Hello again and welcome back to another episode of:

Tone's Rush to Forza3: Nurburgring Extravaganza 500 MegaBlitz!!



In today's installment we pay tribute to the God of the Automotive world: Ferrari

Ferrari was established in 1928 by none other than the world famous Enzo Ferrari. For almost 20 years Ferrari developed Races cars exclusively. It was not until 1947 that Ferrari produced their first production models.

We pick up on the trail in the 60's where it was a golden age for Ferrari (even with the defeat in the latter 60's by Ford after the deal went sour between Enzo and Ford). One of the most gorgeous cars ever produced came out of the 60's: The Ferrari 250GT and the California model (convertible, also seen in 'Ferris Beuller's Day Off').


August 10th:


Lap 33.) 1964 Ferrari 250 GT
With that, we begin our trek with this very car: The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT and what a drive it was. With its long swooping bonnet and its aerodynamic curves that are still sexy today; the 250 was alot of fun to drive. This car has 301 HP for 1964!! Our time with this car was just over 9 minutes, which isn't too shabby for a car that is now 45 years old. And just as beautiful as the day she was created.




Lap 34.) 1967 Ferrari Dino 246 GT
Ahhh what a attractive car.The body style would later be re-adopted in the GTO series in the 80's. Sure its under powered for a Ferrari (especially 3 years after the 250). But there is a reason: you see, Dino was the title reserved for Ferrari's of the day the did were not V-12's or flat 12's. So away we went for our lap and it took a while. 9:51.541 and felt very un-Ferrari-like. She looks better then she drives.



Lap 35.) 1967 Ferrari 330 P4
An Amazing Racecar developed to replace the P3 ( with some known issues). This car was unfortunately over shadowed by the Ford GT40 which won from '66-'69. Still an amazing automobile by Enzo Ferrari. Our time with this beast was 8:30.184. She felt loose and full of power with tons of torque for a car that is now weighs less than 2000 lbs and is looking at 42 years of age!



Lap 36.) 1984 Ferrari GTO
One of my all time favorite cars: The GTO. This car some of you older guys may remember from the movie 'Cannonball Run' where Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. played a couple drunk priests dirving this amazing car. Or maybe you may remember i this car from the hit TV show from the 80's: Magum PI. Well, either way I remember the car from both and drove it like I remembered. 8:25.970 was my time and was 5 seconds faster than the P4! I love this car... from the styling to the engine.. this car is a dream come true! And still looks as "super" today as it did 25 years ago!



Lap 37.) 1987 Ferrari F40
Just when you thought Ferrari had outdone themselves with the GTO they come out with the F40. This car, for all intents and purposes, is a racecar. From the 200 mph top speed; to the completely gutted cockpit. You know your in for a no nonsense kind of ride. I felt like I was in a rocket more than a car and my time was a fun and fast 7:54.957 I almost lost it a couple times with this car. But I managed to save myself and my wallet by recovering in the nick of time...wheewwww.



Lap 38.) 1989 Ferrari F40 Competezione
As if the F40 wasn't powerful enough with 478hp.... "nope; that's no t enough" Said Ferrari. They then proceeded to throw in another 319 more stallions. I took off another 20 seconds with this car and finished my lap with a 7:33.145 not bad but a bit too much for my liking...Im just a tad more subtle than this, I guess.



Lap 39.) 1991 Ferrari 512 TR
Here it is... the car that replaced my 2nd all time favorite car: The Ferrari Testarossa. This car was made famous in the TV Show 'Miami Vice'. The car has an impressive 428hp but was notoriously heavy. I could care less if she was a bit 'big in the pot' I was finally sitting behind one of my biggest childhood "heroes". Which brings me to my point: it is often said that you should never meet your childhood hero. Why? because the real thing never measures up to your expectations. This car was just that. As much as I loved the look; was as much as I couldn't stand the drive. With 428hp I was expecting much more from this car ; but it just wasn't there. Maybe a turbo would've helped? Well our time reflected this with a 8:32.400. Seven seconds slower than the GTO!... ouch.




Lap 40.) 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
Wow! In a word this car is simply: Wow! My time was awful but that was completely and utterly my own fault. I drove like Mrs Daisy. I had my cat jump in my lap; errr my TV went blank; um..... My wheel did the Dash glitch a couple times.... Well Whatever my pitiful excuse, make no mistake; This car is better than the time I got....by far. Looking for a great Ferrari? this is one of them!




Lap 41.) 1995 Ferrari F50
The F40 was redesigned into the F50 with more aerodynamic styling. the car also has more hp at 513. Our time with this magnificent ride was 7:55.440. But why slower? well simply put the handling was better on the F40. This car just didn't feel as lively or responsive as did the F40. Which just goes to show.... newer doesn't necessarily mean better.



Lap 42.) 1996 Ferrari F50GT
One year later Ferrari deceides to make probably one of the fastest cars ever produced: the Ferrari F50GT. Unlike the standard F50 this car is anything but a disappointment. Our time was a blistering 7:13.148 and would have been faster if it were not for me being a bit overly cautious as to no wreck.




Lap 43.) 1998 Ferrari F333 SP #12
The Ferrari F333 project was the company's first sports car prototype racer in twenty years, and was developed jointly with Dallara. The racer was created specificlly to challenge the IMSA prototype class. The nickname for the project was 'Il Sogno Americano', meaning the American Dream. The driving force for the creation of these cars was Giampiero Moretti, the founder of MOMO, and the president of Ferrari North America, Gian Luigi Buitoni. And what a creation it is. Our lap with this car was 6:58.758 and I couldnt have enjoyed it more! The amount of grip in these cars is incredible!



