The joy of being me.
Well, the fuel pump (or so it seems) in my car just "up and died." This is not a very big deal, once you move past the fact your car is immobile...or at least incapable of graceful motion. The procedure is brief, the cost of parts not terribly material (even for a weirdo exotic car) and the labor costs pretty inconsequential.
The problem is that you can't just drop the beast off at Lube Boys or JiffyPep or AutoHut. Partly because those guys would probably lobotomize the car, and partly for the sake of vanity. Much like you wouldn't go to just ANY doctor to have your naughty bits looked at, opting, instead, for the best doctor you could get, I take my car to a guy named Richard Sirgany. He is an ItaloJamaican* (!) wizard and Italian Sports Car eminenza grigia. He raced with really big names back in the 60s and 70s (including the late Peter Revson, heir to the Revlon empire, and Steve McQueen) whom you'd know if you knew anything about racing.
The problem with this whole thing--much like the scenario of a really wonderful doctor--is that you have to make an appointment. To many people, for whom their car is merely a transportation appliance, this is an amazingly unusual thing. They just drop off their Oldsmobuick or Wagon Queen Family Truckster at the dealership, have a doughnut and some watery coffee and take their car home. At worst they get a loaner vehicle.
With this sort of car and mechanic, you make an appointment, and slots are tight. Richard's insurance policy requires him to garage all the cars when he locks up and so space is limited. Show up late for your appointment and a Maserati or Ferrari has usurped your place. It says something that people are willing to bring him gigabuck cars from HUNDREDS of miles around just to get his blessing and oil changes. The funny thing about him is that he is RETIRED. He works from 7am-7pm, 6-7 days a week, but to him this is "part-time." He used to be the official Alfa guy in Jamaica (maybe also in Miami, I think...I'll have to ask) and he designed several special editions for Alfa, now he is taking it easy.
Anyway, because he REALLY likes me, he bumped a bunch of cars that cost more than 3 McMansions put together so that he could fit me in Thursday at 7am, sharp.
-J.
* He looks like a regular 70 y.o. guy you'd see in a village somewhere outside Naples, until he opens his mouth and then it sounds like a Bob Marley concert.
The problem is that you can't just drop the beast off at Lube Boys or JiffyPep or AutoHut. Partly because those guys would probably lobotomize the car, and partly for the sake of vanity. Much like you wouldn't go to just ANY doctor to have your naughty bits looked at, opting, instead, for the best doctor you could get, I take my car to a guy named Richard Sirgany. He is an ItaloJamaican* (!) wizard and Italian Sports Car eminenza grigia. He raced with really big names back in the 60s and 70s (including the late Peter Revson, heir to the Revlon empire, and Steve McQueen) whom you'd know if you knew anything about racing.
The problem with this whole thing--much like the scenario of a really wonderful doctor--is that you have to make an appointment. To many people, for whom their car is merely a transportation appliance, this is an amazingly unusual thing. They just drop off their Oldsmobuick or Wagon Queen Family Truckster at the dealership, have a doughnut and some watery coffee and take their car home. At worst they get a loaner vehicle.
With this sort of car and mechanic, you make an appointment, and slots are tight. Richard's insurance policy requires him to garage all the cars when he locks up and so space is limited. Show up late for your appointment and a Maserati or Ferrari has usurped your place. It says something that people are willing to bring him gigabuck cars from HUNDREDS of miles around just to get his blessing and oil changes. The funny thing about him is that he is RETIRED. He works from 7am-7pm, 6-7 days a week, but to him this is "part-time." He used to be the official Alfa guy in Jamaica (maybe also in Miami, I think...I'll have to ask) and he designed several special editions for Alfa, now he is taking it easy.
Anyway, because he REALLY likes me, he bumped a bunch of cars that cost more than 3 McMansions put together so that he could fit me in Thursday at 7am, sharp.
-J.
* He looks like a regular 70 y.o. guy you'd see in a village somewhere outside Naples, until he opens his mouth and then it sounds like a Bob Marley concert.
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