Tuesday, April 17, 2012


What sound, what presence…bellisima macchina

Let me build this story a bit to get in the appropriate frame of mind.  My route home takes me in front of the new Porsche dealership, which happens to be very modern and sleek yet sadly hidden behind the off ramp from the highway.  Someone must have gotten a great deal on the land because it is rather inaccessible and takes away from the experience.  I also happen to go by the Ferrari dealership, which in this case is rather ugly and is overshadowed by the much more attractive Audi dealership.  I guess that the Ferrari dealer can get away with the cars being the shining jewels in the rather ugly crown that is their building.  You don’t stable beautiful stallions in a shack.  I think that if I had the money I would fly to Italy to buy my car in Maranello just for the full experience.  But, I digress.  Back to the story.  As I am driving home yesterday on IH10 in San Antonio, TX I notice that right behind me is a 458 Italia.  Black on black with a menacing frown, wide, and very sleek.  My little MazdaSpeed 3 looks like a toy by comparison.  The weather is overcast and it is a fine temperature outside.  So, I turn off my radio as I want to hear this cavallino as it rolls down the road.  I roll down the windows and when the highway opens up he gives it a bit of gas and passes me on the right.  I have to admit that the black color is not as attractive as Ferrari Rosso but I like it nonetheless.  As he goes by I can see the yellow brake calipers.  They pop out and make the wheels look astonishing.  This is getting better by the minute.  I can hear a snarl coming from his trio of exhaust pipes coming out dead center in the back.  I am fully engaged now.  The sound, the presence, the angular and purposeful body lines, it all takes me to another place.  I don’t even try to catch up to him.  What for?  I have been in the presence of a God and being a mere mortal I can only smile knowing that such a beautiful sight is rare and should be filed away for future recollection.  



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