I would have posted this the night I had my accident, but the crash took first priority.

The day I had my accident, it was a Sunday I believe (probably exactly 2 weeks ago), I attended a brunch put on by the CT chapter of the Ferrari Club of New England. It was almost comic...it was like a high-class version of the Sopranos. Guys named Carmelo, Josepino...Anyway, I went with a friend (the only non-Ferrari owner in the group), and he introduced me around. Every single person I met asked me if I was a racecar driver - "you've got the perfect body!" (I'm 5'5", 135 lbs) and offered to help me start a career in open-wheel racing. It was pretty funny...

The guest of honor was Steve Matchett, who was a mechanic on the Benetton team that won the championship with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995. If any of you have seen the video of the blue Benetton car pulling into the pits and catching on fire and lighting up the crew - he was one of the guys on fire. He is now a commentator with Speedvision.

So, he regaled the crowd with a bunch of technical talk, which not many of them understood - a lot of them were just rich-guy Ferrari owners, but some actually race. I felt I was one of the more tech-savvy people in the room - those who have spent any length of time with me know I'm absolutely retarded when it comes to wrenching, so a lot of these Ferrari owners were just clueless.

So Matchett said that the thing that sets Schumacher apart from any other driver is that he has an absolutely photographic memory, and can remember the way the car reacts to any input whatsoever, lap by lap. He can then tell the crew exactly what to do - "add more rear wing for turn 3" for example, rather than "the car feels loose". It was an absolutely fascinating afternoon. At the end of the brunch I went up to talk a little racing with him, and the first thing out of his mouth was "you should be a racecar driver, you've got the perfect build." I was about to tell him "on the contrary, have you seen me drive?" but I decided not to spoil the moment.

 

are all racers built like toothpicks? 5'5" and 135?!?!??!

 

Ross, a few years ago I was fortunate enought to attend the National Ferrari Club meet at Ashburn Country Club. It was simply amazing! Virtually every color and shape of Ferrari ever built! Including the one that was supposed to be the very first one built and raced by Enzo, himself.

The guy that "invited" me was the Chief Instructor of the on-track activities at Summit Point that weekend.
That lucky dog got to drive F40s on the track, at speed!!!

Have a good day, Ed.

 

Ed, did you get to do any driving??

There werent many Ferraris at the event, only a 355 Spyder and my personal fave, a TestaROSSa. It was a rainy day so everyone had their BMWs, Benzes, etc.

The guy I went with told me that the members of the club were going to extend an invitation to me to join. If I ever get out on the track with some Ferraris I'll be sure to post pics!

 

Nope.
I'm not in their league !

 

I'm 5'8", 130lbs.....


Matt

 

i'm 6'0" and 190lbs, guess i'm stuck autocrossing.....

 

Yeah most people here on HT are huge. I am the smallest dude I have ever seen on the track. George Knighton is pretty huge, TypeRmsm is even bigger, and all the NC boys except Jack are 200+ lb monsters.

 

Hey, I resemble that remark...hahahaha. At 6' and 210 lbs.