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What typically fascinates us essentially the most, is what is way away. I reside in Italy, and my dream journey is driving from coast to coast in the US, visiting all the iconic spots alongside the way in which in addition to discovering much less touristy locations. Above all although, I’d at some point like to expertise American automobile tradition in all its kinds.
Andrie Hartanto, who lives in California, had a dream journey much like mine. Besides his dream vacation spot was Europe, its well-known racing circuits and native automotive tradition. It’s additionally a dream journey he really realized in his track-tuned Ferrari F430.
How Andrie and I met is a narrative in itself. It was March 2022 when out of the blue I obtained a message request on Instagram. It was Andrie, who had been directed to my 2021 Speedhunters story on a pair of Honda S2000s by his Spanish good friend, Andres Balboa. Andres had met Andrie a couple of years prior throughout a visit to San Francisco, and a stable friendship was shaped. When Andrie instructed him about his plans to go to Europe – and Italy specifically – along with his F430, Andres instructed he get in contact with me to see if I might provide any recommendation on Italian automotive tradition and the very best racing circuits to drive.
In fact I used to be blissful to assist, and the extra Andrie and I exchanged messages, the extra surreal all of it turned. Right here I used to be speaking to an individual who lived 10,000km away, who noticed my article on Speedhunters, and who had the very same ardour as me. We joked as if we had been associates endlessly.
As I instructed locations of curiosity and circuits that could possibly be added to Andrie’s virtually three-month-long itinerary, I started to visualise the photograph alternatives this journey might current for an additional Speedhunters story – and right here we now are. However earlier than I get into that, let me correctly introduce the person and his Ferrari.
Driving primarily BMW and Honda autos, Andrie has competed as knowledgeable race driver in numerous motorsport disciplines for over 10 years, together with endurance and basic racing, and time assault. Alongside the way in which he has received numerous class championships, together with these within the USTCC, SCCA and the West Coast Honda Problem. Andrie’s most up-to-date expertise was a CS2 class Clubman race at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. On high of all this, he has an engineering background and is the founding father of Prima Racing, which makes a speciality of race automobile chassis arrange.
Utilizing his information and expertise, Andrie has enhanced this Ferrari F430 – which he’s named Pegaso Rosso – to his best specification, with a mix of upgraded Brembo entrance brakes, BC Solid wheels, IPE exhaust headers, Recaro RMS (driver) and SPG (passenger) fixed-back race seats, and a rear wing that he designed and fabricated himself. It’s a formidable machine all spherical.
In December 2021, after a very long time not utilizing his Ferrari wherever close to as a lot as he would have favored, Andrie started fascinated with a dream journey he might make with it. Europe was the plain vacation spot, and by the top of March 2022 – the identical time he contacted me – a plan was in place for the summer time.
The automobile was ready for delivery, and shortly left the US for its 45-day-long sea journey to the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport.
When the Ferrari arrived, Andrie and his spouse had already be within the Netherlands for every week having fun with the canals within the Dutch capital and windmills within the countryside, however now the highway journey might begin correct. Belgium was first on the checklist, with layovers in Brugge, Ghent and Antwerp. In fact, Andrie wasn’t going to go up the chance to go to the Autoworld museum in Brussels both.
After crossing by means of Luxembourg, the pair arrived in Germany, however from Frankfurt Andrie’s spouse returned to the US and his Spanish good friend Andres joined him. Their vacation spot: Nürburgring.
Andrie competed right here within the 6 Hours of Nürburgring in 2018, however lapping the Nordschleife in his personal automobile was one thing else. 4 full days have been spent on the Inexperienced Hell, and through that point Andrie bought to expertise all of it – full moist driving circumstances, semi-dry circumstances, and at last on the final day – completely dry circumstances.
The following cease was Switzerland, passing by means of Lucerne in direction of the Furka Go within the southern Swiss Alps – some of the stunning roads in Europe – after which on into my residence nation: Italy.
Within the residence of Ferrari, Andrie initially accomplished two observe days, one at Tazio Nuvolari Circuit south of Milan, and the opposite at Monza Circuit – the primary of three present F1 tracks he drove throughout his time in Europe – earlier than heading within the course of Motor Valley. There he visited Ferrari’s Maranello HQ, the Enzo Ferrari Museum, and the Automobili Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Earlier than Andres returned to Spain, the pair additionally stopped by the Umberto Panini Museum, a personal assortment of assorted makes and fashions however well-known for its 19 historic Maseratis.
From the Motor Valley, Andrie met up with Alessio Cavalletti, one of many house owners of the 2 S2000s I initially featured on Speedhunters, and co-founder of the Magione Superbattle. Andrie and Alessio spent a number of days collectively having fun with good Umbrian meals, driving by means of the picturesque Monte Peglia area, and even noticed Metallica in live performance collectively.
