Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 288 GTO Story

[LarryT (l02turner]

Hi Hunter,
   I have to re-read this amazing email from you from time to time.   It's 
one of the all time great stories!  (See Hunters email below)

But speaking of great stories,
   There's a story that appeared in R&T back in the '70s - titled something 
like "I could have beat Sugar Ray" (as in Robinson because SR Leonard wasn't 
known) - anyway, the article told 2 parallel stories of a boxer with a 
chance to fight SR and a race driver with a chance to race at Monaco in a F1 
car. Long story short, the up & coming boxer (who was hot stuff until this 
point) was knocked out in the 1st minute effectively ending his thoughts of 
a World Boxing Championship.

   The driver did a few laps, comes in says the car won't go any faster, no 
more, nada.  At this point,  one S. Moss (whose career had ended much too 
early) says, let me take a look, he jumps in, and on his first cold lap does 
a lap 5-10 seconds faster.   Another person's career aspirations go up in 
smoke.  It was one of those sad stories many apply to themselves - and one 
of life's hard lessons.

But your story is awesome - filled with fast cars and equally fast roads 
with beautiful scenery.  And it's written well so the readers mind can 
visualize what's happening.

Thx agn -
LarryT
OilAnalysis Time?
Looking for Weber Parts or Porsche Posters?
www.youroil.net



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From: "Hunter N. Schultz" <hns [at] biosafepanama.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:10 PM
To: "Larry Turner" <l02turner [at] comcast.net>
Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
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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