ROAD TESTED: A green lights look at the Ferrari world; Part 1

A smell of exhaust, the feeling of a tightly detailed leather seat in a touring 2+2 or even just the sound of a tuned idling boxer, Dino or GTO engine and you'll know exactly what you are in for. With over 60 years of road and race tested experience, Ferrari has hoisted itself into the elite of European car making which has forged forward with 15 F1 World Championships and into the garages of the few and affluent.

For most people a car is something that gets you from point A to point B, and in light of the current economy, I fall quietly into that same category. But I am also one of few that have the opportunity to be around and involved in the Ferrari world on a daily basis. This isn't a fluff piece full of arrogance and a pompous undertone, but more of an observation on this world where life's gears are being shifted, people's livelihood are left in the dust and the rich are always riding off in the distance at the end of the day.

I take you on a day long journey to San Fransisco starting in beautiful Monterey, Ca on a Wednesday morning, let's say ten after ten. It's a trip for the business which includes selling parts, word of mouth gorilla-type advertising and the dishing of the latest Ferrari chat, bullshit and praising. Trust me there was plenty of the latter in which I sat, listened and learned some of the smaller details of this blood sweating, year consuming, ego driven elitist realm of Ferrari Automobili's.

What draws me into this life, which I have seemingly blasted quickly in my post, are the cars themselves. Nestled in garages and huts unknown to the common man, these fine pieces of Italian design sit and wait to be unleashed on the fresh asphalt, patiently waiting for that one week a year, or that perfect day on the coast, where it's owner's will show it off in brilliant fashion. Cars that take years to be fixed or restored in order for them to even get the top down on say, a touring 308 GTS, just long enough to breath the air.

Today I ran into an absolute jewel in Redwood City, Ca inside a mechanics shop located on the opposite side of the street of your everyday neighborhood. We show up to deliver some exhausts for a car known simply as a "Daytona," but little did we know what we would stumble across. A 1949 Touring Barchetta 166MM (pictured above) which happens to be one of the rarest rides displaying the prancing horse. Not only that, but a Ferrari that is documented as a cup winner at the famous race at Le Mans. It sits, content, with just breath-taking detail and stories never told of drives that car has taken, I'm sure. The man who babysits this beast was north of 80 and had done every bit of fine detailed restoration needed. His presences indicated a life long journey of oil in his veins, hands as good as tools and a heart stronger than an engine. It was nice to talk and get some background on someone who has survived this business long enough to enjoy it once again. It was interesting on my part to see the end of the line, as I start to draw my line in the road.

Next we ventured a few blocks away to another shop, and a longtime friend of my boss. Tony is a 5th generation shop owner and has been infatuated with the Cavallino (Italian for the famous horse logo) ever since he first saw one in his grandfather's lift 40 years prior. As I saw it, Tony was right in the middle of Ferrari lifeline, now seemingly enjoying the fruits of his labors. He works for himself as the sole employee, so he has the luxury of doing as much work as he wants. On the other end of the the spectrum, we visited the service department of Ferrari of Silicon Valley and the feel could not have been anymore upside down. Guys starving for work who are limited on what they can work on in the first place. Nothing but new models are what they are trained for which makes since given the fact that everyone must be on warranty which meant not even a second glance at a classic. This is typical in the auto industry as a whole, but when you are in such an expensive and tightly run corporation like Ferrari, things get really touchy when 360's and F430's aren't rolling into the parking lot on a consistent basis. No one is recession proof people!

I did, however, get a personal tour of the newest addition to the Ferrari family, the 2009 Ferrari California, as it was glowing on the showroom floor. Innovation, class and a take on the original 250 California Spyder was present on a car that hits home and even signifies something with my career in Ferrari. Maybe it's just me, but check this car out:

Little did I know that this would be the jump off point of an amazing day full of fast cars, fast talking car nuts and even faster women.

This is just the first part of a day that truly changed my professional life in this interesting industry. Check back next week as I continue this adventure full of wild people and stories ending with a party at the Ferrari of SF, and a insiders look at a dinner you would kill to be at...

Thanks for reading!

