Webster defines FANTASY as the activity of imagining the improbable. He never defined FERRARI so I will: the quintessential exotic Italian sports car.
We know the term “car guy.” Susan Watkins is a rare “car girl” who could only dream of one day owning a FERRARI.
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She inherited her father’s artistic and mechanical skills. He was on the design team for the original Hummer. Her early childhood was spent in Indiana close enough to the Indy 500 track that on race day, the family rented out their front yard for parking. She also spent time in Claremont, Indiana, so close to another track that every Sunday the top fuel dragsters rattled the windows in her home. It was a sound she loved, like it was calling her to come watch. As a young mother, she contributed to the family income by doing tune-ups and detailing in her garage. Susan definitely has gasoline in her blood. She shares her love of cars with her husband, Gary, who has his own fantasy car, a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi.
In 1988, Susan and Gary arrived in Arlington and built a successful business. Early retirement came in 2013. Gary stumbled across an article about the thrill of owning a Ferrari and wanted to get Susan something special. Why not a car? Recalling the entertaining article, why not a Ferrari? He located Susan’s stunning, Italian racing red beauty in Florida. He insisted to Susan that it was a “practical” car with a retractable hardtop and an automatic transmission. It was also powerful and fast … like all the models built by the famed manufacturer in Maranello, Italy.
As appealing as the idea was, Susan’s practical side could not justify the extravagance. Gary would not be deterred. He was convinced that it would be love at first sight. The big box truck arrived without Susan’s approval and when the car rolled down the ramps into the sunlight, Susan said, “My world shifted into slow motion! Wow, what a beauty. I was filled with excitement and still get that first-day thrill every time I get behind the wheel. I was immediately drawn to it and instead of following Gary home, I hopped in and with the top down gave a big wave and took off. The rest is history. Gary said he was sure I would learn to love the car … neither he nor I thought it would happen immediately.
I named it after the famous thoroughbred horse, Fury!”
Fury is a 2010 Ferrari California Type 149 GT (Grand Touring.) It revives the famed CALIFORNIA badge that identified some of the most desirable models from the house of the prancing stallion in the 1950s and ’60s. A radically new design, it was the first Ferrari to feature a front engine V8, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, a metal retractable hardtop, and direct fuel injection.
It has a 262 cubic-inch V8 with 454 horsepower and will accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds, topping out at 194 MPH …hang on!
Its GT personality is emphasized by a slightly higher ride height, compared to the more aggressive Ferrari models, and a luxurious interior … probably the first Ferrari to have cup holders! This was a landmark Ferrari design, produced from 2008 through 2012, when about 2600 cars per year were produced. In contrast, the GM assembly plant here in Arlington builds 2600 vehicles in less than two days! Fury is a rare pony.
“I have a great time with the Ferrari Club of America, DFW Chapter,” Susan tells me. “We meet other owners, share stories, and drive our cars in beautiful, scenic rallies. My biggest joy is sharing Fury with others. People surround it wherever I go. I encourage them to get in and let me take the photos. So many young boys … They know a lot about the car and the Ferrari mystique. With a parent’s approval, I take them for a ride. One 10-year-old I will always remember … after our spirited ride, he got out, waved both arms enthusiastically, and through a broad smile announced, “This is the best day of my life!” 
Susan does not have to be convinced again … she and Gary are on the hunt for a new Ferrari … chapter two in her Ferrari Fantasy that turned into real life.
