Chapter 149

6/23/2007

Ch 149 Common Locksmiths of Clifton Park                                               Ferrari F430

Philip Mangione III is identified on the personalized gold or at least golden name plate that the builder mounts to each car's carbon fiber dash. He gave me a short ride in his new ride at the Museum, at my insistence, when I worked the motorcycle lawn show on Saturday. Phillip is a very gregarious fellow, spewing some of the same stuff as would exit the horse he stands behind here. Interestingly, this sculpture was painted by the local artist George Frayne IV just back from tour in Europe where he performed with his musical group, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen. Here you can listen to their redone "Hot Rod Lincoln" which went top ten in 1972, although I remember the original in the 50's-60's Virgil as we listened to WKBW Buffalo1520 AM. (broadcasting from the Well Known Bible Witness building). Our newly invented portable transistor radios could pick up their signal at night. Local high schooler, Tom Saltsman would sing along under the moonlight with his '56 Ford parked on the dirt road in front of our house. He wore the the butch wax and duck tail hair-do to go along with his gray primered car with the hood ornament taken off so as to achieve that cool customized look. Same concept as the Ferrari.

You can coax almost 500HP out of  this baby, but you have to first fork over at least $200,000 American. But not just anybody can buy one, you have to already be the owner of another Ferrari.  I first met Philip at his Exit 9 Clifton Park shop getting  a key made for my motorcycle. Turns out he used to ride the same model and had his new Harley V-Rod outside (that he'd just traded in his Road King for). Other times he'd have his Mercedes CLK or a Porsche Carrera parked out back. He is also a member of the Museum's elite Silver Arrow Club. I know Philip ordered this one well over a year ago and visited the factory in Maranello, Italy to just visit his car.

The F430 is the GT2 class leader in the American LeMans Series that Shawn and I plan to go see in Lime Rock, CT on July 7. The young 18 year old driver  Colin Braun should be there racing for his Texas based Risi Competizione team just back from finishing second place in class at the 24 Hours of  Le Mans in France.

My summer camp neighbor is also a locksmith and I don't why he doesn't have a Ferrari.  Dare to Dream! What's the key to unlocking the door of success to a Supercar? I guess it helps to be in a family business over a 100 years. Here's the funny part- I STILL couldn't afford even a '56 Ford, not a really nice one.

postscript- the first motorcycle key he made didn't work (but he replaced it)

              - the first motorcycle to show for the Saturday event was a blue '73 Triumph 650 Tiger, same as my first new purchase

              - coolest bike to show was a 1929 Harley that the Amsterdam machinist beautifully rebuilt and rode down

              - I always liked picking locks and recently sold an 1890's? antique Mosler safe for $200 that I had brother Bill deliver to a neighbor. I'd bought it as a teenager for $15 from the Saltsman Feed Mill and it had some $10 gold coins in it from before 1933 when the Govt recalled them (today each worth $500-$1000). Of course, I gave back to owner. You can buy this one now-bids end shortly, bidding currently at only $25.