Ferrari Mailing List: !Re: 288 GTO Story

[Gary Reed (gary]

Hunter,

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing!

Here's another 288 GTO story, as told by Ron Tonkin, the owner of the oldest 
Ferrari dealership in the US.

It's all about how he come to own "the very last" 288 GTO ever built (Ron still 
owns it and it has under a 1,000 miles on it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyrQyD6xT1c

Gary

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hunter N. Schultz 
  To: Gary Reed 
  Cc: The FerrariList 
  Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 4:10 PM
  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



  _________________________________________________________________
  To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
  http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/gary%40garyreedsales.com

  Sponsored by BooyahMedia.com 
  and F1 Headlines
  http://www.F1Headlines.com/