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My Incredible Afternoon with Mr. Maserati and Mr, Aston Martin

Posted on by carol_tallyho

Ever daydream about being behind the wheel of a supercar on a sultry summer afternoon, the wind rushing through your hair as you and the car power down an open stretch of highway? On an August afternoon I was “living the dream” near Loveland, Colorado, at a select 2 day opportunity sponsored by Sill-TerHar Motors of Broomfield, Colorado.Imagine my surprise a few weeks earlier when my husband, Randy, handed me not just one but 3 invitations to test drive a variety of Aston Martins, Maseratis or Lamborghinis at the Loveland Embassy Suites hotel. I knew demand for this test driving event would be HUGE and, since appointment times were limited, I called early the next morning to speak with the event coordinator, Steven Leonard, to make appointments for Randy and myself. As anticipated, Steven confirmed that even though the invitations were mailed only one and a half days earlier, he already had 18 RSVPs to schedule for this auspicious occasion. Within a day or so I received the coveted email confirmation…4:30 PM, Tuesday, August 7, 2012… a date of unqualified anticipation!On the appointed afternoon Randy, Mom (our official guest) and I drove to the Embassy Suites in our 2005 Redfire Ford Mustang, one of the preeminent made-in-the-USA muscle cars. Upon entering the hotel’s conference center parking lot a bright yellow Lamborghini caught our collective gaze, followed in swift succession by a dark grey Aston Martin Vantage. While parking the Mustang we immediately spied a gorgeous red (with black convertible top – Mom’s favorite color combination!!) Maserati parked nearby. We exited our car and promptly walked over to mentally salivate over the sleek and sporty beauty of the Maserati Granturismo S exterior. After our comparison of the three makes of supercars there, the Lambo didn’t stand a chance!We finally walked into the conference center and found the Lake Loveland room where we introduced ourselves to Steven and Jack TerHar, Jr. After reading and signing a short test driving contract (speeding tickets were each driver’s responsibility – if the police could catch us, that is!), photos were taken of each driver’s license. Steven then suggested that Randy, Mom and I should test out Aston Martin’s Rapide 4 door sedan first.After escorting us to the car, we quickly discovered this was no ordinary sedan – even the opening of the car door was a unique experience! Once seated inside the 8 way memory power seats, all mirrors were adjusted for maximum visibility and comfort. Placing the car fob into the ignition slot and pushing in brought the 6.0 liter V12 engine to life with an impressive roar. So many buttons and knobs on the full grain leather with walnut facia trimmed console…I was almost afraid to touch one for fear of pushing an ejection seat button, if there had been one. (After all, Aston Martin IS known as the preferred ride for James Bond of 007 fame!)Randy drove initially while Mom and I marveled at the trez chic ride. Mom was extremely impressed by the full console of individual controls for the two back seat passengers and I enjoyed the comforts from the front passenger seat. After getting a feel for the Rapide’s handling and acceleration capabilities by using the paddle shifters located on the steering wheel, Randy pulled over on a short side street and exchanged seats with me. Once settled in to the driver’s seat properly I elected to use the automatic transmission by pushing the “D” button on the dash and off we went.The Rapide maneuvered well around several roundabouts and stormed down the straightaway while surrounding us in comfort and luxury. The interior of the car was also very quiet except for those brief bursts of acceleration. The test drive session ended much too soon as we arrived back at the conference center lot.Walking back inside with HUGE smiles on all our faces, Randy struck up a conversation with Jack about performance cars. BIG MISTAKE!! Noting that Mom and I were anxious to drive another vehicle, Steven asked which car we were interested in driving next. Mom and I simultaneously said “the red Maserati!”. So, with Randy still Conversing with Jack, Steven escorted Mom and me out to the parking lot and opened the doors to our ultimate driving experience – the Maserati Granturismo S!!
Outstanding…Adrenaline…RUSH!!! It simmered the moment the driver’s door was opened on the 2012 Rosso Mondiale red with black convertible topped Maserati. The rush increased when switching on the ignition key and listening to a magnificent symphony of sound as the 4.7 liter V8 engine sprang to life. It intensified upon exciting the parking lot with very responsive handling round the roundabout. In the blink of an eye the 433 hp Maserati roared from zero to seventy mph without hesitation. By this time the engine sounded like “music to our ears” (Thanks, Mom). This supercar’s turning radius was surprisingly stellar as well, making a legal U-turn so very effortlessly. An extended test drive down another side street allowed a little more time to fully enjoy and appreciate this most stylish and powerful car – the ULTIMATE driving machine! Mom summed up the driving experience in the Maserati as “the most fun EVER in a car” and I absolutely agreed.Meanwhile, Randy, having missed the chance to drive the Maserati, channeled his inner James Bond by driving the grey Aston Martin V12 Vantage two seat coupe. He was suitably impressed by the gear shifter (said it was “great”, which is no small compliment from him) and appreciated the blistering acceleration the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder engine provided. The agility and handling capabilities of this extraordinary auto, one of the few supercars with an actual manual transmission, really “wowed” my Mustang-loving spouse. To paraphrase the Aston Martin literature, this Aston Martin Vantage was a smart looking, compact sports coupe engineered to perform like an exciting GT!The sticker prices for the supercars tested by us were not as outrageous as initially thought! The MSRP list for the regal 2012 Aston Martin Rapide was $204,670 with a top of the line interior; $198,820 was the MSRP pricing for the athletic and sporty Aston Martin V12 Vantage. The price tag for the most perfect Maserati Granturismo S was a mere $157,000. So I guess maybe I’ll play Powerball the next time the big bucks roll around…A huge “Thank You” to Jack TerHar, Jr and Steven Leonard of Sill-TerHar Motors from Broomfield, Colorado, for inviting us to test drive these incredible, truly elegant supercars! They both were gracious and informative hosts for this event. (Hopefully we will receive another invitation again next summer!)Again, TallyHo! And I’m off…. to work on more travel tales to tell you about!