Ride the Wave,
Steve in Seaside

Tiny Tim, the new Bum and GIANT disapointments...

Greetings to all new blog readers...

I just wanted to touch upon a few issues regarding the sliding San Fransisco Giants. Many of my friends are Giants fans and can relate, and some of you are droids of the Dark Side (aka blue crew, fair weather fans, MannyWood, Vin Skully's Dodgers). Now if you haven't been following the season I'll give a quick update on where we all stand:

N.L. West
1. Dodgers -
2. Rockies 2.5
3. Giants 6.5

N.L Wild Card
1. Rockies -
2. Giants 4

So what Steve, who cares? Well I do dammit and I hate to sit back every night and see this opportunity, for an overlooked team, slip through our fingers. I'll elaborate...

The season is closing on it's last 22 or so games and it really couldn't be a tighter race. For the first time since 2002, the N.L. West is getting some street cred as one of the best divisions in all of baseball. Most of the time we get overlooked because 1. We are the N.L. 2. East Coast teams get all the pub and 3. There hasn't really been any big-time players since Barry Bonds bowed out.

Currently the Giants have a World Series caliber pitching staff and bullpen that could hold it's own in pressure situations and could match up with any other rotation, maybe in all of baseball. The the offense is a different story as we rank almost last in every offensive category. :(Let's first touch on the positive pitching staff who just recently had to push back a start for our best player, Tim Lincecum. Back spasims and injuries happen, but this couldn't come at a worst time. The Giants then had the idea to start a rookie, and former first round pick Maddison Bumgardner, who pitched good enought to win but failed to record his first major league victory after the bullpen gave up the lead and the offense went quietly into the night. This is common place for the Giants who don't average more that 3.5 runs a game but have pitchers with ERA's around 2.00. Sigh...

I'll breifly recap, as I could go into serious detail about our defensive rotation, situational hitting, extening an inning and creating a winning mental fixture to get our guys over the hump. It's the small things that will get the Giants back into the good graces with the Baseball Gods and that means stepping it up when others fail to do so. It's a basic formula in baseball:

Good pitching will always beat good hitting.
Most games are won by runs scored in 1 inning.
Win every inning and you won't lose a game.
Walks = baserunners, extened innings, higher pitch counts and opens up the defensive alighnment.

We as Giants fan cannot worry about what the Rockies and Dodgers are doing, even when we are playing them in the weeks to come. We really need to focus on run production to match our outstanding pitching staff. Figure out how to get the table setters on base and extend innings for guys who can drive in runs. It's that simple. See, this ended up being a positive post :)

Giants, I've loved you guys since I knew what baseball was, and I hate the Dodgers with every fiber in my body so LET's TAKE IT TO THOSE BUMS AND MAKE A RUN AT THIS THING! WHOSE WITH ME!!!



Ride the Wave,
Steve in Seaside

Roots, Rock, Beautiful Reggae Day

Jah mon! Yes I really did say that as I'm just now coming down from a musical high that was the 14th annual Monterey Reggae Fest, a three day event that showcased over 40 artists, acts and personalized shows.

I was fortunate this year, as well as the two years past, to get free passes to this one-of-a-kind irie event that promotes family, free spirits and of course ONE LOVE (Thanks again Clear Channel Radio). Now, I'm not going to ramble on about what goes on at these events, because that's not what it is about for my wife and myself, but I'd rather talk about the people and some of the artists that blessed this stage over Labor Day Weekend.

Friday was the start of it all and I flew solo for the first couple of acts on the main and second stage. Most of the vendors were just setting up and the event had that "new car smell" to it still. This is the best time to talk to the regulars and faithful who have been to the show religiously since its start in 1995. I chatted it up with some of the show promoters and started to catch the reggae fever. Lion Camp produced the first notes floating around the Monterey Fairgrounds, extending to the airport and even onto the new golf course which ran parallel to the main stage. Richie Spice even gave a shout out to some of the players making their way around the back nine. "Much Love to the putt-putters!"

