Volume 1, Issue 1 - June 1994

New FCA Region

welcome to the newest region of the ferrari club of america - the southwest! we invite everyone who lives in southern california, southern nevada or arizona and owns a ferrari or is interested in them to join us.

until now there has not been an fca region in southern california so there have not been events for us to enjoy. that has now changed. we are an independent region of the fca which will elect its own officers, set its own dues and plan its own events. we are dedicated to providing activities for everyone and over the next year we will sponsor tours, track events, technical sessions, and publish a newsletter focusing on our region.

the most important event of the year is the ferrari club of america national meet in monterey this august. by now you have received a description of the events and how to register for them. (if you have not, please call judd goldfeder at 800-477-7166 x105.) this will be the biggest ferrari event ever in the united states. see the article on page 9, written by al burtoni of milano imports, for a full description of what this event will be like.

i have been asked why have another club for those who own or are interested in ferraris? isn't the club that has been active in southern california enough? i believe there is room for another club because each can offer events to appeal to a variety of interests.

in addition, membership in the ferrari club of america has several unique advantages:

• the quarterly magazine, prancing horse, is a high quality, four color publication which provides information about our cars that is not available anywhere else. it is comparable to cavallino.
• event insurance provides limited medical coverage in addition to the usual general liability protection at all club events.
• the ferrari club of america is the only club which is recognized by and has the support of the ferrari factory (through ferrari north america). there are national and regional events, such as the 348 challenge and monterey, which are open only to fca members.
• the fca is the national club with active regions throughout the country so no matter where you live or visit there will always be events open to you.

the next meeting of the organizing committee is scheduled for june 6th at 6:00 pm at steve tillack's shop (630 mary ann drive, redondo beach 310-318-8760). please come and help us plan the next events, elections, etc.

about the author: judd goldfeder is the interim regional director of the southwest region and has been instrumental in its creation.

Name the Newsletter

this is the first edition of the southwest region's monthly newsletter, a publication in desperate need of a more engaging name.

the national publication is the "prancing horse", the northwest region calls their newsletter "amici di maranello", the canadians call theirs the "northern prancer", so why shouldn't we name ours?

break out those english/italian dictionaries and call the editors: alex papas or jeff littrell with your ideas to name our new newsletter!

Tech Tip - Curing Fouled Plugs

by: gary bobileff

in addition to hard start up, many multiple carburated motors (i.e. 6 carb) tend to produce fuel wash. this is a condition that occurs every time the trottle is depressed and is especially prevalent in over carburated cars where the squirt of fuel that is injected into each cylinder is of a significant amount. at low engine speeds most of the squirt is consumed, the remainder intermixes with the thin layer of lubricating oil on the cylinder liners, dissolving the oil and washing off the cylinder walls.. this lack of cylinder lubrication leads to premature ring failure (smoking and/or low compression).

do a simple test if you own a heavily carburated car. pull the dipstick and smell the oil. if you notice a fuel presence (scent) it's time to change the oil.

once oil control is lost in the oil control ring excessive oil builds up on top of the piston. when you try to start your motor, this oil will be mixed with incoming fuel and the oil, being heavier than fuel, will coat the spark plug, causing a short to ground. as electricity tries to fire the plug, it may not be able to.

another culprit is valve guides and seals. as the motor accumulates mileage, these pieces will gain excessive clearance, allowing oil to slip past valves and guides and thus entering the combustion chamber. this mainly occurs when the motor is warm and the oil is thinner and flows easier. when the car sits for a few hours, oil seeps past the worn parts and upon start up - guess what? same problem - a fouled plug not allowing the motor to run on all its cylinders.

weak ignition wires, old pitted points, poor or cracked extensions between plugs and wires, cracked or oily distributor caps, weak ignition coils, or faulty carburation can also cause the same problem.

the last thing one wants to do is to drive on less than all cylinders. if not corrected, this can cause serious harm to what was once a great running motor.

