My Weekend

Well it is full blown summer! With temps in the 110+ range. Car events have come to a halt, weekly cruise nights happen later and don't last long. A good percentage of the FCA membership is out of town for the summer, and other than early morning runs, it is just too hot to drive an old Ferrari around. I have been aching for a drive in my car. To make it short it has been over a year since I have been able to take it out.

Last summer I performed a lot of maintenance on the car, a valve adjustment, belt change, new AC compressor, new AC dryer, CV boots, New Thermostat, New gaskets in various leaking areas...etc. Soon after that I decided to treat my self to having a shop do the last bit I needed, a small repair in my radiator. That was the worst decision of my young ownership, the shop ended up damaging my passenger door and have yet to make good on it. The damage was minor, but two reputable body shops explained the difficulty of matching 25 year old silver paint. So an entire new paint job is what I opted for. It took the body shop 6 months to complete the job. I got the car back in March and immediately put a clear bra on the front to preserve the new paint job, well I waited the 45 days required. Of course planning our concorso was my main job and took up most my time so I did not drive the car until after that was over. Last month I took the car out for one of the last FCA events before the summer. The day was very hot and my car overheated. My left cooling fan, had stopped working. So last week after upgrading to Hayden fans and spending 8 hours waxing and detailing the car, I was itching to do something.

I decided to get up early and drive to northern Arizona and have some time alone. Being a proud father of two grade schoolers, I am not alone very often. I packed up and hit the road before sunrise. Top off and car packed with only the essentials, including my camera of course. The drive up was unbelievable. No traffic all the way up, watching the sunrise over the desert was fantastic, I really wanted to stop and take pictures but there just wasn't a good spot to do it. Early morning going through Payson, then Pine, then Strawberry was amazing, not another car on the road and the temp was just perfect. The car was agile and seemed to need this trip as much as I did. It was nice to see the temp gauge acting normally. The car ran better and better the more I got on it. The mountain roads were perfect for the car. I hit a little rain outside of Strawberry, but just a brief shower it was just beyond words.

I pulled into Mormon Lake, where I had reserved a cabin for the night, at 8am. The temperature was almost too cool for the top off, but I enjoyed it considering I new when I got out of the car I wouldn't have the signature sweat stain on the back of my shirt, that all Arizona Ferrari owner are familiar with from May-October. The skys were clear and beautiful, I drove up the gravel road into the woods to my cabin. I took some time to wipe off all the road grime and bugs off the car and then covered the car up. I went for a quick hike then returned to my cabin and passed out, I was awakened about an hour later by a strange sound, the skies had darkend and opened up a down pour. The cover I had on the car was not water proof and the top was still off, luckily it had just started and the trees where catching most of the water, I ran out and struggle to get the top on with the cover still on to keep the interior from getting wet, I was successful. It rained the entire day. Considering I haven't seen rain in Phx in 70+ days it was nice, but ruined my plans of a multitude of scenic pictures with the Ferrari.

In the morning the skies were clear again the car was still wet from the rains but still looked great. I left very early so I could catch sunrise again in the mountains. It was breathtaking! I started heading home going through Flagstaff then south through oak creek canyon and Sedona. I stopped in Sedona for gas and the car was filthy the water had dried and it looked like a barn find I was appauled at how it looked. I quickly found a car wash and spent an hour cleaning it up for the remainder of the drive home. This drive could not have gone better the roads were fantastic and the car performed flawlessly, I was having so much fun driving that I didn't even stop to take pictures. Traffic was a non factor the entire weekend. I only saw three Police officers the entire weekend and all were about an hour away from home on my return. 455 miles and an unforgettable weekend. I really wish I would do this more. It is so nice to really enjoy the things you own, I mean I like going to car shows and meeting the guys for coffee and lunch, but on the road and having the freedom to just go it priceless. Taking the time to just enjoy the fortune of owning such an iconic car.

Sorry this was so long.
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I guess that is where we are a little more fortunate, I am only an hour away form sub-90 degrees and 2 hours from low 80s. Leaving early was the key. I need to get out more often.

 

Thanks john, I am really pleased with how the car came out and it is GREAT to be back to enjoying it.