Went to the Lyon County Fly-In today. Sighted nothing more interesting than a couple Cessnas. Disappointed, I continued to Sparks to pick up a glow plug for the 300D. On the way back I spotted a Ferrari 599. Red, as is typical, and driven at the speed limit by an old guy. He passed me as I was getting on the freeway, and I later passed him (with considerable satisfaction even though I was only doing 70). The car was surprisingly quiet, and I couldn't hear the exhaust over the wind noise. I used to see Ferraris fairly often when I was going to school in Atlanta, but this is the first one I've seen in Nevada. I did once see a 550 Marenello in (of all places) Bishop, CA.

Later I went for a run around town and spotted a Ducati headed south on the main drag. We were going opposite directions, but I had time to see that it was red, as is typical, and I'm pretty sure it was a 1098. I had no trouble hearing the sounds emanating from this one

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I got to drive one for an hour on the back roads around Napa recently. Spent an hour each in a Lambo Super Gallardo, Audi R8 (V10 Quattro), Ferrari 599 GTB, Bentley Supersport (V12 twin trubo) and a lowly Jag XJR or something like that was hanging out with teh wrong company.

The Ferrari was my favorite of the bunch. Power from 3 to 9k rpm, easy to drive, well mannered and gave you the confidence to push the car within minutes of hopping into the drivers seat. Hit redline on it a bunch. Fun, fun.

The Bentely was teh most expensive and my second favorite. Amazing how a 5000lb car like that feels like it was on rails going around 10 - 15 mph corners. The Audi was the easiest to drive. Lambo was like sitting on a skateboard doing 100mph and with ceramic brakes would be almost undrivable around town.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Good to know. I looked up a review of the 599 on youtube last night and the reviewer said many of the same things. Driving a Ferrari is on my bucket list, as is riding a Ducati.

What program did you go through to get to drive these cars? Cost?

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

It was worldclassdriving.com Cost was ~$1,700.00. Was a perk through work. Not something I would ahve done for myself but having done it I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves cars. Paddle shifters and 600hp in a high end sports car is a blast.

You drive each car on your own in a 7 car convoy. Staff has a pace car with professional driver, communication gear and scanners, followed by another staff member in a chase car.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)