I’ve always felt gearheads are nerds just like all other passionate people, but in unique ways. For instance, if I have my nose buried in a book, it’s probably one about sports cars. When I have an awkward time talking to a girl, (sometimes) it’s because I ramble on about a new model’s specs and realize she doesn’t care – or know – about any of them. Not a one. And the first time I was ever excited by a museum tour was when I watched Marchettino‘s video below.
He goes to an exhibit called “Ferrari Supercar. Tecnica. Design. Mito” at the company’s “museo.”
Primitive hunting weapons and ancient scrolls are significant in the history of civilization, but I don’t find them particularly cool, especially when they’re compared to cars such as the Ferrari F50, Enzo and 250 GTO. The other prancing horses in this clip are the:
-250 Le Mans
-250 GT Drogo “Breadvan ”
-288 GTO
-288 GTO Evoluzione
-333 SP
-599 GTO EVO
-F40 Competizione
-F40
-LaFerrari
-LaFerrari F150 Concept Manta
-LaFerrari F150 Concept Tensostruttura and
-Enzo FXX Evolution
Marchettino’s footage has me seeing red in more ways than one. It makes me wonder: Where the hell was this place when I was a kid?! All of my school field trips sucked!
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
