Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 288 GTO Story

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

Hunter, great story!!

Another reason why I'm subscribed to the F-List....very nice treats every
now and then. :-)

thx,

FG

On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 7:10 PM, Hunter N. Schultz <hns [at] 
biosafepanama.com>wrote:

> So, a long time ago, 1985 to be more precise, I was sent to the factory
> to collect a 412iA for a client of the dealership I worked at.
>
> Went with a friend of the female persuasion.
>
> Arrive in Malpensa, Milano and rent a car for the trip to Modena.
>
> Arrive in Modena and check into the Fini. We eat their restaurant and
> then collapse after a tiring day.
>
> Next day we proceed to Maranello. Get somewhat lost and find the
> backside of the factory. In rearview mirror, I see the dual lower lights
> of a 288GTO coming up fast behind me. I told gal pal to watch this. Said
> GTO flew around us and then hit the binders a little way past us to come
> to a stop at a stop sign. Flame shoots out of exhaust on overrun like
> two flamethrowers. I look over at gal pal whose eyes are wide open. I
> say, "Welcome to Maranello." She can only say, "Holy sh*t."
>
> We finally arrive at factory gate and shown into the waiting area to
> meet with Emilio Goldoni, the fellow for North American customer factory
> deliveries. Emilio invites us for a little tour. Gal pal is looking
> mildly interested while I am busy going gaga.
>
> We come to a little shed near the front gate. Two GTOs in the shed. One
> belonging to a McDonald's franchise guy and Emilio says look at the
> window of the one further in. Michael Jagger written on piece of paper
> showing owner's name. Didn't click. Emilio says Michael Jagger. I look
> puzzled. He probably thinks, "Dummy." Then says, "Rolling Stones." Light
> on top of my head goes on. Duh. Hey, I was 25 and in the next best thing
> to heaven. My only defense...
>
> Anywho, we see the part of the factory along with the McDonald's guy and
> his buddy. Walk over to Cavallino for lunch. Not at the table for more
> than 10 minute when in walks Mick and the European counterpart to
> Emilio. Gal pal now wet everywhere...  Mick is shown to a private area
> for his lunch.
>
> Back to the factory and now gal pal is very much interested in all
> things Ferrari. Heh, heh.
>
> We are now back in the same courtyard as before near the shed when out
> walks, MJ. Says hello to all and we all talk a bit. The fellow traveling
> with MJ is his mechanic. They plan on driving back to France that night
> no matter what since fully one quarter of all 288s were stolen before
> leaving Italy. Hence the additional 25 percent overbuild, if memory
> serves.  So, it was decided upon leaving later in the day, we would
> caravan as far north as we could for safety in numbers. We were headed
> for Switzerland as was the other guy.
>
> I went into office to speak with Emilio about the 412iA delivery, which
> was being delayed for a few days. Had a little gift for him out in car
> and I left office to get it. On way back in, I bump into MJ and the rep.
> Introduced myself more formally and said I was from Chicago, a fan, and
> loved the music, blah, blah, blah. He was very cordial and said that
> Chicago was among his favorite cities due to the blues influence it had
> on his music. I excused self and return to Emilio's office.
>
> We all meet in the entrance area for the drive home. The BMW I was in
> lead the way with MJ's mechanic driving his car and bringing up the rear.
>
> We head out to Autostrada and hit the first AGIP station to fill up.
> Ferrari didn't see fit to fill the tanks...
>
> Pump jockeys so excited over GTOs that they didn't recognize major
> singing legend despite protruding trademark lips. I pointed that out to
> one of them and he sort of shrugged. I say, "Michael Jagger." Blank
> look. I say, "Rolling Stones." His face lights up and I don't feel as
> much of a schmuck as before. He goes off to tell another guy and a crowd
> started to gather. We left quickly after that with MJ taking the wheel
> from his mechanic.
>
> Same order with me in front and MJ at the rear.
>
> At MJ's turn off to France, he flashed his lights to the other GTO guy,
> who moved right, then he flashed me. I move right commenting to gal pal
> that we have just been flashed by Mick Jagger. Humor 0, Ferrari 1. He
> went by us like a shell out of a 155mm howitzer. And holy crap, that car
> could howl! Poof. He was gone.
>
> We stop soon afterwards inside Switzerland to say ciao to our other
> traveling companions and head on up to Locarno on Lake Maggiore
> </wiki/Lake_Maggiore> and a very satisfying dinner. I think we stayed at
> the Hotel Du Lac but memory fails...
>
> Fast forward to 1986 for same drill but alone this time.
>
> Waited for the car's insurance paperwork to be finalized and then went
> to a local watering hole near Fiorano. Sitting in watering hole, I hear
> the whoop. whoop sound of a turbo. I walk out and there before my eyes
> is the GTO Evoluzione doing laps. Very fast ones at that. Dario probably
> at wheel though I could not confirm it later on. Very hush hush...
>
> No GTOs at that time. It was the TR's day in the son. Scads of them
> waiting for final assembly.
>
> The 288 GTO is still one my all time favorites. It still commands
> respect from drivers and while parked.
>
> Sigh. Not many Ferraris in Panama but the roads out in the western
> provinces and in the Azuero Peninsula are to die for...
>
> Hunter
>
>
>
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