...I'm shocked ANYONE gives him the time of day, replies to his posts etc. .....I'm just sayin'.......
I'm at a loss for words Jim; amazing work, keeping history alive so others (auto enthusiasts et.al.) can enjoy automotive history,..................................................... .........thank you! ~Ciao and best!
to think there is even some hate out there for this fantastic machine, and those who made it possible is really too bad! here is my small contribution to this thread. a real thrill to see it in person! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The TV crew that was covering the Event came to our transporter for the start up and night ride up to the Concours. I think it will be part of the Official Amelia Film. The car ran really well. I learned a really interesting thing about 0846. Before you can enter the Historic Mille Migila or the Historic Targa Florio you have to be Scrutinized by FIVA as these events become part of the Official Record of the car. FIVA inspected the car and talked to Ferrari and others and anyone they wanted to. During the event which the FIVA representative followed closely, Nino told him, in answer to a question about the 67 crash at the Targa Florio that bent the chassis that WS spoke of repairing while he pointed out the repair he made to the chassis to Gerald (RIP), others and me when 0846 was shown at the FCA annual Concours held that year in Monterey, "I shouldn't have Saluted" which I didn't understand at the time. At Amelia a Sicilian Gentleman came to look at 0846 and told me he was there when Nino crashed. Nino was driving through the sharp left curve right in the center of his home town when he raised his right hand straight up to wave. "That caused the crash." I told him I didn't understand why. He told me to put my hands out in front of me as if I was holding a steering wheel. "Raise your right hand straight up suddenly. What does your left hand do? It raises slightly too. This turned Nino away from the curve towards the high granite curb on the outside of the turn. He reacted quickly and turned the wheel in the opposite direction but too hard and the right rear slid out and into the curb hard breaking the wheel, flattening the tire and bending a chassis tube outwards which WS later repaired as alluded to in the FML article about 0858 going to auction and specifically in the later 0846 FML article where Gerald is quoted stating that WS said he made and identified the specific repair he made right after the Targa Florio in 1967 that is still in my car today as his work. I tried what the Sicilian Gentleman/Alfa Racer had suggested and finally understood why Nino crashed in his hometown at Targa Florio.
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This story illustrates how we are not owners merely custodians. You can't own that old man's memories, or those of the other thousands who saw this car doing what it was made to do, "in the day." Looking at your Amelia Island photos my jaw drops at the daunting amount of work you had to do to bring this one back. Even though these are just photos and I may never see 0846 in the flesh, I am very grateful.
Great story Jim. The car is stunning. I always wondered about those 2 yellow supports for the rear clam. Are they fixed in place or just loosely propping it up? How much does the rear shell weigh?
I have a little 1:43rd diorama of that very scene....granite wall and all! Not sure who made it.. I just hung Gerald's Bar sign on the wall too... You'll have to drop over, for a toast!! Mrs. Roush is offering the 'Shell P4 Cutaway' among a lot of other art, but IIRC you have copy?? Cheers! Image Unavailable, Please Login
A big thanks to Jim for taking the time to show the car and explain the subtle differences in the chassis that define the P3/4, along with feeling the the weld on the repaired strut, wonderful day! Here are two of my shots. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login