I had the pleasure of spending two days with Andrie and his Ferrari, first assembly at Vallelunga Circuit simply north of Rome the place he was about to embark on a full day of open-pit observe driving. Once I arrived at his pit field within the morning, Andrie was busy altering his brake pads, utilizing instruments that match completely within the F430’s frunk.
Vallelunga is a really stunning circuit that automakers together with Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren typically use for unique buyer driving occasions. The observe could be very technical but in addition quick, and that makes it loads enjoyable to drive. Andrie had provided to take me out for as many laps as I favored, and naturally I wasn’t going the chance go me by.
Through the first lap as a passenger I used to be catatonic. Not solely did my thoughts boggle on the pace at which Andrie approached and took Vallelunga’s corners, but in addition the F430’s immense braking energy. I had by no means skilled something like this earlier than. Because the laps continued, I turned extra comfy and finally managed to fireside off a couple of pictures.
Being the peak of the Roman summer time, by the point lunchtime arrived the ambient temperature was sitting round 40°C (104°F). Andrie determined that the warmth was an excessive amount of of a threat, so known as it a day. Trying again on the lap instances, Andrie’s very first flying lap of Vallelunga was a 1:51, and with me on board he achieved an excellent faster 1:48 – each spectacular instances. I can solely think about what he might need been capable of do with extra seat time and cooler circumstances…
The next day, Andrie and I traded circuit speeds for a metropolis site visitors crawl, which is inevitable if you wish to go to Rome by automobile. We began within the EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma) district, which is identified for its fascinating Fascist-era structure.
Our second location was Through Nicolò Piccolomini, well-known for its view of the Saint Peter’s Basilica dome.
No go to to Rome is full with out a cease on the Janiculum, which gives a panoramic outlook throughout town, and right here, subsequent to the well-known fountain, Pegaso Rosso attracted loads of consideration from vacationers and locals alike.
Circus Maximus, an historic Roman chariot-racing stadium, turned our last location for the morning, adopted by a brief cease in Testaccio for some genuine Roman pasta carbonara.
As one of many seven wonders of the world, the Colosseum is a must-see, so we headed straight there after lunch. Pegaso Rosso appeared virtually gladiator-like parked out entrance.
The Villa Borghese gardens in entrance of the Nationwide Gallery of Fashionable and Modern Artwork was our final particular location for the day. The well-known 1000 Miglia race passes by means of right here yearly, and it’s a fantastic spot for images.
It was 7:00pm after we returned to the EUR neighborhood, the place I took my last images of the Ferrari’s particulars and inside. I don’t know the way it was doable, however the police by no means stopped us as soon as through the day, which I assumed was superb given the automobile was on Montana license plates. They only restricted themselves to curious seems.
After a tremendous couple of days, Andrie and I mentioned our goodbyes, earlier than he drove off to finally rendezvous with a ferry sure for Spain.
After assembly again up with Andres and finishing up a full service (all oils and fluids, brake pads and tyres) on his F430, the highway journey continued. For the ultimate three weeks of the epic journey, Andrie made Spanish circuit stops in Barcelona and Aragona (for Trackrat Membership observe days) and Navarra, earlier than making a return journey to the Nürburgring in Germany for a Racetracker observe day, and heading over to Belgium for some observe time at Spa-Francorchamps. Lastly, Pegaso Rosso returned to the Port of Rotterdam for its sea journey again to the US.
‘Formidable’ could be one approach to describe Andrie’s highway journey by means of Europe, however I favor ‘loopy’ – in a great way although. It actually was a dream come true for him.
In complete, Andrie drove 12,021km (7,469mi) in his Ferrari between eight circuits and the general public roads of six European international locations. Not solely did he make so many reminiscences alongside the way in which, he additionally made many new associates, a few of whom have already visited Andrie at his residence in California.
That’s the wonderful thing about the automotive pastime – even when we are able to’t communicate one another’s languages, there’s at all times the worldwide language of vehicles. As an automotive photographer, I actually do really feel like I’ve the very best job on the planet. And hopefully I’ll get to do that another time with Andrie once more quickly, as a result of he just lately bought an Alfa Romeo 4C, and has plans to deliver it on one other European journey within the close to future.
Ivan Caravona
Instagram: ivancaravona
Extra Observe Images by: Marc Rodriguez (Aragona), Pol Ricart (Barcelona), Martin Stollenwerk, Florian Schmitz, Andreas Reichert, Ulrike Bierlein (Nürburgring)
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