What an incredible gentleman you are. Forget the £/$ value of the gift, the history, planning and execution of providing that gift is exceptional, bravo. Best Mike James
Ben, amazing story. The car, your dads car, tracking with your wife. Congrats, and I'm happy to see someone enjoying it so much. Thanks for sharing. I love to see that glow in the rotors, you know you're truly fast at that point.
An update: the better part of a year later, several XX events and a number of circuit visits in everything from a Formula Ford to a 458 Challenge, the XX is now just "loads of fun" quick. Christine and I got back to Fiorano last week after visiting Monza, and we both found we improved markedly. She was actually faster than me at Monza, and just 1 sec/lap slower at Fiorano. Oh, and that braking zone at Paul Ricard? Weaksauce. Try 185 MPH -> 35 MPH entering Variante Goodyear at Monza, getting on the brakes at ~170 meters from turn-in. The front rotors glowed like a blowtorch, and our instructor dubbed Christine "the Queen of Late Braking" :-D Image Unavailable, Please Login
Impressive that she can drive the car so fast. I usually end up lapping my wife any time we go karting.
Great to see you and Christine are having loads of fun with the XX. That's what this machine is all about. Also impressive that she is faster around Monza and only 1 sec per lap slower at Fiorano. Keeps up a healthy competition between the 2 of you. My wife drove our 458 Challenge for the first time around Spa last April. While she has driven on tracks before (with Ferrari's) she was a bit overwhelmed by the response of the car. To use her words: It does everything like any other Ferrari does only 5 times more intense Overall she did well but needs to adjust to the car and let the nerves settle down a bit. But we are lucky we can share such wonderful moments with our better halves
Very cool picture of Fernando pulling the cover off your 599xx Evo Ben! Found this pic on Google, how ironic lol. Awesome car and even better story! Forza Ferrari! Image Unavailable, Please Login
That was a top-10 day, no question. Still makes me grin 2 years later. October. And yes. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Was adding to my 599 video collection and discovered this footage. I'm sure Ben would agree….women drivers are awesome!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upjOicYHIW0
Treynor, I'll hazard a guess that your LF is yellow too? It should look awesome in triple yellow... Best
I certainly agree! I may have some footage of our latest 599XX visit to Fiorano presently; she's a lot quicker around the track now. But so am I You guess correctly. We are looking forward to it in October. Everyone who has driven the car sings its praises and say it's a truly remarkable car.
This may be my favorite thread on this site! Great stories, great personalities, great pictures... I too got a bit misty eyed reading the story of the 355. I hope to one day do something similar for my dad. Ben, Enjoy your cars and experiences in good health!
... and this just in - an in-car video from our 599XX at Fiorano. We let our tame racing driver (Thomas Kemenator) take Marco for a short thrill ride, he's still 3 secs/lap faster than me... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nwneQP00wA
i'm astounded!!!! I can't imagine!!! That's one to drive, drive, drive, refuel, and drive some more….until the car exceeds your physical abilities….or there is no more fuel left on the planet!
La Ferrari will look fantastic in yellow. No matter how many 599XX videos I see the sheer fury of that car remains undiminished. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
