Padri Stallone: Greensboro to Phoenix in a 456 GT

[viatierra]

Padre Stallone: Greensboro to Phoenix in a 456 GT

Disclaimer: This may not pass as proper Portal material. Follow along at your overlanding peril.

A few days ago I received one of those phone calls that adventurers love to answer: Epic journey, no time to plan or prepare, how fast can you pack your bag? It seems fate and an aimless summer schedule has decided to smile on this kid. Here’s the story…

My father has been on the hunt for a fairly rare animal: a manual 456 GT. When a retired athlete with a fabulous reputation had a terrible ATV accident a few months ago, the opportunity to move this vehicle from one good home to another reared its head. So I’m hopping on a plane in a few short hours with my Dad to pick up his new car. We’ll spend about a week covering 2000 miles looking for the most glorious stretches of pavement this country has to offer.

A once in a lifetime road trip such as this must be documented, so I’ve got a Spot, my camera and my laptop.
Posts and pictures are coming soon…

 

[Trail Monkey]

Kudos for driving the car back...

 

[jcbrandon]

Sounds like big fun. Looking forward to the pictures.

 

[kcowyo]

Having grown up in Greensboro, during the years when the "Durham Bull" was growing up & creating his legacy in high school and college ball, I am absolutely riveted to this story...

At Wake Forest, before there was Tim Duncan, the star of the team was Rodney Rogers. Rogers was the golden boy workhorse of a scrappy team that had more heart than talent. He was a go-to guy in the NBA that every coach could count on. Rogers created a whole new legacy after the NBA, and the news of his recent accident was devastating to the ACC world and particularly his community, where he used his celebrity & status to improve the lives of so many others. The guy is a local legend.

The transition of this vehicle, while somewhat bittersweet, combines my life-long interests in both, ACC hoops and a good road trip. Having it detailed by someone else that I also think highly of, is the cherry on top. I'm hooked. Reel me in....

Now I don't know much about Ferrari's, but I know Greg, and I'm looking forward to meeting his Dad in a couple of weeks (if they're still speaking to each other after this roadie together....). I hope the car is everything his Dad is looking for. It sure has a great previous owner history.


Safe travels - :beer:

.

 

[viatierra]

We are finally in Greensboro! Tomorrow morning we pick up the car and try to find a piece of the Blue Ridge Highway & Smokey Mountain NP.

 

[Pskhaat]

Dare you post back without pictures dear sir?

 

[Scott Brady]

Disclaimer: This may not pass as proper Portal material.

Oh, it most certainly does!

 

[articulate]

Now I don't know much about Ferrari's, but I know Greg, and I'm looking forward to meeting his Dad in a couple of weeks (if they're still speaking to each other after this roadie together....).

Let me put it this way: the 456 is Ferrari's notable four seater. The two of them went. They left me behind - on purpose. Something about "someone needs to mind the business" crappola.

:costumed-smiley-007

 

[kcowyo]

Figured as much, but thought it too cruel to ask...

We'll spend about a week covering 2000 miles looking for the most glorious stretches of pavement this country has to offer.

It ain't I-40, that's for sure....


Look for the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville (ironically, off I-40). North or south from there, is an amazing drive.


:lurk:
.

 

[Ironduff]

.....

Look for the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville (ironically, off I-40). North or south from there, is an amazing drive.

......

South, per the signs on the BRP, to get to GSMNP, where the BRP ends. Actually, it's much more nearly west from Asheville. You'll pick up US 441 west from there thru the Smokys.

Fill with gas before you hit the BRP; stations are few and far between. And watch for bicyclists who don't wear visibility colors; there are some that haven't been Darwinated yet.

Of course, this may be too late to be of use....y'all may be past by the time you read this. Enjoy!

Jim H.

 

[viatierra]

My cheeks hurt

O.M.G.

 

[viatierra]

Of course, this may be too late to be of use....y'all may be past by the time you read this. Enjoy!

Actually, we are in Asheville for the night and will be heading through the Great Smoky Mountains NP tomorrow. Lively little town you have here!

 

[Purple People Eater]

This is awesome. More pictures, please...

 

[viatierra]

6-3-2009

It was definitely a “pinch me” type of day.

At 9 am Dad and I were picked up to inspect the car and handle the business end of things. The pictures don’t do the vehicle justice (as always) but I wish you could smell and hear this baby!

Here she is...

Dad is going over the details

 

[viatierra]

Blue Ridge Parkway

We left Greensboro and headed north into Virginia and stopped for lunch just short of the Blue Ridge Parkway. After lunch I took the driver’s seat, banked around the cloverleaf and entered a 2-lane wonderland. Today alone I saw more wild turkeys than the rest of my days combined. I’m from AZ, what’s with all these trees? Who new North Carolina had a jungle?

Happy new owner

Great color combo

Twisting through the Carolina Jungle