Harbus

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News

On the afternoon of October 25th, the Automotive and Transportation Club visited the Lamborghini Boston automobile dealership. The dealership, run by father and son team Bill and Todd Currie, gave club members unfettered access to the Italian supercars normally reserved for movie stars, professional athletes and captains of industry.

Owner Bill Currie, a lifelong car enthusiast who has been selling cars for over a quarter century, gave the HBS contingent an in depth description of the technology and performance characteristics of the assorted Lamborghini models housed at the dealership. Among them were a silver 500 horsepower Gallardo convertible and breathtaking, bright red, 640 horsepower Murcielago coupe. Interspersed among the car talk were stories of the dealership's colorful and varied clientele, including Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz and a local college student who had received a new Gallardo as a graduation gift from his father.

The club members were also given access to the dealer's service area, where the shop's master technician, Gareth Lumley, gave them a rare look at disassembled Lamborghini engines. While the outside world knows Lamborghinis by their extreme looks, the cultural and technical core of the company itself is in engine manufacturing. "The cars themselves are beautiful," said club officer Branden Neish, "but these engines are truly engineering marvels."

The highlight of the event was when each of the attendees got to ride in the newly released Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. With a weight of 3,370 pounds and 523 horsepower, Lamborghini claims it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and can reach 197 mph. While Route 128 unfortunately did not offer the opportunity to put the company's top speed claim to the test, the lucky passengers were nonetheless treated to nerve shattering acceleration runs, courtesy of the Superleggera's V10 engine howling just inches from the backs of their heads. By the time all the attendees had taken a turn in the $220,000 car, murmurs of reconsidered investment banking offers had become clearly audible.

The Automotive Club will be organizing a trip to the Boston Auto Show on December 1st. Club members attending will be given free admission and transportation to and from the show.

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