[Neopolitano]

Although I have put very little "seat time" in my recently acquired Boxer this Sunday I am taking it to Sebring Raceway for a day at the track. My BB, s/n 35411 is a car that had engine improvements increasing the hp from the stock 360 up to a dyno tested 471. Torque is 400 lbs. Carobu Engineering did the engine rebuild and upgrades.

I have only driven this car around town and have not really gotten a chance to feel how it performs. Sebring with its long straights is a good place to open her up and clean out the pipes. I just left the shop where we replaced the brake fluids, oil changed, checked all suspension components and fasteners for security. I had new brake rotors put on as the cross drilled set had warped some. In addition we found the steering rack was a bit sloppy and am having that replaced too [same as TR and 308[. So all should check out fine for a day of high speed running.

Now before anybody chastises me by saying the Boxer is not a track car I do know Boxers. I had BB s/n 21171 for 15 yrs and did track it at Watkins Glen and Summit Point. I know it has a tendency to swap ends when passing the limits of adhesion. However I am just going out to have some fun and not try to find how hard I can push it. I will probably just stay with the Touring Group runs to get better acquainted with my new BB.

I'll let everyone know how she and I do.

[JazzyO]

Excellent Steve, have fun. A mate of mine uses racing brake fluid in his 512BB, seems to help a lot in preventing brake fade.


Onno

[wetpet]

Sounds like a great time. do you go to cavallino?

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by wetpet

Sounds like a great time. do you go to cavallino?

I do go to Cavallino. Last year I brought my Dino for judging and the GTC for display. Have not set on what to bring this January, but will soon.

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Excellent Steve, have fun. A mate of mine uses racing brake fluid in his 512BB, seems to help a lot in preventing brake fade.


Onno

Onno, I should have thought of that. The BB is definitely one of Ferraris overpowered and underbraked packages. But I doubt I will be pushing that hard to boil the brakes. This is just an opportunity to push the right pedal long without getting arrested.

[wetpet]

maybe you saw me, i was parking the dinos! i was the handsome one.

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

I do go to Cavallino. Last year I brought my Dino for judging and the GTC for display. Have not set on what to bring this January, but will soon.

[tazandjan]

Steve- Is that the Boxer in Forza? Also, I am pretty sure Chad ended up buying your old Boxer, since the SN sounds familiar to me.

[212Export]

Steve, could you inform us a little about that "special" engine adaptation of your 512 ?! Also how it felt this weekend to drive it on track. Love to hear your story !

Thanks !

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

This is just an opportunity to push the right pedal long without getting arrested.

Always a fantastic feeling. I love track days. My 550 loves them too. That V12 revving up to the limiter all day long, what a glorious pasttime. Last time I managed only 90 miles out of a full tank....

Very keen to take the 458 to the track next year.


Onno

[Boxer]

I was at Brands Hatch yesterday (thread here - http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/uk...tml#post158618 ) and one of the guys brought his BB along. He drove it beautifully and had zero issues with the car (he is an outstanding driver). it is just about understanding the car and knowing its limits.

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Steve- Is that the Boxer in Forza? Also, I am pretty sure Chad ended up buying your old Boxer, since the SN sounds familiar to me.

Taz,

Yes BB 35411 is the Boxer in the Forza article. I have a specific selection of cars that I want to acquire over the next 5 yrs......then stop [or so I think]. And a carbureted BB was on that list. When I saw this car come on the market I decided it was the one I wanted. I extensively thought about a 365 BB, but I like the look of the 512 more. And although the 365 has a more visceral raw feel to it this Carobu car offered the best of both worlds to me........the 512 body and improvements and more stump pulling raw power than the 365.

It is not a show car because of a couple of obvious changes. The exhaust is a much cleaner ss system than stock [i have the stock too]. And the wheels are 17" polished alum [also have the stock mags]. I don't really like the bling of the polished wheels so at some point I will have them painted. The radiator was replaced with a lighter [and maybe larger] aluminum that would need to be painted. But I don't have this car for show, but for go.

Been a while since I have tracked. My son is an experienced [355 Challenge] driver that knows Sebring in his sleep. He is going to instruct me around the course. But as I said before I probably will drive it 60% of its capability. I know my experience does not match what this car can do. The idea is for me to become better acquainted with the car and have some fun. Kindof like a first date [although I really don't remember that either!].

And yes Chad does have my 1st BB s/n 21171. I acquired and imported that car in 1985 from Ancona for 50,000,000 Lire......I love saying that figure even though it was about $20,000. That was an adventure trying to do a simple transaction in Italy [another story for later]. I lived with that BB for 15 yrs. I painted it re-sale red in the late 80s [young and dumb I guess]. Chad is bringing it back to her former glory and original silver/black Boxer paint. It was a sound car that was pretty reliable over the years.

Always have loved the look of the BB design and overwhelmed everytime I look at that huge engine w/ its 4 triple barrel Webers. True engineering artwork.

attached is the Forza article Attachment 36697

[212Export]

Congratulations Steve. Wonderful story and having it that (!) long time...excellent. You got stories to tell...I'm sure ! Hardly can wait to listen to them.....

[bretm]

Wow, what a great looking car. I'm sure it sounds the business as well... I still think the flat-12 might be the best sounding engine of all time.

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by bretm

Wow, what a great looking car. I'm sure it sounds the business as well... I still think the flat-12 might be the best sounding engine of all time.

Bret,

It is a very brutish roar emanating from the BB engine. However a C/4 at 5000 rpm in the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel is a sound that rings true in my ear. My old man lent me his to drive on our honeymoon 33 yrs ago. My 330 GTC's alternator gave up the day before our wedding [another funny story...although my wife didn't think so]. The C/4 just had to do.

The only other car that might have a better sound than the C/4 is a 250 GTO at speed. But I don't get to hear that very often.

Still the BB has one great engine. Especially this hot rod.

[tazandjan]

Steve- It is good we have two very happy BB owners now. Chad asked me some questions about 21171 when he bought it and that was why I remembered the serial number.

Your car has been very tastefully modified and the extra power cannot hurt. The code for the silver wheel paint is PPG 36520, Argento Metallizzato, later Argento Nurburgring with the same PPG code and racier name.

Thanks for the article. I love black Daytonas with red stripes

[SBDaytona]

Love to hear how she goes Steve. I have taken my 512 on some tarmac rallies for much the same reason as you. They are great fun when you get to really open them up. Im sure you will have an awesome day. Best wishes Sean

[tazandjan]

Steve- Wow, reviewed the specs on your Boxer and it puts out as much power as a 550. That is pretty impressive.

[Neopolitano]

Carobu did quite a job on this car. I just returned from Sebring a while ago after a day at the track. The car performed nearly flawlessly. The power of this engine is exceptional. And the lowered suspension set-up really plants this car. At 160 she hunkered down giving you solid control and a very confident feeling.

Should have photos tomorrow.

[Neopolitano]

Here's the first of our day at Sebring. Good friend's GT 'n BB 35411.

[Neopolitano]

on track