Category: The Ratto Report

FCA NEWSLETTER
DESERT REGION – LAS VEGAS CHAPTER
2nd Quarter 2020

Written by John Ratto
Edited by Chuck Damus

Last Quarter, I opened this missive thusly: Man, it has been an eventful three months. I would say that the three months of this Quarter have been ‘different.’ Everyone has been confined to quarters, and directed to practice ‘social distancing’ … a new term for the big dictionary. Perhaps of greater significance, the entire economy has been shut down, on purpose. So, the second Quarter hasn’t really been eventful (heck, we haven’t held an event in months), and it certainly has not been good. Yeah, different sounds about right.

Oh, and people are getting sick … and people are dying. As of late June the death toll in the USA is approaching 150,000. The number infected by the virus is far higher. The number of people going stir-crazy while being relegated to their homes is astronomical.

In early May, the first signs that the restrictions might be eased…slowly…began to appear. Phase 1 of partial opening in Nevada was initiated on May 9. Phase 2 opening began in late May, and by early June much of Las Vegas was back in business (not normal business, but we’ll take what we can get). The other states and the rest of the country followed similar schedules for reopening their economies. The question then was: Will opening the economy and returning to a somewhat normal life give the virus new life (and give us new death)? Unfortunately, the answer seems to be yes, and right now it is difficult to say whether things are getting better, or getting worse.

On the political front, we had a primary election in early June, and Joe Biden has been officially anointed the Democratic Party’s candidate for the presidency. This election should be interesting. Saddle up because a lot more different stuff is on the horizon.

As noted above, there have been no Socials or Drives during the 2nd Quarter of 2020. So, there is nothing to really dwell on. Nor do we have any idea when large parties will once again be welcome in our favorite restaurants. Meanwhile, the Ferrari Club lies dormant. But ‘We’ll be Back!!!’

So, this brings us to the big picture – July 1, 2020. We know a lot more about the virus, and we are much better able to deal with its effects. The death toll is down. A vaccine may be on the horizon. But, unfortunately, new cases are still far more numerous than desired. The future is still unknown. Dr. John says: Have fun, but be careful.

FORMULA 1 NEWS

Winter Testing in Spain

Good news: My agent in Spain has managed to escape incarceration and is once again prowling the pits to provide the inside scoop of what transpired during testing in Barcelona.

As usual, he noted that it was obvious that none of the teams wanted to post a really fast lap in order to hide their true capabilities. Drivers were easing off the throttle a hundred yards from the finish line to mislead their competitors. That said, James (real name) Bond (not so real) indicated that Mercedes looked to be fastest, but he also reported that the German cars were experiencing repeated engine reliability problems. He also noted that the Alfas, Racing Points, and McLarens looked quite stable on the track, but that the Red Bulls (surprisingly) appeared nervous and not well planted. And, finally, the bad news: the Ferraris were not so quick.

It is to be noted that the teams will be using the same tire compounds as last year. It is believed that this uniformity will add stability to the proceedings, as there will be one less new variable stirred into the soup. This should help the lesser teams as they lack the resources to fully explore the implications of any change, much less one to a factor as critical as tires. It is also of note that the implementation of the massive changes that were planned to come into force in 2021 has been delayed to 2022, another effect of the virus.

And finally, protests lingering from last season regarding Ferrari’s engines and fuel management system have spilled over into 2020. The other teams continue to insist that Ferrari is cheating, but the FIA cannot seem to determine whether this is true or not. In any case, the outcome of the FIA’s investigation was a secret agreement between Ferrari and the FIA stipulating what would be allowed and what would be rejected. Naturally, the other teams were up in arms, accusing Ferrari and the FIA of collusion. This imbroglio will likely continue well into the future.

Meanwhile, Mercedes was making big news on the technology front. It seems they have developed a new engineering tweak that may be a game changer, or just another ripple in the history of F1 that will be soon forgotten (remember the cars – Tyrells? – with four front wheels and tires?). It is called Dual-Axis Steering (DAS), and it allows the driver to make small adjustments to the alignment of the front tires (specifically the toe-in/toe-out) while the car is running on track. More toe-out is advantageous in the corners, while more toe-in is advantageous on the straights. Moreover, changes in toe also affect the temperature of the tires, and where the temperature (inside or outside) will be higher or lower. The DAS will allow the Mercedes drivers to make adjustments continuously as the race proceeds. The effects will be most interesting to observe!

