Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 288 GTO Story

[Charles Perry (charles]

Geez, Hunter! You've been on the list forever and we just got that
story! Great!

What else ya got?

Anyone else hiding such gems?

-- charles

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Hunter N. Schultz [mailto:hns [at] biosafepanama.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 7:11 PM
To: Charles Perry
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: [Ferrari] 288 GTO Story

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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