but there are two solutions to curing fouled plugs. the first (and hardest) is pulling all the plugs and cleaning or replacing them. but there is an alternative. obtain a good pair of heavily insulated pliers, preferably ignition pliers made of pressed paper (non-conductive) as sold by snap-on, mac, etc.

with the motor running, grab the coil wire with the pliers where it enters the coil and gently remove it. hold the wire 1/4"-3/4" away from the coil to product an arcing spark. vary the distance not to exceed 1". at the same time, run the motor to about 2500-3000 rpm. make sure you don't hold the wire too far away from the coil or the motor will stall or cut out the bank of cylinders you're working on. you will notice that when the spark is arcing, the motor sounds great. slowly insert the wire back into the coil. if rough running persists, repeat the above procedure, it may take up to a minute. the job is completed when you notice no difference between an arcing coil wire versus an installed wire in the coil. if necessary, repeat on the opposite cylinder bank.

remember, you are playing with very high voltage (possibly exceeding 40,000 volts). use extreme caution.

why does this procedure work? as you pull the coil wire away from the coil, an arc through the air occurs. electricity is taking the path of least resistance. as the spark gap increases, resistance increases, in turn the plugs will receive a hotter spark (more voltage) which will burn off any contamination on the plug's electrode.

of course, the above procedure is designed to allow you to enjoy driving on all cylinders. after cold start, which is the most demanding of your ignition system. howev

348s Come to Willow Springs

don't miss our first regional track event - the 348 challenge series races at willow springs raceway on july 30th and 31st.

we're excited to have these race cars and drivers in our own backyard. at time of writing, all of the first three races (moroso, texas speedway, and blackhawk) have been won by southwest region drivers. john marconi (newport imports) won the first two events and the 2nd place driver in those two races, cort wagner (ferrari of beverly hills), won the blackhawk races!

not only will the drivers participating in the 348 challenge get to drive on the race track but you can too!

the southwest region, in conjunction with fna and the southern california ferrari dealers, is sponsoring a two-day track event for our members to gain experience driving their ferraris at speed on the track. unlike the 348 challenge, our event is not a race - it is an opportunity to run your car on the track at high speeds under controlled circumstances.

the weekend at the track will offer the opportunity to exercise your horses under the expert eye of danny mckeever from the willow springs racing school. you will learn the correct techniques to circulate safe and fast.

as an additional treat you will enjoy the spectacle of seeing over 30 racing ferraris from all over the us battle nose to tail for a chance to go to the international 348 challenge finals at mugello in italy.

friday is reserved for 348 challenge practice. on saturday, the gates will open at 6:30am, we'll have a track orientation ride at 7:30 and a mandatory driver's meeting at 8:30am. sunday will also have a mandatory 8:30am driver's meeting and we expect to have chalk talks with danny mckeever each day before lunch.

the 348s will have an hour and a half of practice and qualifying on saturday and two races on sunday. in between, you can put your car on the track in one of our four anticipated run groups: touring, driver's school, sports run 1, or sports run 2.

additionally, on saturday night there will be a banquet dinner hosted by the southwest region for the 348 drivers and our members.

willow springs is known as "the fastest track in the west" and we are very concerned about safety on the track. therefore, now is a good time to think about getting your car and equipment up to shape.

all run groups require seat belts, a minimum 2lb fire extinguisher mounted with a metal bracket, and a snell 85 (or later) helmet. the touring group will be limited to 55 mph with a pace car but passengers will be allowed.

the driver's school, sports run 1 and sports run 2 groups will not allow passengers (except instructors) and have additional safety requirements: vr or better tires, nomex suit, gloves, shoes (or full leather shoes with nomex socks), and a balaclava (for beards). five or six-point harnesses and rollbars are strongly recommended.

your car must be in safe working order and must pass a technical inspection before it will be allowed on the track. all southwest region authorized ferrari dealers will offer free tech inspections.

tech inspections will also be available at the track but will cost $25 per car unless the entrant lives more than 50 miles from an authorized ferrari dealer. inspection at the track will probably cost you track time so we strongly encourage that get your car teched beforehand.

further details and an entry form will be mailed in the next few weeks. if you have any questions, contact our event chairman, frank carlone.

