9/10/11
Road Trip to Illinois

Dyke Ridgely offered a batch of 330GT 2+2 parts from a car that was made into a replica. Although I stood the chance of holding on to these parts for as long as Dyke had them, I felt they were worth buying. Getting them was also a great excuse for a road trip and a chance to meet Dyke and his wife Sue!

Choosing the right companion on a long road trip can make or break a road trip. It’s a long time to spend in a car, and the wrong driving partner can make a long trip longer! I called my friend Mike Meehan, a 365GTC/4 owner and fellow gear head to help with the 2000 mile round trip to Illinois and back. We decided to drive through the night from Upstate NY through PA, OH, IN, and IL. I took my wife’s car for the weekend because it was the most fuel efficient, and would probably hold all the parts. With only a weekend to do this trip, we had a lot miles to cover.

Bad food on the interstates is a given when traveling in America, but I didn’t seem to fight it when I found myself stocking up on peanut M&Ms and beef jerky during our gas stops. I normally refrain from eating such stuff, but there’s something extremely satisfying about stuffing my face with junk food while the miles roll away! When I was in college, road trips involved a lot of coffee and cigarettes, so I guess beef jerky is healthier!

Dyke and Sue Ridgely gave Mike and me the full tour of their shop and personal collection of cars. Although I heard about the Ridgely’s through their long time involvement with Ferraris, their taste in cars spans as far back in time as the Marmon we’re seen standing in front of in their shop!

We spent several hours talking about their collection and involvement with cars. There was a strong Ferrari presence in the Chicago area when the Ridgelys bought their first Ferraris in the early 70s. Dyke and Sue have many stories about driving them, breaking down in them, and fixing them. I was very excited to talk shop with Dyke and hear his opinion on many technical aspects gleaned from years of restoring, prepping, and racing his and customer cars.

Soon our time had come to load up the car with our booty and head back east. We managed to squeeze everything in the back of he car with hardly any room to spare. My new motto should be “Pack Tight, Drive Fast!”

Reminder: If you have a Ferrari related project, car, or idea you’d like to explore, I’d love to talk to you. I can also help if you’re thinking of buying or selling. This website represents what I love to do, and now it’s how I make a living, so if you’d like to do something together, let me know. It all begins with an e-mail!

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