!..http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30579

 

Yup. Ditto here.

Second biggest smile: when I sold it.

 

The day I first saw my Ferrari just after delivery was emotional. My dad, a jet pilot & true car guy, had just died & soon after gave me my pristine black 328. We were both smiling that day.

 

Generally speaking, people in Asia have an affinity towards cars and Ferraris are one of the revered brands, the other being the P-car. Don't have to flash or honk when you need to overtake, they will allow you to pass and to reciprocate you give two parps on the horn...( These WILL bring about big silly grins from yours truly everytime..a feel good factor of 11/10)

They respect the exotics and as long as you don't act like a wuss, like speeding by roadside stalls/cafe (we have a lot here )..and other boy-recerish stuff, most ppl will look on and give the thumbs up/ wave.

 

My first trip out with the club my dad and I drove up north to meet our Canukian friends and proceeded down a winding road called Chukanut Drive. With the top off of the car we were assulted by the screaming of passing 355's and 360's. At the end of the road it flattens out into a valley where the road stretches out for about 5 miles straight.

Furiously rowing the gear shift I was able to pace some of the other cars while my dad shot video out the windshield. At one point halfway across the valley, moving at a brisk pace, my dad asked how fast we were going, I answered 110 MPH. He said, "Huh, feels like 60 in the Honda". This from a 76 year old.

I had to smile at the beaming smile on his face when we pulled into town. Just like a big kid.

 

Wow...there are so many huge smiles and great moments.....

One of my favorites was when I was being chased by a vette and we were about head to head...then we came to a long sweeping turn and I put my faith in the 355: I went through that long turn so fast and yet the car felt like it was attached to the asphalt on rails. The vette had to slow down, but the Ferrari just pulled through like an engineering marvel. I came out of the turn well ahead of him, dropped a gear and let the big dog eat...the exhaust screamed and I felt the rush. That's when I knew I had bought something far more then a status symbol. I knew I had got what I had paid for.

 

This is only part 1 of a great big smile, I'll let you know when part 2 comes. Long story short, a truly great friend threw me the keys to his 512m and let me take it out. A rare Ferrari 512m was my responsibility for its well-being. I was in the drivers seat, I was in control with no passenger. A very big smile.

another part 1...

same owner let me drive his 355 into the Concorso Italiano grounds in the morning hours, while he tended to his Dino clear across the golf course. As I made my way into the 355 corale and parked, a sweet girl shivering from the cool breeze walked over to the rear of the car and began to warm herself from the heat rising from the rear deck. I got out and she said, "I just want to warm up from your car for a moment" I smiled, had this really hillarious thought to what she said, and replied, "please, by all means"

I was able to capture one on film. I look like a dork though.
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I think its funny how your friend bashed a 911 and you two are in a 308. Thats all i got to say.