Drove the Ferrari over 700 Miles this Weekend

"SPAMBot - Horse Doctor" (spambot2002) 08/27/2018 at 15:00 • Filed to: More than you can afford pal, Ferrari, PCH, Car Week, Laguna Seca, Dude you just ****ed up your Ferrari, Bucket list

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No fires, sputters, engine lights, overheating. No street races with highly tuned Supras or crashes into a San Francisco trolley. The car crossed over 29,000 miles and I drove on a dirt road. Basically the car is worthless now ;)

After much indecision, I drove the 348 to Monterey this weekend. It has never given me a reason to doubt that it could make it, especially since I just did the major service about 500 miles ago, but I was worried by the unknown. I’ve never been that far away from home so if something did happen, it would be a major ordeal. After all, it is an old car, and sometimes things go wrong on old vehicles. All that worrying was for nothing, though. The car performed flawlessly and never missed a beat. Even though I had it street parked outside two nights and drove on a dirt road to park in a field.

The decision to take it was solidified when IM sent me two tickets to Saturday’s races at Laguna Seca. That mixed with PCH being freshly opened, I had to roll the dice and take it up. I’m so glad I did. That trip has been on my bucket list for quite some time and it was just as amazing as I imagined. If you ever have the chance, you have to do the drive. Do it right and get a convertible. Yeah, you will obviously be a tourist in your convertible Mustang complete with barcode stickers, but who cares? The trip is about the experience, not what anyone thinks of your tool of choice.

My friend and I left LA around 8:00 PM Friday night. We drove to San Luis Obispo and stayed the night. Then, we met Capt’ Dale at his place and was on the road before 8:00 AM. This early start was crucial. Not only did we want to catch as much action at LS, but we wanted to avoid a lot of Convertible Mustangs driving slow while filming their vacation with a selfie stick. That plan worked perfect. Traffic was light, many people turned out to let us pass, and we got lucky with open passing zones for the drivers that didn’t. The sky was cloudy and the temperature was cool, but that really made for perfect driving weather. Windows down, top eventually off, heat on low, oil and coolant temperatures right at normal. No sunburn or bad glares from the blazing sun.

When we get to the really twisty bit, we come across a Z4 M (M roadster?). We get by and all three play along. A loud brutish Australian/American (GTO), a charming Italian (348), and a German engineered for driving (Z4M), all hustling along the black strip of ribbon that hugs the coast. We pull off for right before the famous bridge in Big Sur. We chat with the Z4 and they go on their way. Then, a family from Denmark (I think) came up and asked for a picture of my car. We are chatting and they ask what is up with all the cool cars in Monterey. We tell them about car week and they’ve never heard of it. They apparently just got lucky and this is when they decided to take their vacation.

Casual

As we get closer to Monterey, every 5 th car becomes a Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, something else cool, etc. The cops are out, our pace slows and I just take it all in. I’m in Monetary during car week, in my dream car, after driving PCH, and about to watch vintage racing at Laguna Seca. Life doesn’t get better than that.

Insert Race Car Noises

We arrive at the track and take a gravel/dirt road to the field where we would be parking. This made me uneasy but there were other exotics that did the same thing and there was no other option so just went with it. Turns out everything was fine. We meet IM and we wonder around the parking lot and paddock for a few hours before making our way to the corkscrew. The amount of cool cars was staggering. The parking lot was just as cool as the pits and the car shows they had going on. It was also cool to see vintage, near priceless cars being pushed to their limits. A 1920’s something went off track coming down the corkscrew and thankfully saved it. There was also a 300 SL gullwing that got the tail out pretty much every lap. That is cooler than seeing them perfectly preserved hanging out at cars and coffee.

Bigly

My friend and I leave right when some old formula 1 cars are going. We decided to stop at the grand stands to watch a few laps. Every race had been loud up to this point, but pretty manageable. These though, were insane. I might have permanent hearing loss, but it was worth it.

Jaaaaaaagggg

The way back to SLO was non eventful as was the drive from SLO to LA on Sunday. Just a perfect cruise on a perfect day. I pulled into my garage yesterday with my trip odometer showing 762.8 miles covered. No issues whatsoever. Only lasting memories of what was probably a top 10 day of my life, so far.

A little dirty, but still ready for action

I didn’t take many pictures, but Capt’ Dale and ImmoralMinority both will do a photo dump. Please enjoy the few others I took. Now, back to attempting to be productive at work...

