my only big rock star story..

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redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
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once upon a time --when i made some serious $$ --
about 30 years ago --
i bought this extreme rare & elegant 50's ferrari --
got it relatively cheap --as it smoked -- ran poorly -
and nobody in the usa had parts or could fix it --

so - to me - it was just like some gorgeous boombox-
with NO sound -
it was just to look at & take photos -

and WAIT forever for a replacement 12 cylinder 250cc engine
to come along -- yeah right :'-( :sadno:
---------------------

i forget if i ever told the rest of the repair treat on this site :dunce: :dunce:
maybe -- the old s2g site --not sure ??
 

THAFUZZ

Member (SA)
May 5, 2009
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redbenjoe said:
once upon a time --when i made some serious $$ --
about 30 years ago --
i bought this extreme rare & elegant 50's ferrari --
got it relatively cheap --as it smoked -- ran poorly -
and nobody in the usa had parts or could fix it --

so - to me - it was just like some gorgeous boombox-
with NO sound -
it was just to look at & take photos -

and WAIT forever for a replacement 12 cylinder 250cc engine
to come along -- yeah right :'-( :sadno:
---------------------

i forget if i ever told the rest of the repair treat on this site :dunce: :dunce:
maybe -- the old s2g site --not sure ??

hey fatdog --
getting old :-O :-D
dont want to post the exact same story twice !!
did i already post this story ???
I don't remember it on S2g either :dunce: :popcorn:
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
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ok ---
so --after some months -- i went crazy --about having this gorgeous thing in my driveway -
that i could not hardly drive-

i wrote to the ferrari factory in maranello italy --

back in the 50s --they were just getting started as a race car outfit-
and the entire company only made about a dozen cars per month-
most were for the track -
and just a few actual passenger cars were customs made --' for $$ important people '

turns out - from my serial number -the factory said
that MINE was made for a famous french actor named maurice chavalier :yes:

well that was cute news --but not much good for me -
as i didnt care who owned it !!
all i wanted to do is wipe my friends 427 vette !! :w00t:

so ...................
heres the good part of my story .. :-)
they said they no longer have or make valves, etc for this engine :sadno:
but they gave me a lead to the ONLY shop they trust to recommend in the USA

they told me the owner had a mechanical engineering masters degree
and was a most careful // qualified machinist --" could make ANY part "

well --i didnt want to have it shipped $$ 3000 miles away ( the usa is big )
--but the incredible luck --i see the telephone code --
this shop is ONE hour away :thumbsup: :angelic: :angelic: :angelic:
--------------------

i call the owner (just knew his name was john )
--he sounded cool and gracious and said that he enjoys the challenge of getting
old ferraris back on the road -
and in fact - thats the ONLY brand he fixes ( and COLLECTS ) :drool: :thumbsup:

so --we made an appointment -
he told me his wife collected horses ( real ones ) --and his shop was hard to find --
--out in the boonies --dirt road --in a big barn
on their family horse farm :cool:

anyway -- i find the place --
not hard to tell which barn was his shop -
as the most incredible dozen 50's ferraris were parked-
all over the grass there -

-------------------------

contined shortly
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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florida
back to the story --

--i walk in --
SHOCKED !!!
the guy at the lathe --with grease all over his clothes-

was john geils --

the main honcho of the then VERY famous J.Geils Band

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... Dw&cad=rja

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... kQ&cad=rja

his band just had a long running #! ONE single = " centerfold "
GREAT MUSIC !!!

----------
most amazing --
no groupies -- anywhere :w00t: :w00t:
no papparrazi -- no press -- no music

just some serene trees and horses and old ferraris

:cool:
and the sound of those marvelous 12c motors
 

stormsven

Member (SA)
Jan 14, 2011
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:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
great story. A lot better to read Ira's stories than any movie. The only problem - must wait for the next part like for a weekly tv show :lol: .
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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florida
haha - thanks for reading my over-long stories :-)

the next part is just that he was/is a terrific and cool //normal type person- :cool:
family guy -
the band was fun for him - but that was his $$ business

the ferraris were his hobby and passion -

of course --he made all the valves -- perfectly -
and he & i had some FAST// exciting test drives together :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

the ferrari factory must have been right --
about he being their ONLY USA machinist -
because the old 50s cars that he had out there -
awaiting repairs-
were trucked in from all over this country :-O
-------------------------------------------------
extra fun for me --was to drive out there to visit his farm
and see all those gorgeous cars
--i had been a ' city boy' all my life

so it was great to get out to the county-side :-) :-)


incidentally -
we never talked much about music or groupies , etc -
his heart was all in those engines
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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hey adam --
seriously -
rent//see a movie from 5 years ago called "in her shoes "
look for me in the shuffleboard scene ( about the middle of the movie )
and especially - all 3 'out-takes' at the end

cameron was here -- hanging out with us ' old-timers'
at our trailer park -
for about a week
what a DOLL -

for looks and for her fun personality :drool: :drool:
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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florida
Superduper said:
redbenjoe said:
oops
--------

ok , then -
wanna RE-HEAR about the time when cameron diaz came over ??
:w00t: :lol: :yes: :yes: :drool: :drool:
Where were all the stars when I came over? All I saw were laborers? :huh: :hmmm:
-------------------------------

at the moments you were here -
jennifer lopez.......... ( us insiders call her J-LO ) :-P :lol:
was in town --prolly a hundred yards away --
REALLY !!!
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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florida
chris !!!
yes --it ran soooooooo smooth

like an idiot -- who knew ???? :dunce: :dunce:

i traded it --a few years later for a big-block vette
 
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