I was recently invited to join a private group on Facebook. Nothing new there, it happens all the time. But this one was a little different and out of my norm (or league depending on how you look at it). It was about driving exotic cars.
No, not like the kind where you pay to drive a supercar on the track and not ME driving one. It was a group of guys who own high- (and higher) end exotic cars who like to actually use them for which they were designed — to be driven!
What The Hell Am I Doing Here?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how the hell I got invited. My ’66 Fairlane is badass and can keep up with most anything out there. It has the engine and trans from a 2010 Shelby GT500, so it’ll move out, but it’s not “exotic” or supercar status.
I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, though, and figured I’d give it a shot. At least maybe I could meet a different group of enthusiasts. I love ALL cars; even Mustangs are starting to grow on me (I’ve been known to throw a meme or two out there about them).
I had this thought about what this event was going to be like. It would be a bunch of rich snobby people idling their exotic cars around in a parking lot. They would be like Todd and Margo from Christmas Vacation — dudes in loafers with sweaters tied around their necks. Ok, maybe not the sweaters, it was bloody HOT and even Todd wouldn’t be that dumb!
The Arrival
I took my friends Mike and Elizabeth along for the ride. We got to the designated parking lot a little early and there were already two Ferrari 308’s there, like in the old Magnum P.I. cars. There they sat side-by-side gloriously sweltering in the heat; identical in every way, red with tan interior and the Targa tops removed. Nobody was around; we could’ve just hopped in and driven off.
Mike snapped a couple of pictures and Elizabeth found us a spot on a picnic table out of the sun. We sat there for a few minutes talking about what “this” was, what we’d expect it to be like, and who did I know in the group. Unfortunately, I couldn’t answer any of those questions. A few minutes later and the show began to start! Cars started appearing into the corner grocery from all directions and backing into spots beside the Fairlane.
The first car was a Lexus LC 500. To my surprise, my friend Eddie stepped out of it. I know him from hot rods; he has an AC Cobra replica. I had no idea he had a Lexus, but it was good to know I knew someone there. As he came over to greet us at the table, the spots started filling fast. The next was a brand new screaming red Acura NSX, and it sounded MEAN! Someone dropped some extra change at the exhaust shop.
An Aston Martin pulled in next to Eddie, then a Porsche Cayman GT4 and a 997.2 turbo, and a couple of Corvettes — one a Z06. Things were looking race-y! I figured I’d be the only old car, but then my friend Jeremy pulled up in his ‘70 Olds Cutlass convertible and parked next to one of the Porsches. It turns out he was just on his way to the gym and stumbled upon this impromptu car show and wondered what was going on. Everyone was finding shelter at picnic table pavilion and we ended up chatting as the eye candy continued rolling in. There were no “Todd’s” in the bunch. They were all super nice — they were car enthusiasts just like me! They just have more money (or bigger credit card debt!).
The Exotic Cars Keep Coming
An “original” NSX drove in, then a stunning blue Lamborghini and a black AMG Mercedes backed in next to the building. Finally, another vintage car rolled in, but it was the British kind; a Jaguar E-type with that famous tilt-front bonnet. Next was a black Porsche GT3 with yellow stripes and another Cayman. Then, yet another vintage car pulled in — a blue with white stripes 1971 Firebird — it was MINT! Next in line was a Dodge Viper, also blue with white stripes.
The final arrivals to the “car show” were two heavy-hitter exotic cars, both red. One was a 2005 Ford GT with white stripes and the other was a Ferrari 458. My party at the picnic table was over when they arrived as everyone flocked over to admire them. But, there wasn’t much time left until the organizer called everyone together to go over the route.
I still didn’t know what to expect on this cruise, but as I listened to the route one thing was for sure — it was going to be twisty! I listened to the lefts and rights being thrown in there and figured whoever I get behind, I’m not going to let them out of my site or risk getting lost in the countryside. We were all released to our cars as passersby grabbed their last photos.
And Away We Go
I fired up the Fairlane and ended up in line behind the black GT4 at the light to turn left onto the road we were starting on. Some of the group went out of the other entrance and didn’t get held up at the light. I figured they would be creeping along waiting for the rest of us to catch up. I thought WRONG!
I don’t even remember who was at the front, but when the light turned green, it might as well have been an F1 race as they shot up and over the hill. Any questions I had about what kind of drive it was going to be were answered immediately when the GT4 move away in front of me. It was TIME TO GO! I shifted into second and floored it as the supercharger started singing on the 5.4L mod motor. It was going to be in for a workout.
Things did calm down shortly afterward as we came across a cyclist enjoying the peace and tranquility of the calming twists and turns. So much for that . . . sorry, dude! We started getting split up as we took our time giving him his three-feat space. As soon as he could see over the next ridge though, he waved us clear and we were off again. Mind you, we were doing 100mph through the countryside, it was too twisty for that, but we were surely carving some corners.
Mike and Elizabeth were holding on for dear life trying to keep from sliding across my vinyl bench seats. Surprisingly, the old Fairlane was hanging pretty well with the GT4 and my supercharger evened the playing field when we got to the straights. I wasn’t going to let him out of my sight either, I knew there were some intersections coming up and I didn’t have a map. My friend Eddie in the Lexus was behind me but got held up at one of those intersections and missed a turn, so now the Viper was behind me. Man, those things look mean in your rearview mirror!
Back To Where We Started
After a few more twisties through the countryside, we made a turn onto the far-reaching interstate loop around the city where there are few cars. Interstate onramps are always a reason to get the car up to speed (if ya catch my drift). I won’t say how fast we went. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, and some went faster than others, but I’ll just say we put the spirit into “spirited driving” for just a bit.
Two exits later and we were heading back to where we started. Unfortunately, we got stuck behind an oblivious minivan driver for the good section of road, so the cruise became a crooooooze to finish. But that is ok, my in-line fuel pump was screaming like a banshee from the heat, so I wasn’t sure how much more it could take. We stopped back at the starting spot and said our goodbyes. It was a thrill to see those exotic cars out on the road doing what they were designed to do and I can’t wait to do it again! Stay tuned to Auto Enthusiast Network, we plan to go again soon!
