The Suffering Is Worth It

"mikecyc72usa" (mikecyc72usa) 01/03/2015 at 02:52 • Filed to: Ferrari

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The last time I filled your screens with an update, I was talking about the trials of my epic journey from Austin, TX to Hilton Head, SC. It took me several days (in reality maybe an hour or two each day) to get all the problems sorted. Short version: high ethanol content turned the insides of my four year old rubber fuel lines to dust, a float bowl chamber was slightly off center on the front carb, and the O-ring that seals the top of the fuel pump was leaking badly. I'm happy to say, all is well and on the 4th I depart for home.

Not all was doom and gloom, though. First, I got to play with my mom's Miata and Dad's Triumph TR8. The 8 has a Holley 4bbl and uprated cam, pus an Edelbrock intake. It's just slightly quick, and sounds incredible.

As well as be entertained by the 8-9 foot alligator in the pond behind the house., "King Ollie". As if this wasn't enough, I took a few side trips, and got to play with some serious machinery. Like a Ferrari 500 Mondial.

Yup, that's a 348 Challenge car in the background. Yawn. It was the least exciting and honestly, junkiest car there. Before I set off there were some other neat pieces of history to check out.

Yup, that is THE Lola T70 once owned and raced by John Surtees. Pretty impressive stuff. Then it was go through start and warmup procedures for the 500, and take it for a nice spin. After a great lunch at Clary's Cafe, it was time to head back to reality and you know, drive a modern four door sedan.

Besides cars, I love trains equally as much. My parents claim this has been the case since I was born. Being in Savannah, I checked out the Georgia State RR Museum. If you're ever in Savannah, go. It's really interesting, even for the non train enthusiast. I ended up in the cab of their 44 ton GE diesel for a bit while the excursion train was being put away. Not quite a Mondial, but I'll take it.

I ended my day there with a tour of the executive cars on display. I love to see them, as each one is different. It's neat to see how company officers traveled 60 years ago and longer. Not quite as decadent as the Patron Tequila Express car I spent a night on during Austin City Limits a year ago, but still really impressive.

Now the train museum didn't end my adventures. Since then my dog has seen the Atlantic, I've checked out a few cars for sale with my dad, (Triumph, MG, Jag, Ferrari and Maserati) and driven a few more choice cars his friends own. The Maserati Ghibli convertible prototype, as well as an FIA 289 Cobra, a Morgan, and a few early Jags and Healeys. It's a shame I have to leave soon.