My name is Andrew Frankl, this is my very first blog. You
may have heard of me as I have been European Editor of The Autochannel for 15
years and Grand Prix Editor of FORZA-also for a similar amount of time.
Right now, as has been a tradition for 45 or so years-I am
packing to attend the Monaco Grand Prix on the 26th of May just a few days
from now.
Two weeks ago I popped in my see my old friend Mark Paddack,
Sales Director of Ferrari Maserati of San Francisco. Mark is an old friend who
is normally calm, serene and smiling. Well, most of the time. Not very long ago
a member of his staff accompanied a potential customer who duly drove the brand
new Ferrari demonstrator into the Bay of San Francisco. Mercifully there
were no injuries beyond the gentlemen’s pride.
Anyway, back to Mark. He very kindly invited me to a truly
exceptional function at a very elegant winery near Sonoma Raceway. There
was a stunning F12 waiting at the entrance which I’ve checked out for
size as hopefully I will be driving one after my trip to Monaco. This reception
was the automotive equivalent of the sort of function the San Francisco
Chronicle’s Leah Garchik normally writes about at the opening of the Opera or
the Symphony. There were Enzo owners, GTO owners; the car park was every
Ferrari aficionado’s dream. Talking of Leah I did interview her once for
radio a while back and she confessed to not being a huge auto enthusiast
driving a somewhat battered Volvo. I should add that I also had a Volvo in
England for the best part of 12 years, took it all over Europe and it never
missed a beat. But back to the function where I’ve met one of life’s great
guys-Randy Steyer. President of the Ferrari Club of America’s Pacific Region he
has been immensely helpful to kick start my latest project-a book. Entitled
Frankly Frankl-same as the name of my column in FORZA it will publish on 16th October
at Ferrari of SF’s premises. There will be a very fine display of cars at
the entrance; I just hope the book will be as good as some of the cars I have
been writing about. The foreword is by my very old friend and three times World
Champion Jackie Stewart. The Scotsman won his titles in a Tyrrell but even
ferraristi will agree that he is way beyond being associated with a racing car.
His efforts to make motor racing more secure may have made him some enemies but
I can only salute him for his efforts. Thanks to him and also to the late,
great Sid Watkins –neurosurgeon extraordinaire we haven’t lost a driver in F1
since that appalling day back in May 1994.
I am looking forward to writing about all the forthcoming
events and promise to keep you posted. One topic which is getting a lot of
coverage at the moment is the future of 82 year old Bernie Ecclestone, czar of
Formula One. From what I hear he may no longer be there much longer although I
personally have great respect for he has done. Think Austin.
Andrew Frankl, 16th May 2013
Belvedere, California.
http://www.franklyfrankl.com
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