Boys and Their Toys

Bill's sister, Alberta and her guy,  Ernie, recently took a vacation to Monterrey, California.  Besides visiting with family (this is Ernie's hometown) they went to car shows and car auctions.

Ernie bought the car shown in the next photo...

This car was intended to race in the NASCAR circuit, but, as sometimes happens, it became obsolete before it ever hit the track.

This place in Monterrey, aside from the other car shows, also has an auction where very prestigious automobiles are put up for bid.

There was a Ferrari that sold 27 million dollars!

Can you even imagine bidding on such a car?

Heck, when we were at Monte Carlo, in Monaco a couple of years ago, I was impressed just standing beside a red Ferrari that was parked on the street...  I'd probably have swallowed my eye teeth just thinking about bidding on that one in Monterrey last month!!!!

 Anyway...  Ernie bid on this automobile, and is now the owner of this "potential" NASCAR vehicle.  Last night it was delivered..... 

 This truck brought it to Ernie's shop last night, and they unloaded it this morning.

 This morning, Bill & I stopped by the restaurant where Ernie has breakfast.  He, and the driver of that huge transport tuck were having breakfast and we joined them.  This photo shows (big photo on the left) Marky...  a young man who works for Ernie....  he took the car for a spin in the next-door parking lot.  Now... this car can go 200+ mph....  Marky got in it...  took off...  and SPUN out through this parking lot, into the lot next door.  The upper left just shows the dust he made..... I mean, this guy was MOVIN' ON!!!!  Spun around and came back to where we all were standing.  When he got out of the car, Marky was shaking like a leaf!  He loved it!  Can you imagine driving a car...  a car that's never been raced...  a car in pristine condition...  a car that your boss just bought in California at a very prestigious auction...  one that your boss has never even sat in...  through downtown parking lots....  and even though that ride lasted less than 5 minutes.... YOU did it!  And you brought it back still intact and good shape?  Heck, I'd be more than shaking.  As Marky said...  he thought he might need a set of clean underwear.

What a treat it was talking with driver of the truck.  He actually lives near Orlando, Florida, but spends about 3 weeks of each month transporting VERY expensive cars throughout the USA.

 A view of the engine of the car Ernie bought...  as well as a couple of other shots...

I loved talking with the driver.... He'd told us about the multi-million dollar Ferrari he'd transported, so I had to ask him what vehicle in the "low life" category he'd had on board.

He told us about a heap of "parts" he'd picked up,,,  not even a total vehicle.  I wish I could remember the name, but it was right down there with our little Scion type car.  Oh well....  we never aspired to be the big "players" in life....

We all had other things to do....  Bill took a guy who may work out as a great "handyman" to a rental house we own here in Farmington to check on some work that needs done....  I headed off looking for some geocaches.

An hour or so later, we both found ourselves back at Ernies.... and looky here....

Looks like a Tom Sawyer, "Painting the Fence" kind of scenario to me...

Guys who ordinarily would be at their day jobs...  running wires for the electric company, guys who really do have day jobs...  all were very happily washing this great car that Ernie had brought to Farmington.

Quite a beauty, isn't it?

Even if you have no interest in this kind of thing, a person really has to admire the engineering, the technology.... and really...  the pure speed..... that this thing can attain.

I'm always amazed at the diversity of life we see...  and live.  

That's All For Today!