Seeing red: Ferrari now has a Gold Coast stable
GOLD Coast Mayor, Mr Power 100 and all-round man of the people Tom Tate was among a throng of 200 VIPs, millionaires and media hangers-on such as your humble Bizzy Bits reporters for the launch of the Gold Coast’s new Ferrari dealership in Southport on Wednesday night.
The Mayor, oft-billed as the Gold Coast’s most famous Ferrari owner, officially declared the swanky dealership open with his trademark off-cuff speaking style, much to the delight of the eclectic crowd.
Cr Tate relayed the highly-relatable story of the time he was kicking back at Palazzo Versace with Ferrari Australasia CEO Herbert Appleroth for the 70th anniversary of Ferrari.
“I don’t know how many Ferraris there were – hundreds,” he said.
“I was talking to Herbert and we’d had a few wines and I said ‘mate, I hear you’re working on a Ferrari dealership on the Gold Coast’.
“He said ‘how did you know?’ I said, ‘mate, I’m the frickin’ Mayor’.”
The frickin’ Mayor told the crowd he was onto his fifth Ferrari. “There’s only one regret – I wish I didn’t sell the other four,” he told the crowd to another round of laughs.
“When you drive it, it’s pure happiness – apart from being at home with your wife, of course.”
The Mayor didn’t hang around to elaborate on his latest purchase, but we’re reliably told it is an 812 Superfast Special Edition worth around $800,000 after being tricked up with accessories.
Guests at the launch were treated to the first Australian unveiling of Ferrari’s 488 Pista Spider and left with hand-poured “Maranello” candles, scented with “vintage leather and sandalwood” and named after the Italian city from whence the marque originates.