My experiences with Ferraris have mostly been from the sidelines, but
I had the incredible opportunity to drive a friend-of-a-friend's 1985 Testarossa
in Puerto Rico, on a deserted open road that some people call "Mugello"
;)
I can't remember when I started getting into Ferraris, but that day
my devotion was pleasantly justified as I learned something about why Ferrarisstand
clearly apart, in many ways, from other man-made things. What stands
out most in my mind was shifting - as I familiarized myself with the car,
I looked at the gated gearbox and immediately was reminded about a musical
instrument. So clean, so perfect. And so confidence inspiring.
I shifted like Alboreto that day!
But, unike the late piloto, I never took it out of third gear and here's why: The owner and I exchanged places, and after I strapped in he said: "Only 3 people have driven this car before: Me, my mechanic, and my wife. I don't even let my brother drive it." Ok, 3rd gear it is... Still, my friend was following in a Dodge Viper and said we were doing 90. Honestly, the speed is not what stands out the most, but rather that feeling of playing a musical instrument (not just the engine sound, you know). Your pictures remind me of that feeling.
Luis Soto