Lap 44.) 1998 Ferrari F355 Challenge
The Berlinetta reborn; well sort of. The F355 was redesigned in 98 with more power and better handling and it shows. This car was 30 seconds faster than its sibling with a time of 8:22.134.




Lap 45.) 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena
For the 360, Ferrari partnered with Alcoa to produce an entirely new all-aluminum space-frame chassis that was 40% stiffer than the 355, yet 28% lighter. Along with the new frame was a new Pininfarina body styling that varied greatly from the last decade's sharp angles. This car has 400 hp V8 that replaced the F355. Our time with this car was 8:27.382. Which isnt bad and much better than the original F355 that it replaced and only 5 seconds slower than the 355 Challenge.




Lap 46.) 2002 Ferrari 575 Maranello
This is the Grand Touring Coupe that replaced the 550 Maranello. with a few mods and Spec changes this car was not as much fun to drive for me. Maybe its because I have grown accustomed to driving the mid engine models. Our time was 8:28.038 which considering it has over 100 horses more than the Modena; really isn't too impressive.



Lap 47.) 2002 Ferrari Enzo
This car is a mid engine Berlinetta that was made to honor the Founder Enzo Ferrari. With a top speed over 200 MPH this car does not disappoint. 7:59.236 was our time and it would be quicker still with a faster driver than myself. Amazing car, simply a moving work of art!



Lap 48.) 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale
Beefing up a 360 sound like fun? well it is and the performance upgrades show. 8:16.499: a full 11 seconds faster than it's lesser powered sibling. great ride!



Lap 49. and 50.) 2003 Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS #72 and 2003 Ferrari 550 Maranello #88
Two amazing race cars designed from the production 550 Maranello. Our time with these cars was almost identical with 7:25.664 and 7:24.973 for the two cars respectively.




Lap 51.) 2004 Ferrari F430
The car that replaced the F355 was the 360. The car that replaced the 360 was this car: the F430. With advances made in styling and power. this car looked poised to dethrone its predecessors. Our time was 8:13.965 and with that it did beat its older counterparts. great car but hold on as she can get a bit loose in a hurry.



Lap 52.) 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
At the time this car was unveiled in Maranello Italy; 25,000 gathered outside Ferrari's gates to catch a glimpse at the newest Grand Touring Coupe. The 612 Scaglietti. As expected I drove this car pretty poorly as I seem to do with most of these front engine Ferrari's. The time was not great at a 8:32.108.



Lap 53.) 2005 Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS #11
Upgraded with new parts and newer design the Maranello comes out of the gates yet again. 7:23.276 and it was a full second plus ahead of its 2 year older kin.



Lap 54.) 2006 Ferrari FXX
This car is purely INSANE. I believe there are only 11 of them and they are ONLY allowed on the track. Michael Schumacher owns one and drove it on the UK hit show 'Top Gear' in Season 13. Amazing car and the time showed too. 7:13.385 one of the fastest times of the day and wouldve been faster but I drove it like a scared little girl.



Lap 55.) 2006 Ferrari F430 GT #62
2006 also saw Ferrari bring out its F430 into the racing scene and went head to head with the Posche 911 in last years 24 hours at Sebring. Amazing race that went down to the wire. Well our drive was no different. 7:16.732 was all it took to fly around this track and only 3 seconds slower than the Ferrari FXX!



Lap 56.) 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
The replacement for the 575 Maranello; this car was amply powered (611 hp). However, my difficulty with driving front eninge Ferrari's persists and as a result, my time suffered. 8:21.948 not too good really...



Lap 57.) 2007 Ferrari F430 Scuderia
This is the result of taking a F430 and pumping it full of juice. 8:04.503 a good ten seconds faster than the original F430. Nice design too. Just love those curves.... I could almost have relations with this car....



Lap-----Car-----------------------Time
--------------------------------------------------------
33----250GT-------------------9:09.906
34----246Dino-----------------9:51.541
35----330P4-------------------8:30.184
36----GTO---------------------8:25.970
37----F40----------------------7:54.957
38----F40 Comp------------7:33.145
39----512TR------------------8:32.400
40----F355--------------------8:51.404
41----F50----------------------7:55.440
42-----F50GT-----------------7:13.148
43-----F333SP---------------6:58.758
44-----F355Chal-------------8:22.134
45-----360----------------------8:27.382
46----575-----------------------8:28.038
47 ----Enzo--------------------7:59.236
48------Chall Stradale------8:16.499
49------550 #2----------------7:25.664
50-----550 #88---------------7:24.973
51-----F430-------------------8:13.965
52-----612 scag-------------8:32.108
53-----550 #11--------------7:23.276
54-----FXX--------------------7:13.385
55-----F430 #62-----------7:16.732
56-----599 GTB-------------8:21.948
57-----F430 Scud----------8:04.503


Heres a vid of BBernes driving the 1984 Ferrari GTO:

http://www.youtube.com/bbernes#play/all/uploads-all/0/ii9jdrFOwkU

I hope you have enjoyed today's episode... check back next week for episode 7: "NSX Whats the Difference?"

Thanks again for stopping by :)