Sunday brought the best out of everyone as we packed up a stroller so full of chairs, blankets, food, water, toys and tents that we're still not sure how our daughter made it. We set up camp between two historic trees that open up just enough for us to fit in and give us a visual frame of the main stage and its background of sun-lit and color scattered sky. Let the good times begin! And they did as friends from all walks of life joined us in common place and interest. As the bands came and went, the music got better and better, setting the stage for the main acts of the weekend: Don Carlos (Reggae Ledged) and Ky-Mani Marley (Second youngest son of the great Bob).

As the sun started to set, the vibe came alive as people filtered in to grab their place in time to witness one of the offspring of an icon that has changed everyone’s life that was there. A partnership between the people, Mother Nature and Kingston Town derived tunes made for a night to remember. There was one of those "you had to be there" moments as Ky-Mani's landmark song "Warriors" played through the night, an large airplane zoomed through the sky low enough to feel, as if to tip it's cap to all who had traveled to be there.

We will be there next year in full force, just as we did in 2009. I encourage everyone who has a genuine love for reggae music to take the pilgrimage to Monterey in August. It is really something to be a part of with no static, predigests or pressure. Something not often found at any event these days. And I'll send you with a quote from the great Prezident Brown during his set where he said:

"This is the biggest and best event this weekend, today and now, and you are all apart of it, this very second."

Ride the Wave,
Steve in Seaside

"Let's go to Steve in Seaside..."

A good afternoon to you web surfers and blog spotters. This would be my first official blog in this arena so I'm honored to have you here with me today.

I created this platform after a spark of interest and inspiration from another media outlet. One that I tune in-to, scoff at, giggle with and rock out to everyday of my life. A medium that I think we abuse, no, take advantage of all the time. A source of outstanding personalities, cutting edge technologies and "good knowledge." It comes in various forms; Radio.

We all flip flop between our favorite stations, riding the airwaves to a tune that might catch our attention just long enough to shove onto the next piece of sanity, while we get to where we are going. We pass by all of the commercials and public announcements, and even get pissed when the DJ interrupts to do their job, right? Meanwhile advertisers don't get the most bang for their buck, and messages fall to deaf ears that directly affects the community.

Wow, this blog is turning into a drag. But wait there is hope!

Now, I'm not one to cast stones, because I do that same thing from time to time. I skip over a song I don't like and cringe at the same spot being played over and again, but my point is that radio is a hurting industry where loyal employees who are passionate about what goes on the air, are losing their jobs. Why? Internet radio, Limewire and free music applications on our iPhones play a huge role in this. People were so afraid of companies like Sirius and XM Radio because they weren't like terrestrial stations that were local and had real proximity in the community. They also had no commercials which has opened the doors for web sites like Pandora and apps like iHeart Radio to change the way we listen and organize our music.

I HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS! And most of them are great and better my music experience as I drag through work and things to do at home. So I can appreciate the advances in the music industry, but it still doesn't clean out the bad taste that it in my mouth.

My spark of inspiration today come after getting to talk on KNBR 680, The Sports Leader. Most of you might know this station if you live in-and-around the bay area, and that they are the SF Giants flagship station. I listen to certain sports personalities everyday, gaining insight and that "good knowledge" that they give day in and day out. I called into the Fitz and Brooks show today, and no I won't tell you what I talked about, but after it was done, I had a good feeling about myself. Why? I had worked with and around disk jockeys for two years, and even spent some time behind a mic as well. Why was today so special?

I believe it was the connection that people can make in this world. People associate TV and even newspapers as real tangible mediums. Radio tends to be the least in that regards because, no you can't see a DJ and no you can't hold radio info in your hand; but what you can get is a real personal touch. You can't interact with a tv host or talk to a columnist when reading an article, but you can call in and give your best run at a radio personality.

And now I end my rant about everyday stations, which never fill out musical expectations. lol. But I challenge you to call into your favorite DJ or show. Tell them how you appreciate the fact that they love what they do and keep a suffering industry going. It's true.

Thanks for reading today. Most of my blogs will be common place for most people and an easy read at that. I like to shoot from the hip and discuss things that deal with young people directly and things that I experience throughout my days, weeks and months as a father, a husband, a ballplayer, a business man, a surfer, a son and a friend. Make that call...

Ride the Wave,
Steve in Seaside