Back in the garage

Two V8's chilling by the water

Does this make a good first bike?

I’m really drawn to unreliable cars

Saw a few of these

Weird and French!

Needs Moar Lights!

Couple of Fords. Nothing to see here

When your bright orange V10 R8 isn’t enough. Add a supercharger

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 15:04

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Basically the car is worthless now ;)

I could probably swing like $1000

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 08/27/2018 at 15:11

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NEVR SEEN RAIN, GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED, DRIVEN BY AN OLD LADY, RARE, ALL MAINTENANCE, KWERKS AND FEATURES, I KNOW WHAT I HAVE!!111!!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 15:13

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Damn son, this is epic. Next year we are definitely bringing all of the oppos there. 

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 15:23

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I found footage of your drive down the coast...

For Sweden > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 15:27

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So you’re saying that if you drive a Ferrari with a sealed power stee ring reservoir, it won’t catch on fire?

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/27/2018 at 15:29

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Pretty similar ;)

Had some fun with a GT3 on the way home too haha

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/27/2018 at 15:30

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YES! And rope in some bay area oppos to meet us

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > For Sweden 08/27/2018 at 15:32

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The car doesn’t even have power steering so no cap to break, or whatever he claimed happened hahaha

random001 > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 16:15

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SPAMBot?!  Should be HEROBot!

RallyWrench > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 16:21

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Nice to meet you, if only briefly. Hard to stay in one place with the kids. Saw the Ferrari in the parking lot, way to use it properly! Maybe next year I’ll have something other than a minivan to drive up with you guys. 

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > RallyWrench 08/27/2018 at 17:04

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My face was probably pure horror as I made the turn with the huge rut onto the dirt road hahaha

And it was great to meet you! Kids always make things challenging but it was great you were able to bring them to the track!

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > random001 08/27/2018 at 17:06

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Hahahaha plenty of other ill-suited cars took the same road. Next year I’m going to try to buy a parking pass for the small paved lot LOL!

I tried to remember to take a picture before I left, but totally forgot.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 17:08

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That was a lot of fun. Apparently besides the timing, tourists are afraid of the road . Definitely need to go on the 1 with the Oppos

GolfR Guy > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/27/2018 at 17:19

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I second this idea!

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British 08/27/2018 at 17:23

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If they are scared of cracks, they better not take the backside of PV drive haha

The trip was so much fun! Thanks for driving up with us and we definitely need to to it again sometime.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 17:35

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That road is fun.

Yes I am very happy we were able to convoy. Was a blast. We ended up staying till around 1745 watching races. God damn I was beat

Definitely makes me want to continue the CA Oppo Rally.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British 08/27/2018 at 18:05

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That is awesome! I wish I could have stayed around longer, but I was beat. The CA rally would be a lot of fun!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 18:08

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Oh.

There has been a mistake.

You’re not overdue for an update.

Your new due date is 1 week from today ;)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 18:11

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Yeah, Hoovie didn’t put in the updated power steering cap. Between that and the fuel splitter block recall that he didn’t do, it’s clear that he was in a little over his head for serious F355 ownership.

While it’s great that the car was insured and he’ll get paid out, it didn’t have to happen.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/27/2018 at 18:12

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Rope me in pls

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 08/27/2018 at 18:26

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Hahahaha wasn’t sure if this counted as an update. The car needs a proper S vending after this weekend

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 08/27/2018 at 18:30

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I assumed it was the fuel block that caused the fire, especially since the dude smelled fuel. The PS cap was probably just a coincidence. It looked like one of the stooges called it back in the spring, specifically referring to the recall. Apparently, a trained shop can put the car back together with the original style block and be fine, but I guess the “wizard” didn’t know this. It’s a shame that it happened. One less on the road for everyone to enjoy.

pip bip - choose Corrour > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/28/2018 at 07:11

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your Ferrari now worthless?

i’ll give you tree-fiddy then

;)

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/28/2018 at 11:19

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Tree-fiddy and a random thing thing from your garage and we have a deal! :p

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor 08/30/2018 at 19:49

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Those cracks in PV are fucking serious lol. I was wondering what the hell the signs were talking about and then I drove on it and was made well aware they werent kidding.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/30/2018 at 20:11

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Yeah, it’s nice for about a week after they pave it. Then its downright treacherous until they do it again. My uncle took me through there the first day I visited CA then took me to the spot in San Pedro where the road actually fell in. Those memories are implanted in my brain.

I’m surprised more people do not catch air on that first drop haha