My first ENZO drive

HOLY COW!!!!!! Sorry... just had to get that out first. My orginal words were much more colorful.

This past Saturday our local ferrai club helped out a highschool with a charity event. They were putting on a car show with a variety of cars. Many F-car owners were happy to come out... plus the weather was great! Ron said he would come too with his ENZO. He also invited me to ride over to the show with him. I had to practically grab an oxygen mask to keep from passing out. Boy, I just couldn't believe the day was going to come this soon.

Well the end of the week was fast approaching and I'd soon be in an ENZO. I was out of town for two days in Philly but would be back in Memphis on Friday. Thursday night I was at the hotel checking my emails when one popped up from Ron. He said sorry he would not be able to make the car show due to another commitment... I just kind of sunk back in my seat. He continued .... "If you could come over Friday afternoon I'll show you how to drive it and then you can take it to the show on Saturday." After falling out of my chair and throwing water on my face... I wrote back and said I'd be there!

Friday came and I hopped on my flight back to Memphis. I landed at the airport, grabbed my bags, ran to my car and immediately drove to his house arriving right on time. The phrase "Is this really happening" kept popping into my head. I knocked on his door and Ron came to invite me inside. We talked as he lead straight to the garage. I walked in and there sat the 550, F50 and ENZO. What an awesome sight I never get tired of. Anyway he then told me to jump in the passenger side so he could give me a quick lesson.

1. Put the key in and turn it forward. The system will start beeping and will stop when it's ready to start.

2. Make sure the car is in Neutral. This is indicated on the front screen with an "N". It should automatically be there but if not you can set the car in neutral by pulling both paddle shifts forward at the same time.

3. Put your foot on the brake and hit the "Start" button.

4. Let the car run for a few minutes to properly idle and warm the fluids.

5. Raise the car up with button on lower left side of steering wheel.

6. When stopped you must press on the brake to get the car into gear. The reverse is another button on the lower right side of the steering wheel noted "R".

7. The right paddle shift is for up shifting... the left paddle shift is for down shifting.

8. The blinkers are also on the steering wheel denoted by an arrow on the left side and one on the right side.

9. No need to change to "race" and don't take off the "ASR". Without traction control you can easily spin out.

10. The mode button is very helpful with other information about the car.

Getting back to the driving... He starts the car up and what a growl! He then shows me the shifting technique. When he hit second I could feel the g-forces on my chest. Unbelievable power!! He hit third and the car leaped again. Wow!! He then told me he wasn't even pushing the car and would have to spend a lot more time learning how to drive it to its capablility. We then came to a stop light where he showed me the braking power. If I didn't have a seat belt on I would've hit the windshield. We took off again and then came to his street in which no braking was necessary. He kept on the accelarator and took a hard right turn. SSSSShhhhtt!!!! What can't this car do!!

We got to his house and then he said that's all there is to it. He then gave me the key and said just come over Saturday and get it. I'm of course stunned and said thank you.

Saturday I showed up at Ron's just starring at the ENZO. I'm of course still not believing what's going on. I get into the car and turn the key on. The beeping stops, I put my foot on the brake and hit the "Start" button. The car won't start.... I got the sinking feeling again that the dream was over. I tried it two more times but still nothing. So I asked his wife if I could get into the garage to hook up the trickle charger. I hooked it up which was very easy in the ENZO. The battery is right up front under the nose. I let it charge for 30 to 45 min. I then tried it again and it started immediately. Yippie!! I disconnect the charger and close everything up. I hop in the ENZO and just look around making sure everything is okay. I raise the car as I'm thinking how awesome is this. I then release the parking brake, put my foot on the brake and put it into 1st gear. The ENZO starts to move foward. I pull slowly out of his driveway and onto the street. As I'm driving through his neighborhood I'm take time to get use to the shifting. I then pull out onto the main road. I'm being extremely careful, needless to say, it's not everyday you get to drive a 1.5 million dollar car. I could feel that the character of this car is a true beast but it's manageable at the same time.

As I shifted to second and then third I could certainly understand the statement Ferrari was hoping to make with this car. I would love to really learn how to drive this car to it potiential. This was my first time in a paddle shifter so I had lots to learn. I came up to a stop light and hit the brakes which worked aggressively. They have a grit feeling to them which is why they grab so quickly.

I continued to drive just loving every second that the car is telling me "I'm a beast". The whole time I feel that the car is just waiting on me. The car must have felt like I was an old lady behind the wheel. "Let's get moving!" I could hear it say.

It's no wonder why people pay for this type of driving. It's so addictive. I was bit by the bug 5 years ago when I drove my first F-car. It was a 328GTS which I later bought. After driving the ENZO I was bit again. Ferrari has really out done themselves. What a great tribute to the man who gave us the join and beauty of Ferrari.