Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 288 GTO Story

[Peter Pless (ferrarilist]

........whoever he is

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Jenkins [mailto:steve [at] stevejenkins.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 24 June 2009 7:26 PM
To: Peter Pless
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] 288 GTO Story

GREAT story, Hunter!

Apparently, Mick also liked to get Ferraris for his lady friends in the 80s.
The original paperwork on my '89 328 GTS (and all the service receipts) are
in the name of "Jerry Hall." :)

SteveJ
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Hunter N. Schultz [mailto:hns [at] biosafepanama.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 4:11 PM
To: Steve Jenkins
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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