Mark Potter
Posts by Mark Potter
Master Maserati Driving School
Jan 18th
After a hugely successful 2007 season, Maserati is once again offering a full season of performance driving instruction with their world-class ‘Master Maserati’ program. This represents your chance to learn from some of the best drivers in the world – 10 instructors under the direction of Ivan Capelli (Veteran of 98 Gran Prix races in F1). Vehicles include the brand new GranTurismo (5), the brand new Quattroporte Sport GTS (2), as well as the GranSport (6), and Trofeo Race Cars (2).
The 2008 Maserati Master GT 2-Day driving course is organized by Maserati Spa, open to existing and potential owners, with an emphasis on the GranTurismo and safe driving techniques. The course takes place at the Varano de Melegari autodrome, a technically demanding track perfectly suited to driver training. The track boasts centrally controlled artificial rain, low grip resin, a skid machine, on-board telemetry, and lecture room with video-replay feedback.
Groups of 24 people per course are split into 3-4 smaller groups of 6-8 participants each, with track time broken up among the different vehicles, and progressing from classroom theory through demonstration laps in the Maserati Trofeo. Topics covered include emergency braking, power oversteer with and without ASR, high-speed pendulum turns, a high-speed contest, and laps on track following a “pace” car – under a green not yellow flag… Educational sessions are broken up with on-track time with telemetry analysis.
Each exercise is tailored to improving your skills as a driver, and to get the most enjoyment out of your current or future Maseratis. After all – these cars are meant to be driven, and with Maserati’s 90 years of racing history – its in their blood.
- Dates: 23/24 April, 28/29 May, 10/11 June, 27/28 August, 18/19 September, 8/9 October, 27/28 October
- Accommodations at Hotel Palace Maria Luigia, a 4-star superior hotel in Parma, Italy. Dinners at exclusive local restaurants, lunches at the track.
- Price: € 3700 (incl. VAT) per participant, all-inclusive; €784 per companion
Speaking of racing, new for 2008 is the Master Maserati Master Racing program.
The Master Maserati Racing course is designed for a limited number of participants, who can now spend a whole day at the wheel of the Maserati Trofeo and the Maserati GranSport. This is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of Maserati competitions with the support of a highly professional staff and the latest equipment.
- The Racing course is limited to 12 participants, and utilizes the Maserati Trofeo, GranSport, and GranTurismo vehicles.
- Cost: €3999 per participant, all-inclusive
For more information, or to sign-up, please e-mail me: mark.potter (at) morries (dot) com
8 Championships in 3 Years
Jan 18th
[from MaseratiMonthly.com]
“The final three races in the FIA GT Championship season proved one thing: The Maserati MC12 is a must-have for any team or driver with ambitions to win championships. Over those last three races, Maserati has clinched the Manufacturers’ Cup, for the second time in three years, and Vitaphone Racing has pulled off the unprecedented feat of a third consecutive Teams’ Championship. Thomas Biagi clinched the Drivers’ Championship, the second year in a row a Vitaphone driver has taken the title. For good measure Ben Aucott has clinched the inaugural Citation Cup, the trophy for ‘gentleman drivers’… While the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins and Corvettes put up an admirable fight, at the season’s end it was Maserati alone that won every championship in the series, for drivers, teams, and manufacturers.”
Long story short, the MC12 was on every podium in 2007, except 1, and in three years of competition, the MC12 has won 2 Manufacturers Trophies, 3 Team Titles, 2 Drivers’ Crowns, and the 1st ever Citation Cup.
50 years after Fangio, Maserati is still proving they have what it takes to win.
“I’ve raced and won in cars of all marques but I always had a special relationship with Maserati: not only were the cars safe, reliable and always absolutely technically avant-garde, but there was a very special friendship and atmosphere between myself and the marque. I felt completely at home.”
– Juan Manuel Fangio, 1957
Five Times Formula One World Driving Champion
1957 Formula One World Driving Champion for Maserati
Alpina B7 Video Walkaround
Jan 13th
My second video is now complete and online. This proved to be much harder than the GranSport Spyder. I took about 20 minutes to research and take notes, but still had a bit of trouble with my narration. This took me about 10 tries to get all of the video together, and needed more editing than the previous video, but I’m happy with the outcome. Considering these are the first two videos I’ve created start to finish and uploaded to YouTube I think I’m doing alright. The biggest challenge might actually be fighting my perfectionist tendencies.
Here is a player which should automatically load all of our movies, with newest first:
In addition, here is a link to our video channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=maseratiofmpls
Maserati GranSport Spyder Walk-Around
Jan 11th
While many technologies, start-ups, and trends come and go on the internet on an almost weekly basis, its clear video is here to stay. Cars in videos is nothing new, but we are going to start offering video walk-arounds of select cars for sale, and eventually every car in our inventory. This video is the first of the bunch, with many more coming soon.
Have some feedback? Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I’d love to hear them: mark(dot)potter(at)morries(dot)com
Car Magazine Video: Maserati GranTurismo Alfa 8C Competizione Ferrari Scuderia
Dec 20th
These are the hottest Italian cars of 2007, and Car Magazine decided to do a quick group test. Here is video from the article appearing in the Jan ’08 issue of Car:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Video/Search-Results/Video/Features/From-Monaco-to-Modena-1/
GranSport Zagato Followup: Video
Dec 20th
This is in follow up to a previous post about the GranSport Zagato, which can be seen here: http://maseratiofminneapolis.blogspot.com/2007/05/zagato-bodied-gransport-spyder.html
GranTurismo Review by Fifth Gear
Sep 24th
The press swirling around the Maserati GranTurismo continues to heat up. This video comes on a tip from theMaseratilife.com forums. This video really showcases the car’s good looks, interior room, updated ICE (In Car Entertainment), and gives a great sneak peek into the sounds we will soon be enjoying.
Wheels of Italy, 2007
Aug 3rd
Click for fullsize poster
Wheels of Italy, the annual all-Italian car and motorcycle show hits Minneapolis August 26th, from 10a – 4pm. As always, the show is free to attend, and features 200+ cars and motorcycles from Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, MV Agusta, and much more. These vehicles range in age from the brand new to classics. We will have a booth and cars on display, so please stop by and say hi.
http://www.wheelsofitaly.com for more information.
Maserati GranTurismo Videos
Jun 14th
I’ve been scouring the web for some good videos of the new GranTurismo, and these are the cream of the crop.
This first video is from the GranTurismo’s world premiere:
This next video is a CGI teaser:
This video is from Edmunds’ Inside Line, and features video form the world premiere at Geneva:
This final video is part of the Official Maserati GranTurismo Podcast, which I highly recommend subscription to:
(click here for my previous post with information on subscribing to the Maserati Podcast)
Ferrari Club of America North Central Region Drive
Jun 11th
This past weekend a few guys from Ferrari Club of America’s North Central region got together for a spirited drive through the back country of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Everyone had a lot of fun, and it should make for an awesome yearly adventure for the North Central Ferraris. Many thanks to Dan and Dick for their work to put this together, as well as everyone else that showed up for an awesome Saturday drive. Definitely the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel in a long long time.
Click any of the images for fullsize. Most are through the windshield while driving, so not the best quality, but still cool.
This is what happens when you let a tractor lead.
