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

[LarryT (l02turner]

Hi Hunter,
You're very welcome.   I'm a big Porsche fan and 911 owner and have collected a 
large number of videos which include D Bell as his history is very much tied to 
Porsche's racing victories, especially at Le Mans.  He comes across in all the 
videos just as you describe him - approachable, funny and a generally nice guy. 
 His son Justin seems very much a chip off the old block.  He was in a Le Mans 
History video which featured Justin and Derek - both talking and laughing about 
memories both share about their many trips to Le Mans.  Justin said it was like 
a yearly vacation there - pack up the vehicles and speed a week there as he got 
older and became even more aware of what was going on and the large part his 
Dad played in that history.

So, does Mick call you from time to time?    Too bad you weren't picking up a 
GTO instead of the 412.  But things can't be *too* good. 

Take care -- 
LarryT

OilAnalysis Time? 
Looking for Weber Parts or Porsche Posters? 
www.youroil.net 




From: Hunter N. Schultz 
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:45 PM
To: LarryT 
Cc: The FerrariList 
Subject: Was 288 GTO Story -- Now Tom Sneva and Derek Bell


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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