This article was written by Rachel Wenzlaff, a member of the 2015 Young Journalist program conducted at COTA.
The Circuit of the Americas is considered Risi Competizione’s home track. The Ferrari team is based out of Houston but COTA is the closest track to their home base.
The two and a half hour drive from Houston to Austin is a much easier trip than traveling to Europe, but it can be dull.
The actual racing Ferrari that will compete on the track doesn’t hit the concrete until it arrives at COTA. It hitches a ride in an 18-wheeler Ferrari truck for the journey from Houston to Austin.
But there was at least one Ferrari tearing through the Texas country roads.
Bob and Chris Dernick are racing fanatics, but more notably they are Ferrari fanatics. The Dernicks have been to Museo Enzo Ferrari in Italy, Daytona and as many races as their schedules will allow to keep tabs on their favorite car.
Traveling across the globe to follow Risi Competizione and their Ferraris, wasn’t enough so the Dernicks purchased their own Ferrari… and then another, both of which they bought from the dealership in Houston.
Bob has used his purchases to begin amateur racing, and what better way to use his new skills and make the trek west to the Lone Star Le Mans than in one of his Ferraris?
Taking their Ferrari isn’t always possible for international travel, but they drive it to races as often as they can.
“Other cars are boring,” Chris said. “If you drive a Ferrari once, you don’t drive any other car.”
Their allegiance to Ferrari is deep. When they strolled up to the Paddock for the autograph session, they were decked out in all things Ferrari: shirts, hats, shoes (which apparently exist) and even phone cases.
And still they can’t get enough. Bob says the couple plans to buy a third Ferrari in the near future.