Imola 1994

by: steve tillack

imola is a wide spot in the road about 30 minutes south of bologna. there is only one exit from the autostrada, and 300,000 plus pass through it on race day. arrive early, stay late, we're talking major jam-up.

the race circuit is part of a large beautifully wooded park located right in the center of town. there are real restaurants, an open air theater and miles of trails and streams through the woods. think about that, next time you're out at willow springs.

we lucked out, a parking spot with a straight shot, six blocks to the main gate. as we started walking, we heard the first practice session start. perfect timing too! a few blocks on we heard them leave the pits. two, close together, the scream, absolutely distinct from the rest. louder, higher, felt in the bones as much as heard. and just as suddenly we were aware of a huge unseen crowd going wild. la ferrari' on home turf.

we're pumped, pulse rate is instantly up and we're not even inside the track yet! lots of lira is hurriedly handed over and we charge through the gate into race fan paraphernalia nirvana.

there is a kaleidoscope of visions to be had on the f1 midway. did i mention the bella donninas yet? in italy the girls all take a graduate course in flirtation. it is a feminine art form here and is only truly perfected with age. a personal recommendation: english girls should seriously consider some primary education in italy. during this side show i thought i recognized an old friend, spied through a hole in the pit lane fence. sporting all the right credentials he strolled regally through the pits, chatting, taking notes, wearing a kilt over truly neon legs. na couldn't be.

perhaps it is the remnants of an ill spent youth, for somehow i always find myself sitting with the rowdies. at every race track in the world this section locates itself at the first major turn. in my youth it was the south turn at ascot, at imola it is a rather larger section. you can have the reserved seats on the front straight. two general admissions please, and we hiked off to the hillside over looking curva tosa to join the true tifosi. over fifty thousand of them on this hill and every one decked out in something red with a prancing black horse. i felt right at home.

about mid day a truly suicidal fellow decided to walk along the foot of this hill with a large brazilian flag flying in the wind. it was suggested he lower it, he ignored the warning. the first barrage of empty bottles didn't have the desired effect either. the second barrage of half full ones did, the flag was retired. the fool then reappeared with the flag on the other side of the track. big mistake. the rocks found their mark with stunning accuracy to the riotous applause of 50,000. point, set, match.

it was time for a little racing! a false start, and then next time through gerhard had the ferrari in front. i have never heard a more glorious sound in my life than at that moment. the car and the crowd in a concert of sound not found anywhere else. in the end schumacher won in the benetton with larini in a ferrari second. but those first ten laps were something to remember.

i sincerely hope in years to come that the preceding is how i will choose to remember that beautiful sunny day at imola. every magazine in the car world will eventually run an article on the race and offer an opinion on the events of that day. all on the hillside saw senna crash. it wasn't until late that evening we heard the words on a tv news program "due morto en due giorno." a translation

Monterey 1994 - Be Prepared!

by: al burtoni

the reason for sounding so brash is simple: every event will feature ferrari, in magnitudes never seen before at monterey, let alone anywhere in the world! to give you an idea of the magnitude of what is being planned, monterey will not be its customery friday to monday, three day happening. instead it is so big and extensive that it is being stretched to one week in length. from august 23-30, the center of the ferrari world (let alone that of the automobile) will not be maranello, but rather, the monterey peninsula.

in the planning stages for two years, the ferrari club of america (and specifically, the pacific region), has smartly gone to both ferrari north america and ferrari s.p.a. to help in sponsoring the event. seeing the success of the 348 spider debut at rodeo drive last year, coupled with the tremendous positive feedback of 1992's ff40 celebration in belgium, both ferrari organizations have thrown their weight and enthusiasm behind the fca's effort.

want to hear more? how about this: at the event, under consideration at ferrari is the world debut of not one, but three new models and the u.s. debut of the 456 gt! need more enticement? the company hopes to have every living grand prix driver in attendance. combine this list with storied names such as pininfarina, scaglietti, foghieri, chiti, etc., and monterey quickly becomes a walking encyclopedia of italian living legends.

