CAR CLUB OF THE MONTH SUBMISSION GUIDELINES To submit a club for consideration as an upcoming featured Car Club, please send a link to the club’s website (if applicable) and include with the submission the name and location of the club as well as the full first and last name, email address and/or phone number of a club leader or spokesperson who can supply the necessary information and imagery. Submissions may be emailed to [email protected], or mailed in hard-copy or flash-drive form to: Mecum Auctions 445 South Main Street Walworth, WI 53184 ATTN: Mecum Magazine Submission NORTHWEST REGION - FERRARI CLUB OF AMERICA By Brian Thalhammer The sports car was built for those looking for an uncommon speed, ravishing design features and the unmatched feeling of road-holding freedom. Countless makes and models have been available for the thrill-seeking individual with the opportunity to pilot such automotive innovations, but for the Northwest Region Ferrari Club of America (NWRFCA), the vehicles themselves just aren’t quite as special without the cherished camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts. When it comes to craftsmanship, Ferrari has a firm understanding that details make a difference. Some of the most exciting and innovative vehicles ever built have come from the Ferrari factory, ones that captured the allure of a high-performance machine built specifically for the adrenaline-craving driver. With chapters covering Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, the NWRFCA has the means and the know-how to coordinate events that give members a time and place to bring together more than just high-profile automobiles. NWRFCA Regional Director Eric Wishan is proud to be at the forefront of a club that has a reputation for its members being some of the most welcoming, down-to-earth people, all of whom are simply seeking a friendly, social environment focused on a shared love of Ferrari. Wishan didn’t grow up sweating under the chassis of a car with a wrench in one hand and a fistful of frustration in the other like some of today’s self-taught auto enthusiasts. Until he purchased his first sports car in 2005—a quick little BMW—Wishan didn’t even credit himself as a “car guy,” but that soon changed when he found himself at a car club meeting and heard a member utter the words “Track Days.” “It was all over from there,” Wishan said. Finding himself in the mix of the car world, Wishan went on to help expand that club, and he then moved on to a passion for the Ferrari, eventually owning a Ferrari F430 and volunteering his efforts to expand the Northwest Region of the FCA. When the question arose about his attraction to the club, Wishan was confidently genuine about his experience as a member and regional director of the NWRFCA. “The environment is so welcoming, these are some of the most down-to-earth guys I’ve met and they’re so generous when it comes to giving advice,” he explained. “We put a lot of effort into the club because of how rewarding the social aspect is.” With hundreds of members throughout the Northwest Region, the NWRFCA seems to always have its hand in something, continuously designing events for members to get together, talk shop and enjoy the cockpits of the iconic Prancing Horse creations. Members frequently partake in long cruises, monthly dinners and events that provide eye-opening experiences, ranging from multiday drives through the mountains of the Northwest Region to simpler driveway car-talk in preparation for the next adventure. Some fun upcoming events include a Chelan Valley Rally, Will’s Wine Tour, Swensson’s Drive and Barbecue event and the ever-exciting annual “Cowboys and Engines” event hosted by wonderful members John and Nancy Payne. 118 // MECUM.COM
