Fallback Ferrari
Nick’s other car is ill – cue Maranello’s finest!
1989 FERRARI 328
‘I’ve always loved Ferraris, I had pictures of them up on my wall as a child. I never thought I’d be able to afford one, but I managed to saved up and get my 355. It was supposed to be here, but the Italian gremlins took over and it broke down five miles from home, so the 355 was recovered to the garage and I brought my 328 up instead.
‘It’s a bit more sedate, more of a weekend cruiser, whereas the 355 is all about drama and excitement. It also has a different configuration – the 355 has a 3.5-litre V8, the 328 has a transverse 3.2 V8 at the back of the car. It’s got a dogleg gearbox and no power steering so it’s very manual – a nice driver’s car.
‘I noticed the Bears at the NEC about ten years ago; I thought what they were doing was very admirable and seemed like fun too. By then I owned a couple of cars, so I thought I had something to offer too, so I signed up. It’s a nice thing to do and it felt weird being the one stared at in a Ferrari, having been the one doing just that a few years before. This way I get to involve people instead and show them what the car is like.
‘My best memory with the Bears is when I was helping at an event in Leeds Castle. I was doing the last run of the day and the traffic was getting pretty bad, so I didn’t think it was the best ride. At the end, the boy I had been driving around just turned to me and said: “You’ve made my day”. It really took me aback and that’s what keeps me doing it – everyone who comes really wants to be in the car.’