and what is the backdrop for such an orgy of ferrari machinery and history? seven days on the beautiful, sunny monterey peninsula where each day's theme covers one unique facet of the world of ferrari. for example, wednesday is called by the organizers "ferrari: a heritage of beauty." now, every cognoscenti knows about ferrari and its unparalleled history of voluptuous four wheeled shapes-what better way to show all these lines off than organizing the largest ferrari concours ever held! approximately 300 cars, all of them ferraris, comparing 36 classes, will be together in one beautiful location. over 100 judges are being used and chief judge ed gilbertson has said, with a large smile on his face, "wait until you see the names on this judging list!"

additionally, ferrari will be the featured marque at the track for the historic races. at "ferrari: born to compete," the largest-ever gathering of ferrari competition cars will cover every aspect of ferrari's illustrious racing career. and whether you like grand prix cars or the fabled endurance racers, you know they won't be dormant! that saturday, we are anxiously expecting to see and hear a moving display of ferrari machinery unlike any other!

for those that prefer the true elegance of ferrari, ferrari is one of the pebble beach headliners. with the operating theme of "ferrari: a history of elegance," anticipate seeing more elegant examples-including numerous one-offs and cars of historical importance-on the lawn than have ever been seen before.

and for those of us who feel a ferrari is anything but a static object, the fca has us taken care of. thursday is billed as "ferrari in motion," where god-knows-how-many ferraris (several hundred is probably a good guess) will participate in a rally on those wonderful roads that weave through the picturesque carmel/monterey peninsula.

this seven day orgy culminates at the most appropriate place possible-the track! on monday and tuesday, "ferrari: born to compete" will see ferrari take over laguna seca! the fca and ferrari s.p.a. have set up a wonderful, two day event that covers everyone's taste for competition and track driving. with the centerpiece being the seventh and final round of the 348 challenge. before and after the challenge races will be touring and competition events for those of us who like to see what our machines<

From the Desk of Everything that is Ferrari

by: matt ettinger

the very heart and fabric of our fca membership is "everything that is ferrari." the spirit, the soul, the excitement, the sound, the look, the past, and what the future has to bring.

the fca, and especially the southwest region, has many exciting "ferrari moments" planned so that you can be a part of "everything that is ferrari." you don't even have to own one. the mere fact that ferrari enters your life, in whatever shape or form, causes your pulse to speed up just a tad.

please send in the membership form found in the newsletter. if you have any questions regarding membership in the southwest region of the fca, please contact our membership chairman, matthew ettinger.

join now and be a part of "everything that is ferrari" - the ferrari club of america, southwest region.

Upcoming Events

these are old. click here for a current calendar of events

picnic at the palos verdes botanical gardens

pack a picnic basket and drinks and drive your ferrari through the rolling hills of the palos verdes peninsula. we have arranged for an exclusive parking area for the steeds on the lawn amidst the lush vegetation of the gardens where they will be on display for everyone to enjoy.

please arrive around 10:00 am to allow for a leisurely lunch in the shade garden which has 4 or 5 round tables and lots of grass for picnic blankets. there will be a $10 per car entry fee which the club will donate to the south coast botanic garden foundation. entry to the gardens is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students.

what a wonderful opportunity to help the community, meet your fellow members of the southwest region and enjoy all those beautiful ferraris - we look forward to seeing you all there!

please rsvp to tom brockmiller - home: (310) 530-1004, work: (310) 530-9222 - so that we can estimate how many cars will be attending.

the palos verdes botanical gardens is located at 26300 crenshaw blvd. in palos verdes.

ferraris on rodeo drive ii - the ultimate father's day

last year's event marked the introduction of the ferrari 348 spyder. this year, the ferrari club of america's southwest region helps the city of beverly hills celebrate los angeles' hosting of the world cup of soccer. for an entire month during the world cup games, the city is "saluting the world" by recognizing each of the participating countries through individual day-long celebrations.

