Just got home, pulled into the drive, about to reverse in to the garage and a car stops out the front....what the hell? A man gets out (I'm thinking has the 430 made too much noise somewhere/I haven't been an idiot on the road I'm sure/is it an unmarked cop car) in tow with a terribly shy young fella all smiles (few teeth from what I could see) and what hanging on to dad's hand. Turns out that this whipper snapper is an F fan and wanted to have a closer look at the car. It was he who egged dad to follow me to home....lives nearby apparently. So we greet and meet, I get the boy to jump in and I showed him all the cockpit, motor and the usual and I said "do you want to go up around the court with dad's permission?" He can hardly see over the dash I might add, so off we go and he was rapt. We come back, dad took photos and I'm sure we have more than another convert to the marque. Dad was envious of the kid being up front to get the ride gig. LOL Hoping he won't forget the experience for years to come....nice bit of karma for me to end the year out. Happy new year everybody. Rob.
Very nice story Rob. I'm 100% convinced that the ride you offered to this kid will remain in his mind forever. This experience will change something into him. When I was a kid, a had the chance to sit in a Ferrari. It changed my life forever That's why I like to offer a ride to kids with mum's or dad's permission of course. One son of a friend got so so happy! He asked to be taken on pictures while sitting in the car so that he could have a prove to show to his friends. These pictures of him and my car are everywhere now So what you did Rob, is just great!
Yes these experiences are truely something that only Ferrari ownership could have created.....you don't read that in the manuals and I'm proud to be a fellow custodian of the marque to share with others not so fortunate to be in the position we are in. Rob.
Well spoken mate. I have never heard a child say "I sat in a VW kombie', but have heard others say "I sat in a Ferrari". And that my friends, is what I believe a Ferrari owner thinks when he/she purchases any ferrari... you all have the opportunity to purchase these fine machines and maybe when you were all younger you had very fond memories or else you wouldn't of had bought. Source
I give to the kids also when ever I can, " Make a Wish for the kids " we had a great time Image Unavailable, Please Login
One of my favorite parts of having exotic cars is the sharing. I have given more kids rides, seats, pictures, etc, than I can count. Each time puts a smile on the kids face and an even bigger one on mine.
I like this. In Sweden we have a organisation called " My Great Day". Taking really sick kids and their relatives to a marvelous day. Could be Riding horses / Boattrip / Fotballmatch / Circus etc. - or going with real sports cars on a raceway. It was a day without radiation or medicine talk. I must say I was a little bit scared for the meeting with children as sik as these were. - But it went very well. All these positive people, comming up to you asking - Can go for a spin in your Ferrari? And we drove, and laughed - having new friends - this was really the day of 2010. Had my son of 17 with me who were making hamburgers and also had a prime time. Take a look at these pictures - remember we had to carry some of them into the cars - and you will understand what I am talking about. Of course we will be ready for 2011. If you look att the video you will see a black 430 comming up. It is my son who´s behind that camera. If you can afford a Ferrari - you can afford to help others. //Anders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V9WUz-q4DE Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great story - and good for you. I'm 46 and still haven't gone for a ride! haha But I'm getting close to buying my own - if I can just let go of my GT3. I, like many, am on this forum a lot simply b/c the marque holds a special place for us. That kid will never forget that ride.
Here are some photographs I took of a lst year's event at the Ronald McDonald house for kids with cancer that are being treated at the Houston Medical Center (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children Hospital and other clinics). The event is organized every year by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Ferrari Club of Houston. Participating in a charity event is nice. Seeing a happy face of a boy with cancer sitting inside the engine bay of your Ferrari - PRICELESS !!! These kind of charity events should provide to general public quate a different perspective about Ferrari owners Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Was cleaning mine before heading out to the Toy Rally www.toyrally.com and up pulls a car to the end of the drive. Nobody comes out, it just sits there. I put down the mit and start to stroll over to see who it is. The lady rolls down her window and says "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, but my grandson saw your car and yelled "Grandma, that's a Ferrari. Can we go see it.". I hope you don't mind." So I look over and there is what I guess to be about a 10-11yr old boy with his eyes just bouncing all over the car. I looked at the lady and said: "If he wants to get out and take a closer look, that's fine with me." Well before Grandma could ask him, he was out of the car and looking at every detail of mine. I had him sit in the driver's seat and look at all the dials and such. Then had him move to the passenger side and started it up so he could hear the growl of the Tubi. Gassed it a few times (he loved that! ), and then took a couple of pictures of him on his camera phone. I couldn't take him for a spin as his Grandma wouldn't go for it. But needless to say the boy had perma-grin on his face the whole time he was sitting in it and he was already texting his friends while walking back to Grandma's car to show them that he had sat in a Ferrari. Grandma thanked me for being so gracious, and I explained to her that I love talking cars to anyone who has an appreciation for them regardless of age. I love that aspect of having one of these cars. I was always worried that having one would attract jealous looks and jerks, but so far I've only had positive experiences like the above.
