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The first day of the inaugural running of the 24 Hours of LeMons Houston had just wrapped up and the sky was purple/orange with ozone pollution. There I was, minding my own business and pounding beer after beer (after tequila) when a man started talking about how his Ferrari Enzo was in the fact the car that Eddie Griffin smashed up. “What?” I yelled. “No way, dude. I took pictures of that Enzo dead and laying in state out in front of the Mann Chinese — that car was toast.” and then he showed me the T-shirt which had both a before photo I’d taken of the wrecked Enzo and an after shot of the restored car. “Carbon fiber bolts right up to the subframe — piece of cake” said the tall Texan. “You took that picture? I’ll get you a ride in it tomorrow.” Jump for more about Matt Groner’s rebuilt Enzo and me riding around MSR in it.
Mr. Groner drove his Enzo to the track on Sunday then climbed out and into a ratty Dodge Neon to go racing. Gots to love the LeMons. Anyhow, I made friends with a certain Mike Mills, who not only dominates at SCCA events but is the track manager at MSR. Groner directed Mills to take me and a couple others out for a few laps after LeMons wrapped on Sunday. That’s what is refered to as, “Win-win.” Though I got the better end of the deal as I got to hear that V12 at full wail and not have to worry about driving. Also, I think I might be the first person in the history of planet Earth to ride an Enzo around a track in flipflops. But Mom, I was wearing a helmet.
If you look at the photo, you can see me hamming it up for the photographer (Chris Cornwell) by pretending to yawn. I actually wasn’t (duh) as we were on our way up to 145 mph or so on that straight. Sadly, after two days of 75 or so beaters all dropping oil, grease, brake fluid and JB Weld all over the damn place, the track was pretty messed up. In fact it was such a disaster that through some of the curvy parts, the Enzo decided to get sideways on Mills. That’s oil on asphalt for you. Obviously, not only did Mills wrangle the hot and bothered Italian back in line, but I can honestly say I’ve been drifting in a million dollar Enzo. How cool is that? I know, I know — pretty damn cool.