WINNING LETTER
LOCAL TIFOSI (1)
I was pleasantly surprised when the cover of the latest CAR included almost only Ferraris. I have always loved these cars, something I believe I got from my father. He made me watch F1 in the early 1990s and then turned off the TV if both of the red cars were out of the race, claiming it wasn’t worth watching if there wasn’t a Ferrari competing. It is something I also do.
Reading about the Superfast, the Laferrari Aperta (I saw your team in this car in Gordon’s Bay) and the CAR team’s favourite Ferraris absolutely made my day. I have made peace with the fact that I may never own or even drive one of these cars, but I have been fortunate enough to see some of the rarest and most beautiful Ferraris both in South Africa, at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, and in Europe, most recently at Louwman Museum in The Hague, a place I can most certainly recommend.
I was busy reading my copy for the third or fourth time in bed when my wife made a few comments about the looks of the Aperta and then asked how much it would cost in South Africa. When I informed her it was R38 million, she could not contain her disgust. “How could anyone justify spending that kind of money on a car?” I was speechless. I had absolutely no explanation to give her. All I know is that if I had that kind of money lying around, and Ferrari selected me to be one of the caretakers of an Aperta, I would grab it with both hands. I just couldn’t find the right words to explain to her how I felt about Ferrari. I think it is because I know that I have always liked cars, but I have always loved Ferrari. And you can’t explain love to anyone; they have to experience it on their own.
Thank you for the best issue I have received in a very long time. I am sure I will be forced to buy a second copy soon, as mine is already showing signs of wear and tear. Faul Greeff Gordon’s Bay [Inspirational words, thank you Faul! The Laferrari Aperta is eye-wateringly expensive, but we can all be grateful that some people can justify the price. Without these customers, cars like the Aperta wouldn’t exist ... and the world would be a poorer place for it – editor.]