The Non-Races

Initially, the Virus situation caused the race in China (ground zero) to be cancelled. Then, at the very last minute (literally), the first race of the season (Australia) was also cancelled. Then a bunch more were cancelled. In late May a rumor began to circulate that a race might be held in early July in Austria, and that a highly revised series of races might be run in the months that followed. But, as of early June, it could not be said with any real certainty when or where a race would be run, or even IF a race would be run in 2020. The season, as so many other things, hung in limbo. Then, in mid-June, word trickled out that a race would be run in Austria on July 5. We await the reality with bated breath.

Rumor mill continues to grind in the absence of racing

In mid-May, a rumor went viral on the internet: Vettel is out (for 2021) and will be replaced. This has now been confirmed and it seems a certainty that Carlos Sainz (ex-McLaren) will be given the highly desirable drive at Ferrari. While I always rated Vettel a top tier driver, his (sometimes bizarre) actions last year left me wondering if he was approaching his ‘sell-by’ date: 2019 was a year of too much inconsistency, too much petulance, and too little team spirit from the veteran German. And, most importantly, Vettel scored too few points. He clearly did not respond to the pressure being applied by young teammate Charles Leclerc. Sainz should provide consistency and good vibes. Barring hell or high water, he will certainly play second fiddle to Leclerc, and probably will be happy to do so, at least until his first podium finish.

Status: July 1, 2020

Things seem to be steaming ahead for a race to be run in Austria on July 5. Everything points to it happening. It is listed in the ESPN Guide. However, many remain skeptical. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Having no Formula 1 is terrible. Having no sports at all is unbearable. We will certainly welcome F1 back with open arms.

Hoping that you are all well, I wish you all good luck in the days ahead.

FCA NEWSLETTER
DESERT REGION – LAS VEGAS CHAPTER
1st Quarter 2020

Written by John Ratto
Edited by Chuck Damus

Man, it has been an eventful three months.

It all started way back in January, when tensions flared and war with Iran seemed likely. The stock market (and the populace) simply ignored these events and continued its march to the stratosphere. Problems with Iran dissipated, only to be quickly replaced by protests against the Chinese government held in Hong Kong. This looked to be significant, but it too fizzled out without having an impact on our economy, or the stock market. Ditto for impeachment: it looked like a big deal, but it came to nothing.

Lots of smoke … no fire.

Then came the Corona Virus and the roof fell in. Isn’t it amazing how something like that can cause mass mayhem? Concerts and events (the NFL Draft party, conventions, the NBA season, the start of the Formula 1 season, business trips, vacations, cruises), restaurants … all cancelled or closed. Casinos closed (what – I never thought I would see that). Fear of significant impact to the economy led to a wildly gyrating stock market…then significant impact to the economy. In a speech on March 11 to the citizenry, President Trump tried to allay fears; the Dow responded with a 10% drop the following day. Then we were told (and then ordered) to stay in our homes and practice social distancing (new term to me). Life and business ground to a standstill, and there seems to be no end in sight. The mandate was through March … then through April. Now? Your guess is as good as mine. At first, it seemed the government was over reacting, which led me to a question that I hated to ask: Does the government know more (bad stuff) about this Virus than they are revealing? As it turned out, the answer was yes. Bad got worse, and soon the death toll began to rise. And here we are in early April with no end in sight, still confined to our homes with nothing (no sports anyway) to watch on TV.

As I said, an eventful three months.

Meanwhile, on another front, as predicted in the prior Report, the cadre of hopefuls vying for the Democratic nomination has dropped like flies: Klobuchar … Steyer … Mayor Pete … Blumberg (Bloomberg? He wasn’t around long enough to leave an impression) … O’Rourke … Yang … and finally the big one, Elizabeth Warren. Did I skip anyone?? This leaves Bernie and Biden as the last (old) men standing.

Enough politics and civics, let’s have a look back at the events (and the fun – do you remember fun?) that we managed to have during the first quarter of 2020.

January 8: Board Meeting at the Home of Elda and Dave Fanucchi

We again had an impressive turnout, with more than 12 in attendance. We all thank Elda and Dave for again hosting another Meeting. Glitches with the computers at the National level seem to have prevented the seating of new Board members from being finalized, but that should be resolved shortly. Our new treasurer, Ted Schlazer filled us in on our current financials and reported that the turnover of financial responsibilities (from Scott Howard) is in progress. The Board notes that Scott’s tenure was long and very successful, so we thank him profusely for his efforts. The planning of upcoming Socials and Drives was then discussed. With spring just over the horizon, we have an extensive docket of activities in the hopper, so PLEASE visit our Website – ferrariclubvegas.com for more information.

