Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Left Coast Road Trip

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 2:41 PM, robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com <
robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com> wrote:

> Well, I'm back home again.  That was a very fun trip, and the old 308 did
> very well.  No problems.  Never missed a beat.  San Diego to San Jose and
> back.
>
> I left my house on Friday morning.  Bright, sunny, warm Southern California
> morning.  Pic below shows the Mistress in the driveway, ready for takeoff at
> 9am:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip1a.jpg
>
> I headed up I-15, then cut through the north LA basin on I-210.  Beautiful
> drive with the top off.  Moderate traffic.  Headed north after merging onto
> the I-5 to Santa Clarita.  There I picked up the CA-126 and motored over to
> the coast, merging onto the 101 in Ventura.  Moseyed along the US-101, with
> the Pacific Ocean on the left, looking much like its name.  Stopped along
> the way and took these pictures:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip2a.jpg
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip3a.jpg
>
> Went up a bit further and took these two:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip4a.jpg
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip5a.jpg
>
> Stopped for the night in the San Luis Obispo area.  Took this picture of
> the sunset in Cayucas:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip6a.jpg
>
> Got up in the morning and had breakfast with my stepson and his girlfriend
> in Port San Luis.
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip7a.jpg
>
> Then headed up the 101 to San Jose to stay with my brother.  Attended a
> Superbowl party on Sunday, then headed home on Monday.  As the weather
> continued to be beautiful, I decided to head down Highway 1 along the coast
> and stay in San Luis Obispo.  My brother, being a member of the working
> poor, had to leave early, so I did also.  Headed over Highway 17 to Santa
> Cruz where I picked up Highway 1.  Lots of worker-bee traffic till I got
> down to Carmel where it thinned out and the Ferrari began to stretch its
> legs.
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip9a.jpg
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip10a.jpg
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bowserrh/Roadtrip/Trip11a.jpg
>
> Had an amazing run down Highway 1.  No traffic at all.  I think I had to
> pass two or maybe three cars.  I really took it fairly easy.  Most of the
> way I was in fifth gear.  Downshifted to fourth a few times.  Third once, I
> think.  Just enjoying the drive, carving the curves.  Top off.  Perfect
> weather.
>
> I had thought to stay in San Luis Obispo, but I got there before noon, so I
> just headed on down the 101.  Arrived home just before 5pm.  Total trip was
> a little over 1100 miles, of which over 560 were on the last day.  Got a
> little over 20 miles to the gallon.  Many more smiles.  Arrived home
> refreshed, ready to do it again.
>
> Couple of things I noticed (became re-acquainted with):
>
> The old 308GTS is a great road car.  No A/C, no cruise control, but it is
> very comfortable for long distance travel.  Things just fit.  The arm rest
> is in the right place.  Pedals are right.  Steering wheel is in the right
> place.  Maybe it is my size (5'9", 185lbs), but it just seems to fit.  Top
> off, passenger window up half way, there was plenty of ventilation, but very
> little buffeting.  Very pleasant.
>
> It was warm enough that the windows went up and down relatively rapidly.
>  Almost like a real car.
>
> Plenty of power, right there.  Granted, the 308 isn't that powerful, but
> the gearing is such that it is on the power curve most of the time.
>  Cruising at 75mph, it is turning just under 4000rpm.  Give it gas, and it
> moves out smartly.
>
> Really awesome sound effects.  Any time you want them.  If you don't, ease
> off the right pedal, and it quiets right down.
>
> Lots of comments from lots of people along the way.  All positive.
>
> Bob
> '78 308GTS
> '01 Corvette Z06
>

Nice pics, and nice story!

Very inspiring to all of us Left Coast fans. :-)

thanks,

Fellippe