Houston to Toronto | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Houston to Toronto

Discussion in '308/328' started by pgarossino, Jul 30, 2010.

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  1. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,779
    USA
    Full Name:
    Tony K.
    Hi Paul,

    You are welcome to stop here in Toledo either on your way up or back. It would be great to meet a fellow 308 owner from afar. If you have mechanical issues, I can help with just about anything.

    While you are passing through Cincinnati/Dayton, I can recommend MB Classic Sports Cars for 308 service. The owner is a friend, former multiple 308 owner, and has serviced his fair share of them.

    Check your PM box.

    Cheers,

    Tony K.
     
  2. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    #27 pgarossino, Jul 31, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The car is ready, gas tank is full, tools are packed, detailing supplies are on board as is fire extinguisher, extra water, oil etc. I am packing up a clothes bag now and will be leaving bright and early in the morning.

    Here's a shot of the odometer in my driveway. Be interesting to see where it sits when I get back :)
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  3. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 25, 2006
    15,130
    Deep South
    Full Name:
    PDG
    Looking great so far!!!

    Too bad you are coming so far this way and not passing through OKC or Lawton. I would be glad to help out with other recommendations around here if you were.

    Safe travels!


    PDG
     
  4. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Hmmmmmm, I will be in Tulsa overnight visiting friends. I was going to just run down 75 and across to Denton, but I could go through OKC and down to Denton. I'll see how I'm feeling at that point in the trip. Why don't you PM me your cell and I'll ping you when I blast through.
     
  5. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Next updates will be from the road.

    Beautiful morning here in Houston. Good to be on the road before the heat of the day comes on.

    Later...................
    Paul
     
  6. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Just outside Memphis at Longhorns. Baby back ribs mmmmm.

    Car is running great. 670 miles so far today.
     
  7. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    26,655
    Full Name:
    Avvocato
    good going Paul - drive safe , great day 1
     
  8. PittsS2APilot

    PittsS2APilot Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2007
    857
    Gulfport MS
    Full Name:
    Joe
    Hope you are staying on an open highway and not in traffic. High today was 103 down here! whew!
     
  9. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Great looking car and a grand voyage for a wonderful purpose. Best wishes to you. I'll be following this thread. I'm hoping to go from Baton Rouge to Sacramento and back next year, with a weekend trip to Victoria BC of course. I want a photo of my car on the ferry.
     
  10. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    798 miles door 2 door. I had one session today at about 400 miles where the car lost power under hard acceleration. This coincided with an odd noise from the vicinity of the fuel pump. I pulled over to have a look but couldn't see anything to do so I just fired up again and kept going. It never happened again thankfully.

    Now for a good night's sleep then on the road again bright and early tomorrow.
     
  11. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
    2,248
    Full Name:
    David Lind
    Good luck with your journey!
    There remain a few auto enthusiasts who still think Ferrari guys are gold chain and chest wig types. Contrarily, this thread illustrates (IMHO) the two best things about the Ferrari ownership experience:
    1. You and your dad think a ride in a Ferrari is worth a 3,000 mile trip, and
    2. Everyone here is cheering you on and pitching in psychologically if not in actuality. On many occasions the camaraderie among posters - most of whom have not and never will meet - is fantastic.
    God speed!
     
  12. TheMac

    TheMac Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2009
    452
    Alberta
    Full Name:
    Jon Mac
    Good luck and safe travels! I hope the trip works out terrifically for you and your Dad. I look forward to following the future updates to this thread!
     
  13. Mfoncerrada

    Mfoncerrada Formula Junior

    Dec 20, 2009
    419
    Monterey, CA
    Full Name:
    Miguel Foncerrada
    Great thread....safe travels....buen viaje....selamat jalan...
     
  14. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Great drive today except for Cincinnati where I got bogged down in traffic... HOT!

    On the plus side my new cooling system handled the heat just fine.

    Lots of attention on the highway.

    I'll post more tonight when I pull into Sarnia.

    Ciao and thanks for all the kind thoughts.

    Paul
     
  15. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,779
    USA
    Full Name:
    Tony K.
    #40 Tony K, Aug 2, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I just had the privilege of being paid a visit by Paul G. as he was passing through Toledo. Great guy, awesome 308. I didn't realize the car was Oro Chiaro! Wow! :)

    He asked me to post the picture below, because people always say these threads are worthless without pics! :D Taken just after sunset in Toledo.

