Where titanium exhausts sing and turbos scream

Where titanium exhausts sing and turbos scream

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It’s not uncommon for car enthusiasts and collectors to purchase a vehicle only for it to sit in a garage and collect dust. Often these are track-focused rockets, one-of-a-kind pieces that are merely delegated to pieces of furniture. As a driver and an avid motoring enthusiast, it irks me that these incredible pieces of mechanical wonder are used as nothing more than conversation pieces to flaunt wealth. 

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I get that with an ever-changing industry, it’s common for cars to increase in value as their demand and rarity increase. And yet, the thought of owners not understanding the potential of their vehicle, purely due to the fear of damaging them, is a topic that deeply saddens me. A story for another day... 

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It is, however, not always the case… You get the car enthusiast who genuinely understands, and appreciates, the marvel of engineering parked in their garage. They are inclined to drive their cars and share that marvelous joy that only a classic car can instill. One such joy factory is the annual SEFAC Ferrari Track Day at Kyalami. I was fortunate to attend after the event’s three-year absence from the calendar. 

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What a spectacular sight. 105 of Italy’s finest on display, pushed to the limits, creating what is possibly the best-sounding spot you could find in Johannesburg at any given time. I spent time in a 355 F1 Spyder, owned by the host and passionate Ferrari man Greg Marucchi. It mightn’t have been the fastest car on the track but the noise emanating from its V8 outmuscled just about everything else at the event. Despite my brief time on the track with Greg, I just couldn’t get enough of watching the light-hearted battles between family members and other participants. Yes, it’s no Kyalami 9-Hour, but this track day is special in its own way.

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From Ferrari F12s to an F40, there was something for every kind of Ferrari fan, even providing a display showcasing the latest and greatest from the Italian stallion, including the all-new Roma. I have a great deal of respect for Ferrari purely due to its powerful status as something dreams are made of. To a non-car lover or even a child, any striking sports car is often misinterpreted as a Ferrari. Especially if said car is red. It is a company which has been developing head-turning cars for decades.

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SEFAC has created a true Ferrari enthusiast’s event and has provided the perfect place to correctly appreciate what a beautiful and typically Italian company Ferrari really is. It’s an ecstatic display of red, where titanium exhausts sing and turbos scream. Where old horses unite with the latest from Scuderia and families share in the unforgettable adrenaline rush which is only found on the race track. 

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I must admit, the whole event was rather breathtaking; imagine 105 Ferraris in the same place, at the same time – it’s a sight to behold. A congregation of friends, family and the prancing horse where even the oldest attendee felt like a kid again. 

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Pictures: Jordan Schmidt

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