January 23: Social at Piero’s

We experienced another very strong turnout for this social, held at one of the most renowned Italian restaurants in all of Las Vegas. And it did not disappoint, as everyone seemed very pleased with the food and libations. The conversations were lively and I was especially pleased to have the opportunity to really get to know new members Sandy and Katlyn Cornelius, whose first attended event was the recent Christmas Party. What nice people, be sure to meet them soon. While this may ostensibly be a car club, the interesting people to be met is really the number one attraction.

February 27: Social at Prosecco in Henderson

Want to know something? Socials at fine Italian restaurants are popular. More than 20 attended this one at Prosecco, a Henderson hot spot where the food was excellent and the drinks were more than generous. As an added bonus, after sating our hunger and thirst, we all re-convened at Oz and Jeannie’s home to gab and gawk at his small collection of some very nice and very significant automobiles. It was the perfect dessert to an excellent meal and evening. We thank Oz and Jeannie for their hospitality.

March 11: Board Meeting at Siena Ristorante

Despite our return to an old favorite, the Meeting was sparsely attended with no general members in presence. Perhaps the Virus is beginning to impact people’s desire to get out and mingle. None-the-less, your intrepid Board soldiered on. It was noted that Scott Howard’s continued illness has prevented the final turnover of the Treasurer position to Ted Schlazer. We continue to work hard to make this happen. The next order of business was discussing upcoming socials. Be sure to visit our website for information on the following: 3/26 at Nora’s, 4/23 at Lemoncello, and 5/28 at old favorite Table 34. Also in the works are two drives. The first, to the Valley of Fire, is scheduled for Saturday 4/4. The second, to Laughlin, is planned for early May. The next Board meeting is scheduled for May 13.

Mid-March: Extra! Extra! Everything cancelled, postponed, rescheduled!!

Well, the Virus hit the fan in mid-March. Progressively, everything ground to a halt. Everything was shuttered. Everything was cancelled. This has forced your Club to cancel or postpone all events that were planned for the near (at least through April) future. Keep your eye on our website for news and information.

FORMULA 1 NEWS

Testing in Spain

Good news: My spy in Spain has managed to escape incarceration and is once again providing the inside scoop of what transpired during testing in Barcelona.

As usual, it was obvious that none of the teams wanted to post a really fast lap in order to hide their true capabilities. Drivers were easing off the throttle a hundred yards from the finish line to mislead their competitors. That said, James (real name) Bond (not so real) indicated that Mercedes looked to be fastest, but also reported that they were experiencing repeated engine reliability problems. He also noted that the Alfas (now called the Alfa-Tauri), Racing Points, and McLarens looked quite stable on the track, but that the Red Bulls (surprisingly) appeared nervous and not well planted.

It is to be noted that the teams will be using the same tire compounds as last year. It is believed that this uniformity will add stability to the proceedings, as there will be one less new variable stirred into the soup. This should help the lesser teams as they lack the resources to fully explore the implications of any change, much less one to a factor as critical as the tires.

And finally, protests lingering from last season regarding Ferrari’s engines and fuel management system have spilled over into 2020. The other teams continue to insist that Ferrari is cheating, but the FIA cannot seem to determine whether this is true or not. In any case, the outcome of the FIA’s investigation was a secret agreement between Ferrari and the FIA stipulating what would be allowed and what would be rejected. Naturally, the other teams were up in arms, accusing Ferrari and the FIA of collusion. This imbroglio will likely continue well into the future.

Initially, the Virus situation caused the race in China to be postponed or cancelled. Then, at the very last minute, the first race of the season (Australia) was also cancelled. Then a bunch more were cancelled. As of now, it cannot be said with any certainty when a race will be run, or even IF a race will be run in 2020. The season, as so many other things, hangs in limbo.

Hoping that you are all well, I wish you all good luck in the days ahead.