Fantastic Rob! GREAT story! Same goes for the rest of you chaps!! There is nothing like making a kid happy. *JUST* yesterday I took the Ferrari for a drive with my friend Gerry. Gerry invited me along for a cruise, he brought along his 84 Porsche 911. Gerry was taking his good friends 8 yr old boy for a drive as they were leaving town. He asked if I could take the boy for a drive in the Ferrari also. I was only too happy to do so. We all drove around for 1.5 hrs. Taking turns with the young fella. I told him he is a very lucky boy to have been in both a Porsche and a Ferrari at his age and both in the same day. In Mount Isa, you just dont see these cars. I didnt see my first Ferrari in person till I was 20 yrs old. Ive only had my Ferrari here for 5 yrs and the 360 Modena and Gerry's Porsche showed up within the last 6 months. Imagine going for a ride in one at 8 yrs old! Something he will remember forever he said. I take kids cruising all the time. With parents permission, of course. Got many many pics, great kids and they are ALL smiles! I try to give them a toy or shirt or cap if I have any in stock at the time. Thanks for the stories guys! God bless you all!! P.S-I just sold some crap on Ebay. Buyer pays via Paypal and shares this story with me. Hi PAP 348, Just to let you know payment has gone through via paypal. Thanks for the wishes for tonight. As it happens I am babysitting my nephew so his mum and her new partner can go out together. My nephew had a large cancer that was treated successfully but the treatment destroyed his liver, so Christmas 09 saw him getting a liver transplant at 18mths old and he was unconcious for that New Years Eve. So this year, he is going to have fun watching movies and playing trains with me, while his mum gets to go have some fun (she is early 20's, will enjoy going out much more than me lol, especially as my other half works nightshift tonight). SO, while it doesnt sound very exciting for me, it will be a fantastic night for all of us. I hope your night is what you would like it to be, and that you have a fantastic New Year! Cheers, Erin! Now I dont know this woman and I know she wasnt asking for a handout, but I felt I had to give something to the tough little boy. I dug around at home and found a baby Ferrari shirt and a 1/38 Hotwheels Enzo Ferrari that I am going to send down for him with her items. I bought them for my kids, but its ok. I can always replace them down the track when I actually have kids. I love kids and I hope this little bugle boy comes good and he hopefully becomes a Ferrari fanatic like the rest of us.
Awesome stories all around, I'm sure it's an experience that no little boy/car fan is sure to forget anytime soon! I'm sure that boy's been grinning ear-to-ear since his ride in the 430!
Congrats to all you that share the passion! really!!! The experience for the kids could be something that they'll remember for ever and could influence on future decisions in their lives (career wise )
Rob what a great story to share with us! And look at all the others that have chimed in with like stories! Just wonderful. I have never forgotten the first time I saw a red sports car with a yellow shield with a black horse on the side. It was in New Orleans and I was just a kid walking with my family. I still see it vividly after so many years. GOD bless you all for you kindness and I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Really great stories. Down here they regularly organize track days and the kids all come from hospitals and childrens homes. The looks on their faces as they clamber out of the car is really special to see. Of course the laps are not flat out but the experience is very special for them.
Kudos, my friend. Trust me when I say that the boy will NEVER forget that experience. I still remember the first Ferrari I sat in, the first one I drove, and how special it felt. Those seemingly minor experiences are sometimes the triggers for guiding kids through life and to taking a career path that will allow them to own their own Ferrari someday, and repay the kindness you showed them. Thank you for doing that.
Fantastic stories fellas...its life changing, for us I mean once you experience how something as trivial as a hot lap in our F-car can do to the lives of these kids. Keep it up.
