Ferrari Mailing List: Was 288 GTO Story -- Now Tom Sneva and Derek Bell

(continued)

Well, thanks so much for the kind words, Larry.

I just reread it and aside from the typos, it brought back a lot of smiles.

Now, about the IROC race at Mid-Ohio back around 1985.

I was there as part of a BB512LM effort (Warren Mosler's car to be 

exact) and had a pit crew pass. Needless to say, that was very handy and 

I made the most of it. I had been to a number of IMSA race before as a 

crew so I was able to get to know a few drivers, etc.

One of the best guys is Derek Bell of LeMans, Daytona, Sebring, etc. 

fame. He was funny, polite, very approachable and I suspect he still is.

The grid was forming and he was standing by his car -- an IROC Camaro -- 

waiting for the rest of the grid to get their cars out of the garage 

area. No one was really rushing all those champion drivers as they would 

just as soon tell anyone to take a hike rather than be rushed. They sort 

of suggested...

Anyway, I am chatting up Derek and asking about the ride, track, Al 

Holbrook, etc. A good 5 minutes or so of conversation. Then, a suit 

walks up and asks if he can introduce Fernando Lamas to Derek. Yes, that 

one. Renegade TV show guy. Derek gives me a wink. Heh, heh. Lamas walks 

up and says hello and was quite polite. Nice guy as I recall. Very 

respectful of Derek. Not sure about now as I don't watch E TV or 

whatever Hollywood BS spin machine is on.

Lamas leaves and Derek turn to me and says something to the effect that 

he was a nice guy.

Now, I have a lot of respect for championship winning drivers. So when 

Tom Sneva walks up and says howdy to Derek, I sort of step back a few 

feet to give them a bit of space.

You would think that good old Tom -- of slap the wall hard a few dozen 

times at Indy fame -- would ask a bright, intelligent question. And by 

all rights, he did:

"So Derek, what's the strategy for the race?"

Derek looks quickly at me then back at Tom and says deadpan, "Don't 

fuckin' hit me."

My eyes go wide and I step another two feet back. Long silence follows 

along with baited breath on my part. Derek 's facial expression is 

frozen, waiting for a right hook or something else from Tom.

Tom, at first shocked, breaks out in a fit of laughter and Derek follows 

right along with me now breathing again and laughing my ass off.

Those cheeky Brits!

I saw Derek a few more times after that and he was the same - a class 

act. Still is from what I hear.

Best from Panama,

Hunter

LarryT wrote:

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

--------------------------------------------------
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 at 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 sun. 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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Was 288 GTO Story -- Now Tom Sneva and Derek Bell	<– Date –> <– Thread –>
From: Hunter N. Schultz (hnsbiosafepanama.com)
Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:45:55 -0800 (PST)