    Thanks for stopping, Paul! Safe travels!

    - Tony
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. jimshadow

    jimshadow F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 19, 2006
    6,262
    Indiana/North Carolina
    Full Name:
    JIM
    Very cool! Thanks for posting this. I'm hoping to catch up with Paul as he cruises through Ft. Wayne on the way home. Hope you are enjoying the drive. There is nothing like a 1000+ mile drive in your Ferrari. Unfortunately, most owners won't experience that..... you are among the very few. ;)

    JIM
     
  17. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2009
    978
    Vegas
    Full Name:
    Jason
    So happy to hear it's going well! I thought about this a bunch today, hoping the car was still doing well.
     
  18. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    Great picture. I'm looking forward to more from the road, and more road stories. Looks like all is going well. I'm itching to do this in mine.
     
  19. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Just over 1500 miles so far on this trip and the car runs better every mile I drive. I have had many WOT freeway entrances which you have to do in a Ferrari to appreciate. After dinner I got hold of Tony in Toledo who was gracious enough to give me a tour of his Scuderia as well as supply Canadian beer:)

    To say Tony is a car guy is a huge understatement and a gorgeous Nero 308 to boot.

    Thanks much Tony. If you are ever through Houston I'll return the favor.

    The Canadian border guy spent 20 minutes talking all things 308. This is a fringe benefit of crossing the border at Sarnia at midnight.

    Breakfast at Smitty's Pancake House. It doesn't get much better.

    I'll be crossing Toronto at about 1-2 PM to miss rush hours and should be at Dad's nursing home by 3:00. Should be a hoot.

    Later,
    Paul
     
  20. ggjjr

    ggjjr Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    929
    Detroit
    Full Name:
    George
    Paul,
    I just saw this thread. If you need any help in the Detroit area, just send a pm. I usually check this site in the am, except on weekends.

    George
     
  21. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    1772.2 mi door to door. Not bad.

    I forgot how much Toronto traffic sucks.

    Got stuck in stop and go at 1:30 PM.

    Go figure. Every bit as hot as Houston here today!!

    A quick cool down for both me and my car and then over to see Dad. Should be a good night.

    More later,
    Paul
     
  22. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,406
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Great thread.........
     
  23. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    Yesterday, with the help of 2 personal care workers I was able to get Dad into the passenger seat of the 308 and we went for a nice drive East on the 501 to Ajax and down to the waterfront. He had a great smile on his face the whole time. It was a fantastic time for us both. When we got back we found it was a little tougher to get him out of th car but as eventually succeeded without causing him too much pain.

    My wife flew in last night so the two of us are heading over today for a visit.

    On the car front I am starting to have overheating issues. I think my fancy new thermostat may be sticking closed, or I have a sensor issue. The symptoms are:

    Warm car up to ~190F and both fans come on, so far so good.

    At that point the thermostat should open and the temp drop, but that stopped happening about a day and a half ago.

    Belt tension is good

    Good fluid flow in the expansion tank so my new water pump is pumping.

    Fluid level is fine

    Temp gets to 195F on the gauge and holds there if I am moving down the road.

    If in traffic starts to creep up.

    Can beat it back if I turn both heaters on

    Have bleed cooling system 3 times so far. Still tiny amount of air from rad. Nothing from motor.

    If it is the thermostat I may be able to hit the shop Big Red talked about and get a new one swapped in.

    Any other ideas guys???

    Paul
    Fluid level is fine
     
  24. pgarossino

    pgarossino Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2009
    307
    Houston Tx
    Full Name:
    Paul G.A. Garossino
    That temps continue to creep up to200+ unless I can get moving again.

    Oil temps stay fine.

    No fluid overflow.

    Sometimes the temp spontaneously and immediately drops to normal, hence my suspicion of temp sender.
     
  25. gerritv

    gerritv Formula 3

    Jun 18, 2001
    1,400
    St Catharines
    Full Name:
    Gerrit
    hi Paul
    Bummer but we love our hot summers in TO :)

    I sent you an email.....

    Gerrit
     

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