Event Report: Ride in a Ferrari, 3rd June 2006.
Wyevale Garden Centre, Owermoigne, Dorset
Fabulous Ferraris, Great Weather and Wonderful Fundraising.
With the final arrangements made and up to 20 Ferraris and other 'guest' cars expected we arrived at Wyevale Garden Centres branch at Owermoigne near Dorchester on Saturday 3rd June to be greeted shortly after our arrival by a long line of people hoping to get their Ride In A Ferrari, early in the day. It would turn out to be our last visit to Owermoigne.
From 9.30am people started to queue and cars started to arrive. We have raised a very worthwhile £2,400 that will be split between the regular charity, The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (JTSMA) and Ridgeway Ward at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, Dorset. Therefore, they currently stand to gain £1,200 each with a couple of extra donations expected yet to come. I am told that Ridgeway Ward intend to spend their portion of the money setting up a "Resource Room" to help patients and new nurses or doctors understand more about what's involved with Orthopaedic surgery. They will be purchasing models of the spinal column, and bones in the hands and feet to illustrate just what surgery might entail. It's not as gruesome as it sounds because there will also be information leaflets as part of the Resources set aside in a small room on the ward. I am told that in due course I might even be able to go back and "officially" open it.
We had 19 cars attend this year, which is a venue record for us at Owermoigne. We did achieve up to 24 cars one year at Haynes Motor Museum before. Several owners who came this year had attended there before and this was their first time at Wyevale Garden Centres.
Guest Cars and Fab' Ferrari selection
'Guest' cars this year included a newly-acquired Porsche 911 GT2 - with an extra 200bhp over the last one - and a Bentley Continental GT supplied by Mr. David Money from Straight Eight Bentley in the New Forest, Hampshire. Ferrari highlights included another visit by the F50 we have seen before and our first 'new' Ferrari, the F430. Other Ferraris included examples of the 308-328-348 line and the F355 in Berlinetta, GTS and Spider formats. A great selection!
I feel I must take on a serious note at this point in this year's report however. I have only ever promoted the event on the experience of seeing the cars involved; getting to meet the lucky people who own them; and riding in them as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people. We had several visits from members of Dorset Police this year, which has culminated in a recommendation being made by the Chief Constable himself, that we move the event to a site away from the public highway. I am now in the process of searching for such a site in either Dorset or perhaps south Somerset. I have a promising "lead" with Henstridge Airfield and have looked into contacting other tourist attractions such as country houses that might have long driveways or estate roads and where there will be a distraction for members of the public and something other than riding in a Ferrari to spend their money on.
Concerns were raised by the marshals and helpers on the day that many of the public attending only wanted to ride in the Ferrari F50 and no other car, in some cases waiting for as long as 45 minutes for their ride. People had commented that they had travelled from as far away as the West Midlands and South Wales to be there and had left home at 4am and 5am to join us. I think everyone that wanted particular cars, did eventually end up with their ride and that is thanks in no small part to those drivers with the F50, F430 and the Bentley that also proved very popular. I have it in mind to keep the 'minimum donation' for riding in regular production Ferrari models at future events to £10 (depending on the venue we go to and length of ride given) but to raise the amount asked for riding in cars such as the F40 or F50 or perhaps an Enzo to at least, £30.
This way it will separate out people who really want to ride in the most special of Ferraris and will also, I hope, help to raise even more money. I would be most pleased to hear members' views on this plan as well as suggestions for any venue in Dorset or south Somerset. It has been suggested to me that we not have F50s or Enzos included (or perhaps only for static display) because they are almost too popular for the rest of the owners to get a chance of giving rides in the more regular production models. My Father, who once again went around with his video camera to record the event officially, commented that he likes to see as many cars as possible to make as good a film as possible. I did feel sorry for the owners who were good enough to attend and who in some cases had travelled many miles to be there and who then didn't get to give many or in some cases, any rides in their car. The public can be such fickle people! I do really hope that these owners have not been put off attending again in future but individuals had started to leave around 3pm because everyone standing in the queue just wanted to ride in the F50. I did get two rides myself this year, with Russ Nathan in the F430 and with David Money in the Bentley Continental GT. Both cars are fabulous to ride in although the Bentley is definitely more of a "Grand Tourer" as the GT moniker would suggest. I'm certainly not knocking the Ferrari, which had more of a point-and-squirt attitude and would be great on a twisty B-road, I'm certain.
"Thank you"s
On a lighter note, I must do the long list of "thank you"s and impart one funny story. An enormous thank-you to Jon from London who drove the F50 all day barely stopping to take breaks and who, when asked by one member of the public whether he drove cars like it regularly, commented that the lady could see him on Top Gear most weeks as he is 'The Stig'. I think she almost took him seriously!! My thanks also again to David Money from Straight Eight who has promised to bring two cars next year and a colleague. To each and every owner who did brilliantly on the day: Tim G, Richard I, Steve C, (who was accompanied by his daughter, who helped out enormously at the table for donations and by giving ID badges to the drivers as they arrived), Jon G, Colin C, Noel M (911 GT2), Martin M (who brought only our second 360 Modena ever), Tim L, Andrew (sorry I didn't get your surname but you drove one of the F355s), Tim N (sorry you didn't get to give any rides), Russ N (who brought 'our' first F430), Gary P, Jonathon T, Chris J again attending in his 512BB, Craig (Mondial Cabrio), a great effort especially with the children who wanted rides, John M, and non-FOC member but event stalwart (the first time he's been called that), Mr. Tom P from Weymouth. A final thank-you not only to members of my family helping and visiting on the day but also to PHR members Charlie and Rachel who helped out in the car park marshalling all day, Allison Pratt from the JTSMA and Stacey Hodges and Carrie Ward representing Ridgeway Ward from Dorset County Hospital.
Oh yes, that funny story. We were visited by Alan "Mac" McNamee from the Western Gazette who took many photo's and stood on a pallet on top of the forks of the garden centre's forklift to take the picture that was eventually published. However, he also tried a short flight (tethered to the ground) in a hot air balloon on site on the day to take yet more pictures, but once it got airborne a gust of wind tipped it over! I think he would have been safer with the "duck race" he said he missed to be with us!
One of our last passengers of the day was a very special young lady called Naomi from Sherborne in Dorset. When she arrived with members of her family, we had already stopped selling tickets for rides due to the dwindling numbers of cars. Her mother was disappointed until she explained that Naomi had Spinal Muscular Atrophy and they were members of the JTSMA. That was different. She was lifted into a Ferrari 308 GTS - thanks Richard - and wanted to 'go fast'.
Finally, our first celebrity guest, Julian Fellowes enjoyed his visit with his wife, Emma Kitchener-Fellowes as they got to meet Allison from the JTSMA, Carrie from Dorset County Hospital and members of the Ferrari Owners Club. "Where do you put the luggage?" Julian Fellowes asked when seeing the engine bays of the 328 GTS and F355.
The idea of the Tombola prize draw was much better than a regular raffle. I only brought home one unclaimed prize but it's gone to a good home at the local hospital. Date for next year (subject to agreement from all parties involved - which is like trying to keep several balls in the air like a juggler), Saturday 2nd June at a new venue. Look at www.jtsma.org.uk/ferrari for more pictures and links to more about the event as well as the preview for next year in due course, thanks Gareth [--my pleasure, Roy!].
On the way home I put the CD player on in my own car and the first song that played was "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac. Quite appropriate I think, when I consider how much people enjoyed this year's event.
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