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Today I met a living legend


Darryn
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Today I had the privilege of meeting Mr Valentino Balboni, the man that has driven every single Lamborghini model produced since 1968, including two cars that held the record for the World's Fastest Production Car. He has driven the car that opened the Monaco Grand Prix (with Prince Ranier and Princees Grace behind the wheel), a car that he personally fitted the engine to.

 

He has also driven a V12 engined SUV, and has his own Lamborghini named after him.

 

It is a humbling experience to meet such a man that is truely a part of motoring history, and a very very rare opportunity.

 

(sorry, tomorrow is family day, I won't be back to post again till monday)

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  On 12/12/2009 at 3:07 PM, Watwheels said:

If only you could own a Lambo for him to autograph... :D

 

I do - I have one yellow Murcielago at home...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:12 scale model

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  On 12/12/2009 at 4:50 PM, Iliketodrive said:

the signature can exchange for a lambo?

or how much the signature worth?

 

Not everything must be about money leh or materiel things...much more in life than just money money money.... [nod]

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  On 12/13/2009 at 5:51 AM, Zac said:

He drives an Audi Q7 V12 TDI?

 

Not sure - I asked if he drove a Lambo as personal car, but he said that driving them for work was privilige enough.

 

This guy is really my hero - can you imagine being part of the devlopment team for two of the world's fastest cars?

 

He also used to drive the Jota, which in the late 60's broke 0-100 in 4 seconds..he described some of the achievements of this car as the equivalent of "going to the moon"...

 

Very very nice, unassuming man.

 

Got his autograph, and a few pix - but not with me in them (didn't wanna spoil the picture!)

 

 

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  On 12/14/2009 at 12:44 AM, Friendstar said:

a true great living legend will be none other than schumacher, imo only

 

Wah man - a bit biased!

 

The Miura, the car that Mr Balboni was referring to really caused a quantumn leap in sports car - it was the first car ever to have a rear transverse mounted engine. The term "supercar" was actually invented to describe this car.

 

Heh - he did also note that the two Italian competitors very muched followed the personalities of their founders - read into that what you will. THe current positiong of Lamborghini though is all about both extremism and exclusivity.

 

Stephan Winkelmann (and to go name dropping I have spent time with him also) is on record as saying that Lamborghini will always produce demand - 1, as owning a Lamborghini is supposed to be, and will remain a privilege

 

Just to add,

 

the guys that I consider legends of F1 would include (but not limited to)...

1. Bruce McClaren

2. Ayrton Senna

3. Fangio and Farina

4. Mansel

5. Jacques Snr

6. Colin Chapman

 

Go back a few years and F1 was really a very very different scene to what it is today - it was more about gentlemen duelling in cars than the technology.

Edited by Darryn
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I love Collin Chapman's way of "technology".

He brought the principals of aviation into cars.... He was the one who changed the dynamics of driving... MR to get better balance... Lightness.....and lastly, his knowledge of aerodynamics.... without him... F1 won't be the way it is now....

 

You saw the cars during Chapman's time? after a car crashed... a wheel barely drop out.... goes to show how heavy those cars were... and the engines were sitting infront of the drivers.....

 

I love Chapman's way of a "perfect" car.

 

 

 

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