More GTO musings.

One bus of 60 kids, one red Ferrari 599 GTO, one traffic light and the good chaos that unfolds. The kids heard as coming and GTO owners will admit this car isnt quiet above 6500 rpm and we pulled up next to them, next thing ever single one was shouting "Ferrari", "Ferrari", the looks on those faces was special, one blip of the throttle and the sound of that shouting increased ten fold. I think its easy to look at this incidents as being random but one never knows how seeing the car may inspire perhaps just one of those kids.

Other motorists were looking a bit bemused I must admit but perhaps its says something for the Ferrari brand that they all shouted Ferrari, ages, well most kids looked between 8 and perhaps 12 years old.

Later that day it was proven that the GTO should be respected in the wet but should hold not much fear, what was also proven was the sheer magic of running with a 458 on the highway, the sound of both the cars being fantastic. The sound of the down changes being, hard to describe but from 3rd to 2nd there is like an explosion.

This extended drive through Cape Town suburbs gave an opportunity to guage public reception and I can tell you the car attracts mega attention, all of the smiling shouting good kind. Destination was Porsche where nobody looked at either the 458 or the GTO, with all due respect though as good as Porsche is the cold clinical nature of their showroom left we feeling very indifferent towards the brand, I hope Ferrari never goes down this cold and clincal road or perhaps we are just lucky in our little corner of Africa.

With 3000 kms on the clock the GTO just feels better and better, it would really be shame if in 5 years from now there are GTO's sitting with 100 miles on the clock because this car deserves to be enjoyed, every km I spend in it is astonishing, I can be imagine how special it must be around Spa, or on a Swiss mountain pass but in reality any journey is amazing.

High on my bucket list:599 GTO on the Mille Miglia....

 

Some pictures of the scene ouside our local dealer yesterday. Quite of a few of us head here every saturday to enjoy coffee and in this instance a very nice buffet breakfast, of course there is much good conversation.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/Ferrari360/Cars/IMG_0160-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/Ferrari360/Cars/IMG_0161-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/Ferrari360/Cars/IMG_0163-2.jpg

 

There are hopefully some more great GTO adventures to come this year, one of which is a tunnel run. I am anticipating at least 3 GTO's and another 30 Ferrari's for this event. The tunnel itself is 15 km's long so should be ample chance to indulge in V12 music. My plan being to try and have the GTO's go through at the same time nose to tail.

Then there is the possibility of a run along our local "Targa Florio", a twisty coastal road, quiet, empty and some fantastic views.

I think life is too short not to enjoy these cars and the experiences they offer, especially when even the most mundane journey is made into an event.

 

Any other colour apart from red is fairly rare, the used market here doesnt seem to like non red Ferrari's. Having said that in recent years I have seen more of a variety colour wise, there is a TDF 599 GTO here which I have seen pictures of.

The vast majority of cars are red though.