what better way to honor italy than to display its most revered marque amid the splendor of the elegant italian boutiques along rodeo drive?

you are invited to enter this second annual event, compete for prizes and awards and enjoy the hospitality, entertainment and ambiance of beverly hills.

this show is open to all pre-1974 ferraris with classes determined by the entry and traditional marque classifications to allow equitable competition. however, space along the drive is limited so sign up as soon as possible. the entry form is on page 8 of the newsletter.

a completed entry form must be submitted for acceptance consideration. the committee will determine classes based on the entry. only one block will be utilized so space is severely limited. preference will be given in the order entries are received. the committee reserves the right to accept or reject any entry and all entries will be notified as to acceptance or rejection. all entrants must be in position on rodeo drive by 9am and remain until the close of the concours. no signs, displays, stanchions, or illustrations will be allowed.

you heard about last year's rodeo drive event - now don't miss this year's.

for more information about the concours d'elegance, please contact murray cogan. for more information about beverly hill's month-long international soccer celebration, please contact dan howard at the beverly hills visitor's bureau.

General Tips on Buying a Used Ferrari

many people come to the "buying used" feature of sempre ferrari expecting a full series of articles on what to look for, look out for, etc. when buying a used ferrari. in truth, this feature is a real-life oddessy of one owner's experience buying his first ferrari, a 330 gt 2+2. it is an entertaining feature but may not be what you were looking for.

however, here is a little advice about buying any used ferrari.

1. get the car inspected.

any seller not willing to get the car down to the closest dealership or reputable independent shop is trying to hide something. invariably, there will be something wrong with the car and finding it upfront will more than cover the cost of the inspection. and then there's the peace of mind.

2. buy the best car you can afford.

for any model there will be cars offered for sale at less than most offers of the same model. usually there is a reason for this. it might seem like you can, for example, get that 348 for $45k instead of that 328 you were considering but more often than not that 348 is cheap for a reason. and you'll end up spending more than the amount saved just to bring it up to snuff. best yet, take advantage of someone else's folly. someone may have just spent more than the car is worth restoring or doing engine service. you might be able to get a concours car for just a few thousand more than an average example.

3. buy the best model you can afford

keeping in mind the advice above, buy the best model ferrari you can afford. you will never regret it and it may save you the hassle and tax of upgrading later. for example, if you can afford a 328 then you're probably better off buying it than that 308 gtsi or even that 308 qv. if you can afford a 348 or 355 then even better yet.

4. demand books, tools, and records

every ferrari came from the factory with at least an owner's manual and a tool kit. in many cases there were multiple manuals and a tool roll as well as a kit. this stuff is expensive and no car that has been well cared for should be without it. crooks will try to sell you a car and keep this good stuff so they can sell it separately. don't let them. more importantly, look for the service records on the car. service can be expensive and you don't want to buy a car that has had needed service skipped. testarossas need expensive timing belt replacements. old v-12s need valve adjustments, etc.

5. look in all the right places

don't look to buy a car via those glossy magazines that pander to the wannabe rich set. if you're buying an older car, or even if you're buying a newer car, you should first subscribe to the ferrari market letter. advertising in the market letter is free and all car ads must include the serial number and price. you'll find all the models for sale every 2 weeks here. if you are buying a newer ferrari then your local paper can often be your best source. buying from a dealer is often worth the peace of mind.

6. do your research

if you're buying a new car and the owner says it has always been serviced at the dealer then call the dealer and find out. if you're buying an older car, call gerald rousch of the market letter and ask him for details on the car (by serial number). he keeps track of everything and can tell you how many times the car has been offered for sale and at what prices, etc. he might even know that it has been wrecked, repainted, or is a rebody.

7. join the club

you don't have to own a ferrari to join the fca. spend the $100 and attend some events. talk to people. you'll find out lots of things.

8. drive the thing

before you buy, and after, drive it. there is nothing worse for a ferrari than to let it sit. sure, they are beautiful and expense and you worry about it but it is a car. drive it.

we hope that help