Sometimes you can find things where you’d least expect them. For instance, I have been guilty of leaving the TV remote in the kitchen a time or two (once, IN the refrigerator). In much the same way, I wasn’t expecting to see a new Lamborghini parked in the Radisson/Friday’s parking lot in downtown Moline.
Let’s take a closer look at this Gallardo Spyder. You may see these things everywhere in LA or Las Vegas, and I’m sure there are a few in Chicago as well, but in Moline, Illinois (home of John Deere!) they are pretty scarce. It is also nice to see one in the classy blue finish this one sports. You don’t always have to get one in bright primary colors, you know.
My folks and I had dinner and then went to a free outdoor concert that was a couple of blocks away. On the way back to the car, I spotted this car in the same parking lot, parked in the “back 40.”
Believe it or not, I actually got to ride in one of these. About six years ago, a friend of my Dad’s invited us to a track day at Joliet Speedway. Dad and I rode up in his 911, and although it was drizzly that day, he and several other guys from the QC got some racing lessons and got to take their cars out on the track. Dad thought it was pretty cool; so did I.
The car I rode in
This was a pretty flossy event with food and drink, and several of the local exotic car dealers had new models on hand to ogle and even drive, if you were so inclined. I can’t drive a stick (but I can stall them really well!), so I didn’t drive, but I did get a ride on the track in a Gallardo coupe in the same color combination as the Spyder I found in downtown Moline: blue with a cream interior. I even had to wear a helmet.
I have never been in a car that accelerated as fast as this thing. You didn’t really accelerate; you launched. It was overcast, misting and my helmet was uncomfortable, but it was still something I’ll always remember.
This car brought back those memories, and for that, I thank the unknown owner. Nice car!
Good thing it’s not John Deere green.
I believe it says in the owner’s manual that you are allowed to take up two parking spaces to protect yourself from the hoi-polloi.
Ironically bogarting two more more places in a crowed lot increases the probability that the rabble will trash your fancy whip.
What crowded lot? I see loads of vacant spaces.
I doubt I’ll ever drive or ride in one these, but fortunately, I really don’t have much interest in this type of car. The car is indeed beautiful, and performance is superlative, but even in a win the lotto jackpot scenario, I’d rather have a Packard or Cadillac from the early 1930’s, or a 50’s Corvette.
Must be really something to have the means to buy a toy like that Lamborghini, though.
Assuming it’s paid for…
“It’s like they may drive a Porsche but they don’t have ten bucks to put in the gas tank.” Boiler Room
As a Grand Am GT coupe looks on with jealousy.
I’m not a fan of these, but this one is much more tasteful than the usual yellow or orange. (As for Lamborghinis, though, make mine Miura.)
Don’t be fooled by the magazine photos and promos. Sadly, the most popular color for the Gallardo among people who actually PAY for them is black. Which always stuck me as kinda missing the point of owning a Lamborghini, but what do I know?
At any rate, if I turn out to have a mysterious rich uncle who dies and leaves me millions, make mine “visible from orbit” green…
I do like the bright green and orange, but I’d rather have a new Challenger in those colors…
Great experience when you launched one. Something to tell about, which you finally did.
So much nicer than the usual black, silver, or bright green. My own “spyder” was, however, there first 🙂
My picture was washed out so I take the liberty of uploading another similarly painted car. Apologies to Lambo fans for the semi-threadjack.
(I can’t resist mentioning that Mazda sold only 2359 Miatas in this color in the U.S., fewer than the number of Gallardo Spyders that has been produced. But still, I take up only a single space when I park.)
That’s a real 1000-word picture. A hastily-parked supercar taking up two spaces: Probably owned by a complete fool with more money than brains, the manners of a caveman, and the driving skills of a toddler.
On Fathers’ Day, I played golf with a friend and his son-in-law. As I drove the cart (I hate to ride carts, but if the others ride, one has to) back to the clubhouse after the round, I parked it at about the same angle as the Lamborghini shot. The son-in-law, from New Jersey, told me that’s the way a certain ethnic group parks cars and golf carts in New Jersey. He went on to tell me how rude people are at the golf courses he frequents. I told him I’m glad I live in Pittsburgh.
That guy deserves to get keyed, parking like that across two spots. He would if he parked like that in Chicago here. What an ass.
Grownups are capable of nuanced thinking.
You can’t drive a stick!!
Obviously cant drive for shit despite the fancy whip.
“I can’t drive a stick (but I can stall them really well!)”
No shame in admitting it, Tom, but now you need to do something about it. We could take up a collection and send you to Skip Barber or something.
My own confession is that I won’t even dare attempt to ride a motorcycle. There is no way I can get all of my limbs to perform different functions on flat ground, let alone two wheels. 🙂
What a great story. You are very fortunate. Something I’ve noticed about Gallardos is they make people smile. Ferraris on the other hand elicit serious reverence- oohhhs and aahhs. I suspect the owners may be different as well…I got up close and personal to a wine-colored Spyder with a creme interior and would have written the check immediately if I had had the money.
yes its a beautifll car but it dosent do anything for each to there own id rather have a beautifull black mint 62 studeabaker gt hawks for a tenth of the money
I work in Auckland, NZ’s biggest city, but live 138km away in the rural countryside, and yes the commute’s a killer, yes the company I work for and my job are both great, but no it’s not worth the driving, and no don’t ask why…
Anyway, spending all that time behind the wheel allows me to see some great automotive sights, such as happened a month ago when I was heading home. There I was driving along, when coming towards me going the other way was a lovely blue Gallardo – like the feature car. “Awesome!”, I thought, “Don’t see a Gallardo every day, gotta love some Italian exotica!”. Then 5km later, coming towards me was a black Gallardo. “Wow, it looks great!”, I thought, “Two in one day, who’d have thought it!”. Then 10km later coming towards me was a grey Gallardo…”Well that grey looks very crisp, but they’re like buses”, I thought, “You wait ages, then three come along at once”. Then 10km later a white Gallardo was coming towards me…”Okay, is there a hiden camera somewhere? They’re getting a bit common now”. Then 5km later was a bright red Gallardo, except it was pulling off the road with a lights-flashing police car behind it. Obviously the policeman was getting as fed up as I was with Gallardos everywhere… Two of them were accompanied by a BMW with the name of a motor-racing circuit on the door, so I’m assuming it had been a circuit day. But I only saw one other C35 Nissan Laurel on my trip, which makes my 15-year-old ex-JDM import considerably more rare than those common Lambos…possibly not quite as sought after though…