Throwback Gallery: Ferrari F40
Welcome to my first Throwback Gallery. This is where I will occasionally look back at my career from before this website and blog existed. First up is a bucket-list shoot. I hope you enjoy it.
It’s not every day you get the opportunity to photograph a car that many people consider the greatest sports car ever conceived, the legendary Ferrari F40. But, on a beautiful October day in 2016, I got to do exactly that.
The day started with the following text exchange with my friend Doran.
Me: “Hey, man, what are you doing today? Can you help me with a shoot? I need a driver.”
Doran: “Sorry, I can’t do it today. I have a family gathering at my sister’s place.”
Me: “Does it matter if the subject is an F40?”
Doran: “What time? I’ll be there?”
We met up with Nick, the F40’s owner, at the Laconia airport where the car was being stored in one of the hangers with the rest of his impressive collection. In addition to the F40 he had, amongst other things, an Aston Martin DB5, a 427 Cobra, Colin Chapman’s Lotus Elite and a Jaguar E-Type tucked away. He has since moved his collection to a permanent location up the road known as the Vintage Racing Stable. Look it up. It’s pretty cool.
While the F40 warmed up I did some static photos and then, on Nick’s suggestion, we took the car to a retired runway for car-to-car motion shots. It was almost a spiritual experience hanging out the back of a Range Rover being chased by a Ferrari F40. I remember having the realization that this was probably a once in a lifetime experience. Take it all in.
We went up and down the runway a few times taking photos until Doran really did have to get back to his family. As we wrapped up the shoot Nick asked us if we’d like a dream to come true: “you guys want a ride?” I think we just turned to each other like a scene in a buddy film and, slack-jawed, just nodded, “yes, please.”
As a kid, I had a poster of an F40 on my wall and had a 1/18 diecast on the shelf. I didn’t get to see one in person until I was in my 20’s. Growing up in Northern Vermont is not exactly the ideal supercar spotting location. So, to me, the Ferrari F40 was a unicorn. It existed only in the pages of magazines. I never thought I’d get to photograph one let alone get to ride in one. And now, here I was, blasting down a runway in the passenger seat. Nick was only able to get to third gear before we ran out of runway and had to turn around. 115 mph in an F40. All I can say is that this was a visceral experience that barely scraped the surface of what this car is capable of.
This is a day that I will never forget. What follows is a small collection of the photos from this shoot. Enjoy!
