Meaning of a Challenge Stradale

I agree with you. I'm thinking the fear of something breaking keeps these Cars w/ low miles. When talking to Guys who do track their F-Cars or other sports Cars, they all seem to have a greater appreciation for what these Cars represent. Learning to handle these machines at higher rates of speed, braking, makes for better control on the street. Almost all track guys, respect the power and very rarely race or speed on public roads. I'd say a very high percent of F-Car wreaks on public road happen with non-track experience drivers...

 

James, I agree with your sentiments.

I started out looking for a 430 back in 2006 and then shifted my focus on the 550 and ended up buying a Barchetta.
I was very hesitant about driving my Barchetta which only had 2900 miles.
I started driving it after my purchase in the spring and even tracked it one day to see mine and the cars capability. I do drive my Barchetta on a regular basis.

I am seriously looking at a CS at the moment and I would definitely intend on driving and bringing the car out to the track to appreciate the engineering and purpose for it's existence.

Cars are pieces of equipment that need to be used and maintained like any other piece of equipment ever manufactured.
I also have an 05 575 that I do take to the track and the more miles I accumulate, the better it runs.

There is a definite difference between use and abuse whether driving the car or not. A car that does not get driven needs to be properly maintained (ie: by not running the engine over a period of many months and allowing seals in all mechanical components of the vehicle to dry out is asking for problems when one decides to take the car for a drive).

I guess people who buy the CS all buy for different reasons: appreciation of the CS, admiration of the CS, collectibility, engineering, trackability, museum piece, or just to drive it as often as possible.

Whether driven or not, proper repairs & maintenance is key to ensure this car gets the respect it deserves!

My .02 cents

 

I drove mine every chance I got and ofcourse tracking a few times too. The only down side to the CS is that it lacks of torque on a low end especially at the track when I come out of a turn.

 

Yes. That is exactly what I have mine for... All of those - exactly.

Really? I have yet to find that as an issue.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiG7ArxxmE&list=UU7rc9Vo1R5_LmTAeBxSURyQ&index=1]Three for the Road - America - YouTube[/ame]

 

Michael,

Great video, car and music!!

ps. I am curious as to what tires you run on your CS?
Do you use different tires on the street vs the track?
Thanks.

 

I'm curious: are you really expecting an answer, or are you asking the question rhetorically, that is, as a way of expressing your own position?

 

Damm I love it. Excellent video. Id give anything to be on the track right now. Great to see boys enjoying their toys. You only live once.

 

Thank you man. My 15 year old did the video. Yeah I have two sets of wheels/tires... But nothing elaborate. One set is for show (perfect original wheels, expensive zero hard-mile street tires) - the other set is just a used set of CS wheels with the original Pirelli Corsa system tire set that came on the car (semi soft compound & not spoken highly of on here in general). That suits my use well.

Thank you thank you. I agree wholeheartedly

 

That was a great video! Looks like you had a blast and that what a CS was built for, to enjoy. I'm admiring your driving skill.

 

My CS (as every Ferrari I have had), has done every duty....... trips, track, shops....

The CS' character is very close to the F40 (which is the only car I ever regret going away). It embodies what a Ferrari is meant to be. It is as comfortable on the road or at the track, and gives a visceral experience, that never fails to put a smile on my face. THAT is the makings of a future classic

Get one while you can. There are only so many, and they are already headed north.

 

That was excellent Michael! Even got my pulse up a few notches Tell your son that he did a great job!

Cheers-Colin

 

Michael,

Do you drive or trailer your car to the track?

 

Thank you guys. I will tell my Son your reactions while we are watching the 24 of Daytona today

George, I do both. Depending on who wants to come. If its just me & one of my boys / We drive. If its me & the whole family / then we pack up the Ram Hemi, squeeze the Stradale into the enclosed trailer (the Strad is nearly as wide as the trailer - cant open the doors once inside) turn on the A/C and off we go.

I would have no problem driving it to every event though. That GT3 in the video drove in & joined me from 16 hours away (Colorado) & I plan on doing the same for him (drive to him in CS) as well.

I hear that you only live once. Life is just too short not to.

 

Just Curious MB. How many years (or hours) have you been tracking your cars and what cars have you tracked? You make driving that fast on a track look easy and like a lot of fun!

 

Michael,

I used to do the same as you with my GT3. I had a ram crew cab and a trailex trailer. My trailer had the side doors to exit. It was nice but a bit of a hassle loading and unloading it and changing tires out. My next car I will not be tracking that often and plan on driving it to the track, but I'm a little apprehensive of tire wear.

 

Oh you caught me.

Driving is certainly a lot of fun. I started competitive driving in the eighties. I went up through the ranks of SCCA right up to obtaining my Pro license. I then drove open wheel, ran Barber Dodge cars, then tested for a Indy Lights team / that ended up going bust just as I ran out of sale-able youth.

I have been strapped in every conceivable car from Renault to Reynard but have always done best with rear engine stuff - either production or tube constructed.

I still hold a lap record at that track on the video - but I really don't drive that hard anymore. Most of those laps look relaxed & easy because I am just rolling on the throttle trying to keep someone in the view of the camera. Its just a street car anyhow, & there is no prize money at the end of the day!

But thanks for your kind words. It does make me feel like an old baseball player remembering his hey-day though !

 

You sandbagger! - LOL

Seriously, I was thinking to myself while watching the clip, "man those CSs sure track true!" Then I watched the clip again and noticed how smooth you were with the steering, no jerkiness and how you controlled you were rolling on the power. Should've known you were at home on the track

Great job again.

Cheers-Colin

 

True, especially compared to a Scud.

You'll notice it back to back against a Scud/16M. Don't get me wrong, CS is plenty fast on and off track.

 

Nice vid!! Love the soundtrack. That's right where the CS deserves to be.... the track! Here's our group at a summer and fall outing.
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That is superb. I know you may be planning a large CS gathering sometime in the future West Coast style. I may entertain joining in (long distance award candidate) if you cement a date for that in the future. I have a relative in Orange County I could ship the car to then make it an easy arrive & drive.

Of course you all could join me at the 50th anniversary FCA event at Road America this year too ...

 

I enjoyed tracking mine at Road Atlanta. The car def needs better tires than the Fred Flintstone Pirelli Rossos that were on it. RE-11's going on in April. Track day access was a factor in my moving to Vegas. The local Porsche and Corvette clubs are very active with track days and the two active tracks are within 50 mins of my house.

 

150 miles through the redwoods and to the beach yesterday...or I guess I coulda washed it and stared at it in the garage... Image Unavailable, Please Login


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i bought my cs to have something weapons grade to take to the track. and thats what i did. i took it to a small track in alsace called anneau du rhin, and have also gone to imola, mugello, and fiorano with it. it suffered a few issues and i had it returned to new condition, which cost about 28k.

then i took it on the mille miglie tribute, where it suffered a few more issues, which i had rectified for another 10k.

then i started to think a bit about what i was doing. i calculated that if i continued to follow this kind of track and adventure schedule i was going to end up spending a lot more money, and abusing a car that was rising in value....not good math.

i concluded that if i did indeed go for more track time, i would be better off buying a 360 challenge race car. the cost of the car and spares is about 80k, and the yearly cost of consumables would be about 20k. and if i shared it with a friend, since i cant drive it more than a few times per season anyway, then it would be half this amount...

so that is why my cs now does not go to the track anymore.

 

Fun thread to read. The CS would be high on my list of F cars to own.




PDG