Awed by a bull....Impression of the Murcie

Above the sky was cobalt blue; here we were, giant mountains surrounding us on three sides, the hot sun beating down. In short a typical African summers day, except for me this wasn’t going to be anything like a typical day.

Since I was very young I very definitely fell into the Ferrari camp and I still do, but I must admit those cars made by the tractor manufacture did interest me. What also fascinated me were stories of a certain film featuring an orange Miuria…I think every little boy harbors a dream to go in a Lamborghini and I would be lying if I didn’t have the same dream!

Glinting in the African sun in front of me was a brand new bright orange Lamborghini Murcielago and I would be spending the next 2 hours or so in the passenger seat and did I mention we would be driving along some of the most scenic, most deserted country roads in South Africa. Its hard to describe me feelings walking up to this monster, when I look at cars standing still they all have a language, the Murcielago had its own language and it was saying something akin to “look I can go very fast but I do it with style”

Pushing that little door catch and lifting the scissor door was very, very special, it was like entering a different world as I clambered across the wide sill and into the body- hugging seat. Pulling the door closed was just as special as opening it, partly because a considerable crowd of people had now surrounded the car. The view forward was truly unique. Behind me the 6.2 liter V12 erupted in a far more civilized manner than what I expected. We pulled onto the main road, all around mountains looking down on us, one millisecond later I was slammed back into me seat courtesy of 570bhp, clack next gear engaged and the acceleration just went on and on behind me the V12 alternating between screaming and roaring, I soon likened this roaring to that of a bull…how apt!

Ahead was a 996 turbo, which we were catching rather quickly, what really amazed me was how awesome this big car was around corners, sticking the road as if attached by glue. The sound as we roar along this valley was stupendous; the roar of the V12 echoing off the rock face, ahead the wail of the Porsche was totally drowned out. Every so often we would get held up by a slower traffic, just another opportunity to ring the Murcie out to 7000 rpm in 4th, another opportunity to see the startled looks of fellow motorists, few cars have as much presence as a bright orange Murcie!

Soon we were on the out skirts of a small town and as this is a farming district there are inevitable laborers and children standing along the road, the sight of the Murcie roaring by caused screaming, waving and general pandemonium. Did I mention that there was a Diablo behind us?

After a few traffic lights we were back into the country, the sun was ahead of us, I could only imagine how awesome this orange Murcie must have looked with the setting sun glinting on it. There was puff of smoke as the 996 attempted to pull away but by 270 km/h the Porsche was being reeled in quickly, that was until another truck appeared and the seat belt dug into my chest as the supremely strong brakes melted away the excess speed. Clack change down to third and wait for a gap to appear, funny with 570bhp gaps don’t need to be that big…max revs in 3rd and 4th as we resume our cruising speed of 230 km/h+. I never tired of the sound of this mighty V12, the complex scream as the rev counter neared 7000rpm was truly intoxicating. The majority of these roads we straight but surfacing quality varied from ok to pretty bad in placed but despite this the ride comfort was passable and stability and speed was exemplary.

The one small pass we did have to go through was more than adrenaline rush, the amount of speed that can be carried through a corner being staggering.

We had 55 km’s left and as the sun was now setting the roads had become a bit quieter. A quick mention about the scenery, all around there was shrub, no more than a foot, big expansive plain that go on as far as the eye can see and in front of us an empty piece of tarmac stretching as far as the eye can see. My first thought was, this must truly be driving heaven? Behind me I could feel the bulkhead was getting warmer the further we traveled, another remind that I was “sharing” this car with a truly mighty engine. It was on this section that we recorded 292 km/h and the Murcie was still pulling, though road conditions prohibited going any faster.

Clambering out of this car I was left feeling in awe, feeling like I had tasted a new dish that I quite liked, walking to the hotel I couldn’t help but to turn around and smile. Parked outside this hotel were a few Porsche and two Lamborghini’s the local population (about 100) hadn’t seen anything like this before.

That night I slept with the roar of that V12 still in my head, the next morning I wondered outside, the Murcie was covered in frost a legacy of the previous nights sub zero temperature. The sun was rising and it was glinting on the orange paintwork, it made quite a sight.

Thinking about it, I had lived the dream, I had sampled what to so many is just a fantasy, I had experienced probably the finest Lamborghini of modern times in an environment where it could be used as the maker intended and for this privilege I am extremely grateful.

 

Some pictures....
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Thanks, tried to make it as descriptive as possible...living in Africa has cons but having lightly policed roads isnt one of them.....