FCA NEWSLETTER
DESERT REGION – LAS VEGAS CHAPTER
4th Quarter 2019 Pt 1/3

Written by John Ratto
Edited by Chuck Damus

The last quarter of 2019, home to the Holiday Season, was relatively quiet for the Club. Many were travelling or celebrating at home with family and long standing friends. The mainstay of this time for the Club is the Holiday Party, and that seemed to be a big success for all those that attended. As you read this, it is probably cold and dark outside, and it may actually even be raining. Thank you God for that moisture from the sky – we need it! But that only means that spring, and warmth but not heat, is just around the corner. And that means that new Club events are coming soon. We hope you will attend some or all, as we would love to see you.

OPENING COMMENTARY

The 4th quarter of 2019 began with rumblings that Congress would impeach the President, and it ends with impeachment proceedings moving forward. Where this all ends, no one knows. I doubt it will be anywhere significant. Meanwhile, the bipartisan condemnation arising from the abandonment of (our allies) the Kurds has mostly evaporated as other, new ‘hot topics’ have popped up.

While the vast field of Democratic presidential hopefuls has been somewhat thinned through attrition, enough new candidates have joined the fray to keep the field oversubscribed. Things have been relatively quiet for some time, but look for the action to resume soon as the primaries approach.

Having lived in China (the real China, the Communist mainland one, not Taiwan or Hong Kong), I find the most interesting of these new hot topics has been the unrest in Hong Kong. Based on firsthand experience, I can say with certainty that China is not a police state, as many of our politicians and journalists would have you believe. I would also say that the ‘typical’ Chinese man or woman ‘on-the-street’ is generally pretty happy with his/her government and the state of the country. This is likely due, in great part, to the great improvement in living conditions in China over the past 20-30 years. When things are getting better, and getting better fast, people tend to be contented. Yes, the government is far more intrusive and omnipresent there than here, but that is true in virtually every other country in the world. Meanwhile, the Chinese people (but not those living Hong Kong) have far more liberty and prosperity than they have ever before experienced. Those in Hong Kong on the other hand, see the national government tightening the strings on their liberties. I am most interested to see how this crisis plays out, and I would advise that we keep our noses out of the mess: if there is one thing the Chinese despise it is outside interference in running their country.

Enough politics and civics, let’s have a gander at the fun stuff the Club was involved in during the 4th quarter of 2019.

October 23: Social at Marche Bacchus

Maybe it was the proximity to Halloween, or maybe it was the sudden cold snap, or maybe it was just the turn of the season, but this event failed to generate much enthusiasm, as indicated by a sparse attendance and blasé reviews of the event itself. Apparently, the food was slow in arriving, and that exacerbated the chill in our bones. Oh well, they can’t all be great.

November 13: Board Meeting at Bravo Cucina in the Galleria Mall
Once again, we had a very nice turnout for a Board meeting, indicating perhaps that our members are quite interested in the inner workings of the Club. Or maybe they have heard that Board meetings are kinda fun, or maybe that this restaurant has some pretty good Italian food. In any case, all are welcome – so plan to attend one. The first order of business was discussion regarding the upcoming Holiday Party. Everything seemed set, with only minor details to be finalized. By the time you read this, the Party will be in the rear view mirror, but we hope you all enjoyed it. Then we progressed to the real business, nomination of board officers and directors for 2020. Unfortunately, a lot of familiar names are on the roster, including yours truly. Most of the new nominees are past board members, including Lindsey Freeman, Elda Fanucchi, and Chuck Damus. We really need some fresh blood – so please consider stepping up and joining the Club’s executive branch.’

December 7: Holiday Party at Towbin Motorcars

On a beautiful, balmy December Las Vegas evening many of the usual suspects gathered at Towbin Motorcars, our dealership, to celebrate the holiday season and the passing of another year. We must note the presence of two new members. Be sure to say a warm hello to Sandy and Katlyn Cornelius (California exiles, as many of us are) when you meet them on a future event. They are the proud owners of a 458 that Sandy was quick to point out is driven whenever possible, as is proved by the 20,000 plus miles already on its odometer. Moreover, this was also an opportunity to welcome back Al and Lorene Lindahl after an extended, illness forced absence. The food was good, the music perhaps a taste too loud, and the comradery palpable. It certainly seemed that a good night and a good time were had by all.

Well, I am embarrassed to say that, other than a Board Meeting scheduled for January 8th, the cupboard is bare. That puts the onus on you dear member to find our website – ferrariclubvegas.com – and periodically check the Calendar for new events. We hope to see you there.

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