My Ferrari Adventure in New Hampshire -- by Charlize J. Liu, age 1. I love fast cars. It must be genetic - both Mommy and Daddy drive our Ferrari on the track. In the 12 months since my arrival, I've been to a few concours, several track events, and even gotten a ride in an F40. But the club events I enjoy most are the weekends spent away with fellow enthusiasts. This past May, the New England Region held its third annual New Hampshire Weekend Lollapalooza, with over sixty members blitzkreig-ing the White Mountains! Tucked into my child seat, I watched our parade of cars roll into the compound of Sherman Wolf, one of our regions most enthusiastic Ferrari collectors. We parked dozens of cars on his back lawn, everything from a Daytona Spider to an F50. I got to sit in a bunch of historic cars, even if I couldn't reach the pedals. A California Spider! A 340 Mille Miglia! My head was spinning. The 500/F2 Monoposto! Perhaps the prettiest car in the garage, the 500 TRC (though I think my daddy prefers the 288GTO in the corner, the heathen). My photos are here: http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=AF00513A94F&cb=PA @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ SPONSORED BY: FERRARI MASERATI OF NEW ENGLAND, West Newton, MA (617) 559-0123 and INDEPENDENT FERRARI SERVICE, South Easton, MA (508) 238-4224 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ After lunch, we said goodbye to our hosts and roared our way North to the Mountain View Grand Hotel and Resort, our headquarters for the weekend. Built over a century ago, we've returned twice now to this little 400 acre gem [www.mountainviewgrand.com]. We took over the entire front driveway, even parking around the giant central fountain. Some members scurried upstairs for luxury spa appointments, while detailing cars took priority for others. Dinner was a great opportunity to say hello to all of my honorary aunts and uncles! Most everyone were friends, and newcomers were enthusiastically welcomed. After dinner, daddy somehow enticed everyone into playing sudden-death competitive karaoke, where the computer actually RATED one's performance. It was great fun, even for those to whom Simon Cowell would have fixated with a withering stare! From my crib, I could hear the laughter from the latge night scotch session on the veranda - boy, adults get to have all the fun! Saturday morning saw our convoy head even further North, seeking those twisty mountain roads. Even strapped in, I could see the Challenge Stradale tailing us, and I could HEAR the F50 following that. One road was like a giant roller coaster - it was so tortuous, that even though everyone was in a line, the rapid elevation changes meant you couldn't see anyone else! We made our way through several notches in the Presidential Range, with one route instruction marked only as "WHEEE!" As for top speeds . . . well, suffice to say that some drivers were testing Maranello's claim of usable downforce. Our lunch stop was at the Mount Washington Hotel & Resort, another huge artifact from another era, just suffused with history. We did a less-than-perfect parking job on their front lawn, with Ferraris scattered about here and there - heck, just a chaotic sea of red! Our afternoon run back to the Mountain View Grand was interrupted by a brief downpour, but no matter; we were sated and happy. The cocktail reception that night spawned further chaos, as everyone did their best to lie, cheat and steal to assemble the best poker hands from playing cards collected throughout the day. We then had another great meal, and everyone got lots and lots of prizes and gifts (hey, I didn't win anything!). After brunch the next day, we said our goodbyes, packed up our cars and hit the road for the drive home. I can't wait until I get my driver's license! Everyone in the club is so nice and sweet and willing to play with me. As nice as the cars were, and as much fun to drive as they are, what really made this trip fun and memorable were the people. Great roads, great foods, great friends - great fun. "Wheee" indeed! Well, like Daddy, I have to stop now to go and have some veal chops and hot sausages for dinner. Unlike Daddy, I've tried to keep this report short, and I hope you've enjoyed it! Love, --Charlie
Fantastic writer-up. Are you an instructor with the BMWCCA Boston and White Mountain Chapters as well as SCDA? I think that I have seen you with your yellow 996 quite a few times.
I instruct with a variety of clubs, including the ones you mentioned. What do you drive at the track? I usually bring the yellow 996 (my wife's daily driver) to NHIS, because the 355 does not like it there. I'll have the 355 at Lime Rock next weekend, though. Anyone else going? vty, --Dennis
Dennis, I am back from Europe just in time for Lime Rock. I will be try to be your best student. Thank you. See you there.
What a moron. I posted the wrong photo link. Here's the right one: http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A697512A959&cb=PA vty, --Dennis P.S. Spivy, technically, the Lime Rock event is NOT an educational event. No instructors. Totally chaotic. The FCA track weekend at Lime Rock is schedule for Fri-Sat, July 30-31, and there WILL be instructors for all novice students then.
Dennis, Why did you leave out the pre-Sherman Fireworks? Judging by my tires' newly acquired flatspots, I doubt the youngin' wouldn't have noticed the braking event. I never did hear how the 996 got cut off on the highway, leading up to a near Ferrari Pileup. At least now I know how well the old car handles when the brakes lock up. haha