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 1/43 scale Handbuilt Models
 Lunch with Mario Andretti
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  09:14:03  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yesterday, April 15th was a memorable day. My son Matt and I attended a local Ferrari Club event with Mario Andretti at his winery in the Napa Valley. The weather was perfect and the drive through the twisty backroads to Napa was spectacular. Our group included 430s, 599 HGTE, 365 GTC/4, 360s, 430 Scuderia, 512TRs, Testarossa, 355s, even a black Enzo! The Pacific Region chapter also joined in and we all converged in Napa and filled the parking lot at Mario's winery. There were 71 Ferraris in all. I had the only 355 Berlinetta, you will see it in the pics. Follow this link, then click on "Gallery" on the left nav bar, then "2012 Lunch with Mario" to see photos. Mario spoke during lunch and shared some great stories about his days with Enzo Ferrari, racing with Lotus and stories about Paul Newman. I think there will be video links eventually so I will keep checking the FCA site.
http://fcapr-sac.org/

Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  09:17:15  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  09:18:31  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I brought a model of Mario's World Champion Lotus 79 and he graciously signed the base. This model is going to a very happy customer in Canada today.
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  09:19:49  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
A friend of mine snapped this photo of yours truly with our host.
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PeterW

USA
1216 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  10:07:27  Show Profile  Visit PeterW's Homepage  Reply with Quote
That is very cool...I met Mario at the St Pete GP a few years ago. He is a super nice guy!
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PeterW

USA
1216 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  10:08:45  Show Profile  Visit PeterW's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ferrarinut

I brought a model of Mario's World Champion Lotus 79 and he graciously signed the base. This model is going to a very happy customer in Canada today.




The front wheels fell off!

Just joking :))))
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43rdsizbrn

USA
40 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  11:38:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Doesn't look to me like he was paying attention when Graham took out his grandson in Long Beach.

JW
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  12:05:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Mario was supposd to be at Long Beach but preferred this event with the Ferrari Club. He spoke about it during the lunch.
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250GTE

Netherlands
295 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  12:29:39  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
That is so cool. Mario Andretti is easily one of my all time heroes, given the career that he has had. And seems like a great guy.

Mike, is that the 355 in "Porsche" yellow? I thought you sold that car?!?
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LaSource

356 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  12:32:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ok, but how was the wine?
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  13:42:47  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
My first 355 was sold to Rainer Goetzke, it is now in Germany. I then went through 4 different sportscars before buying another 355, same year and color. Before I had the first 355, I had a Porsche 993 C4S that was painted in Ferrari Giallo Modena rather than Porsche Speed Yellow, maybe you were thinking of that car? The 355 is Giallo Modena. I have added Challenge wheels, Tubi test pipes, original factory Challenge exhaust (deafening), not really appropriate for street but oh well. I also added H&R progressive springs, big improvement in handling and car sits lower like a Challenge car. Also added the Challenge grille and "355Challenge" badge on rear. Eventually I will add a big Brembo kit with drilled rotors like those used on the Challenge cars, also a harness bar behind the seats to add the 6-point belts and maybe OMP Challenge seats again but those are not very practical for street use. I had them in my former 355 and sold them. The Challenge cars came in many different configurations, some more "raw" than others and some more like street cars with full carpet and working headlights for example.
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Ferrarinut

USA
1489 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  13:44:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The wine was excellent but I am probably not the best judge, my preference is mirco-brew beers.
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43rdsizbrn

USA
40 Posts

Posted - 04/16/2012 :  14:35:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Doesn't look to me like he was paying attention when Graham took out his grandson in Long Beach.

JW
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dvamodels

USA
26 Posts

Posted - 05/16/2012 :  06:04:22  Show Profile  Visit dvamodels's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hello Mike, congrats on your new Ferrari 355, it sounds really cool from the way you describe it. And congrats also on the passion for micro brew beers. If you will happen to be in Maryland you should stop by here again and try the batch of IPA that me and a friend of mine are making.
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