One week after graduating college, I loaded my tool box, helmet and sleeping bag into what was effectively my entire net worth, a red and yellow 1957 Devin special. During my senior year of college, I was working as a part-time Ferrari mechanic. The man who owned the shop was kind enough to let me keep my Devin project car there and entrusted me enough to work on it over the nights and weekends while surrounded by the pride of Maranello and his sole source of income. Having been a spectator at races as a child and learning about racing history from my affinity for collecting old slot cars, I was absolutely determined to finish my very own sports racer and be the truest period-correct sportsman I could. My helmet was open-faced and my goggles were new old stock WWII Army Polaroids that I bought off of Ebay for $5. I packed them along with my Jimmy Clark gloves and the cream with red striped Dunlop driver’s suit that my grandfather gave me as a graduation present. Those S.U. carburetors and big cam took a little extra time on that crisp morning to warm up before we were off and sailing across country roads to my first road race; The Vintage Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio with the SVRA. I had the time of my life living beyond my own years that weekend and made many new friends. The car ran admirably and we finished well after many epic dices. Four days, later I bungee strapped my sleeping bag to my roll bar and drove home on a gorgeous sunny afternoon feeling as happy as anyone possibly could.
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