RIP John Apen | FerrariChat

RIP John Apen

Discussion in 'South Central - USA (TN, MS, AL, GA)' started by Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jun 13, 2019.

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  1. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,288
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    #1 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jun 13, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2019
    Ric Schuman just emailed me that John has passed away.

    SO many memories to list here. John sold me HIS 308 when my time to finally own one arrived.

    RIP
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  2. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,288
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    ---------- Original Message ----------
    From: Gloria Hunter
    To: Ric Schuman
    Date: June 13, 2019 at 12:57 PM
    Subject: John Apen

    Did not know if you heard about John passing away. Jamie got a call from Lenett, Kurts wife. He thinKS they were in Prague. This happened either yesterday or the day before. Eric flew over tO help Carol. Thought you would want to know. Gloria
     
  3. mjmccoymd

    mjmccoymd Rookie

    Aug 29, 2005
    24
    Lawrenceville, GA (USA) & Montegridolfo, Italy
    Full Name:
    Michael McCoy
    Condolences to the family.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  4. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,742
    Very sad to hear this. Wonderful man.
    RIP and my sincere condolences to the family.
    Here's a pic showing John R. Apen in July 1978 in his #0919 GT (250 LWB Cal Spy) at Road America.

    Marcel Massini

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  5. Lanikai

    Lanikai Formula Junior

    Dec 18, 2003
    751
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Will Campbell
    I didn't know John other than to have met him. He was part of a small circle of people who helped establish the Ferrari brand in the US. Certainly, he and his partners put Ferrari of the map in the Southeast. It's sad to see the guys who pioneered the brand leaving us. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.
     
  6. 4re308

    4re308 F1 Rookie

    Jun 13, 2001
    4,813
    Woodstock, GA
    Full Name:
    Mitch D
    WOW I am so sorry to hear this. I knew John and Ewing since 1983. Incredible loss for the Ferrari community!! My sincere condolences to the Apen family.
     
  7. Doctor Mark

    Doctor Mark Formula Junior

    Dec 15, 2005
    870
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Mark Gronsbell
    So sad to hear of his passing. I remember John well from my FAF days dating back to 1975. He did so much to foster the brand here in Atlanta and was a true gentleman and Ferraristi . I remember the ride he gave me at Road Atlanta in his TDF. Yikes.
    RIP.
     
  8. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    21,653
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    he have a bio ? saw his linkdin page. what year was he born ?
     
  9. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2003
    2,086
    Full Name:
    gone 4 good
     
  10. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2003
    2,086
    Full Name:
    gone 4 good
    I drove to Eric's garden store this morning to try to get a few more details, and he was there! His brother flew to Prague to be with his mom. Eric was incredibly calm and conducted business as like any other typical day. Said John was 82, and had a full, rich life. He was in a medically-induced coma for several days, which gave family members time to psychologically prepare for the worse.
    Too early for any news regarding a public service or memorial.
     
  11. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

    Nov 20, 2003
    2,086
    Full Name:
    gone 4 good
    John and an up-and-coming necktie salesman, conversing at a FCA National Meet at Palm Beach Gardens in 1986 or '87. Mr Massini: Is this car 0919?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  12. RenaissanceMan

    Aug 13, 2004
    29
    Nashville, TN
    Full Name:
    Adam Nitti
    Oh wow, I remember John well. I will have to let my father know. My sincere condolences to the family.
     
  13. Rick Charles

    Rick Charles Rookie

    Jun 14, 2019
    13
    lawrenceville,ga 30044
    John"s passing was certainly a shock to those of us who worked with him. Regarding the question about the pictures posted, the first one is 0919 and the second is not. 0919 was still in pieces in the mid 80's. I hadn't started the mechanical rebuild at that point. Rick
     
  14. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,288
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    When he sold me his 308 QV I went to his house to pick it up. Sitting next to it was a California Spider all covered up and unrestored. It was the first "something" Cal Spider. I don't know which first he was referring to but he told me he found it in Puerto Rico and at the time (97) was having trouble getting a good history on the car. I even recall a column he wrote in Sports Car Market asking for help which would tell me this predates the Classiche program.

    You know anything about that car?
     
  15. Patek

    Patek Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2006
    1,904
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    John Milton Denton
    Wow.... sorry to hear this. We bought this White 1975 308 GT4 from John in 1975. Then bought the first car FAF ever sold as a "new" Ferrari Dealer which was in 1976, and it was the 308 GTB fiberglass. Even back then John said "Buy the old stuff". He offered us a 288 GTO when they first came out, but the $96,000 was just so far out of the question.
     

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  16. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,288
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    John drove one of the first 308's in the country from NJ to Atlanta back in 76. Certainly the first in the southeast.

    Is yours that one?
     
  17. Patek

    Patek Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2006
    1,904
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    John Milton Denton
    Ours was just the First "New" Ferrari of any sort to be sold by FAF, we just bought a new car every year, so the fact it was Fiberglass was not a big deal. It could have been anything. I don't know where the first 308 in America was shipped to or sold. Don't know if Foreign Cars Italia, or somebody would have gotten one, ,maybe some of the older dealer in the North East would have had the very first. But there were just not that many back then. Not sure if Charlie Kemp still had his dealership in Jackson, but Charlie had tons of great cars by Ferrari. Would be fun to know who had the First Fiberglass 308.
    Best,
    John
     
    of2worlds likes this.
  18. Continental AutoSports

    Sponsor

    Aug 22, 2006
    4,393
    Hinsdale, IL
    Full Name:
    Bobby Williams / Parts Manager
    Our condolences, a terrible loss.
     
  19. Steve Ahlgrim

    Steve Ahlgrim Rookie

    Dec 8, 2003
    34
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Full Name:
    Steve Ahlgrim
    Oh to have been there for that conversation.
     
  20. chrisj951

    chrisj951 Karting

    Feb 18, 2015
    194
    Metro Atlanta
    RL was well on his way to being a billionaire by 86/87. Great picture though. He had purchased his first Ferrari in 1985, which was his black Daytona Spyder.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  21. Bob Zambelli

    Bob Zambelli F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,492
    Manning, SC
    Full Name:
    Robert G. Zambelli
    John Apen was a true "good guy".
    Honest and knowledgeable.
    When he and Ewing Hunter were running FAF in Tucker, Georgia, I bought the first twelve cylinder car they sold, my 330 GTC.
    It was advertised in the classifieds in Road and Track.
    That was November, 1975 - and YES, I still have it!
    I believe they purchased it from Ed Waterman.
    John and I stayed in constant touch for more than twenty years.
    He was a genuinely fine asset to the Ferrari community.

    Bob Z.
     

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