Sources—Sil-TerHar Maserati
125 Alter Street, Broomfield, Colorado 80038-0344
Phone: (303)469-1801 X769
www.sthmotors.com
Sil-TerHar Aston Martin
125 Alter Street, Broomfield, Colorado, 80038
Phone: (303)469-1801
www.sthmotors.com

Kaitlin’s Successful Steps for Obtaining a German Work Permit

Posted on by carol_tallyho

Note from the TallyHo-Traveller: TallyHo introduces our first guest writer, relating her experiences with recent German governmental processes…Forward Ho! From January to May 2012, I completed my student teaching internship in Berlin, Germany. As an American citizen, I was allowed to stay in the country for 90 days with my passport, but since I was staying longer than 90 days (and the school I was interning at wouldn’t let me begin until I had all of the documentation), I needed to obtain a residence permit. Note: from what I found, the term “residence permit” is more or less synonymous with “residence visa” or just “visa”. The process is not too terribly difficult, especially if you have your employer working on it. Even if you have to go it alone, it’s not so bad. The following steps, gained from my experience of obtaining proper documentation needed to reside legally in Berlin, Germany for the 5 months I was there, are as follows:

Step 1: Obtain your work permit.
You must do this, even if you are participating in an unpaid internship. My employer (the school I was student teaching at) still had to have this permit, even though it stated that I was getting paid a monthly salary of €0.00. Your employer should file the paperwork to obtain this permit for you. You will generally need to submit the following to your employer so that they can file for the permit:Verpflichtungserklärung (Formal Obligation) — this form proves that you have monetary funds to support yourself during your stayImmatrikulationsbescheinigung (Certificate of Enrollment) — this form proves that you are enrolled in a higher education institution and requires the seal of your college/university, along with an authorized signature, both of which can be obtained from your university registrar’s office. Copy of your passport

Step 2: Find a place to live before you can continue with the rest of the visa process, you must find a place to live. It is a good idea to have a copy of the lease or a letter from your landlord stating that you do have a place of residence.

Step 3: Register at your local BürgeramtBefore you venture to the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’s Authority), you have to register at your local registration office (Bürgeramt). You must fill out the Anmeldung form. Since it is printed only in German, it is best if you look it up on-line and translate it beforehand (or take a German translater along) if you do not know German. Your employer should be able to tell you which Bürgeramt you should register at. Some websites say that this process takes hours, but that was not my experience. Here are some tips to help expedite the process: Arrive early, about 15-20 minutes before the office opens. If you can’t arrive early, go during the hours when most people are at work. Try to avoid going right before holidays or the week between Christmas and New Year’s; everyone tries to get into the Bürgeramt before the holidays. Notes on the process:When you walk in, walk up to the desk and ask for the Anmeldung. You will receive a number and will have to go sit in a waiting room. Keep an eye on the number board because it will tell you which room you must go to. Important Note: You must return to the Bürgeramt at the end of your internship to deregister, or else your employer may be fined. The form you fill out in this case is called the Abmeldung. After you deregister, take a copy of the paper to your employer.

Step 4: Apply for (and obtain) your residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’s Authority). Note: You can apply for your residence permit before you get to Germany at your local German consulate, but if you are told that you are fine with just a work permit, this is not true—you MUST have a residence permit. A residence permit is NOT a work permit; these two are NOT synonymous! Ultimately, it is best if you can make an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde. These appointments usually need to be booked on-line more than 2 months in advance. If you can’t make an appointment, show up VERY early, at least a couple of hours before the official opening for the day. When I was there, the first person in line showed up at 3:00 in the morning. If you are a student, you will get sent to building B, along with most everyone else who is waiting in the queue. When you get into the building, find the correct floor and then head for the nearest silver box on the wall. This box gives you your number; after you obtain this, take a seat and wait for the number board to flash your number. Note: the silver boxes only give out a certain number of tickets. If you don’t get one initially, you can wait because sometimes more tickets are issued during the day; it depends on how fast everyone waiting is processed. If your number is not called, keep your ticket and it will be called the next day. Things to bring: €50 cash,Work permit,Visa application,Passport photo,Formal obligation,Proof of health insurance,Certificate of enrollmen,tContract with employer,Passport—you need two blank pages in your passport for the visa. The proof of health insurance, formal obligation, certificate of enrollment, and contract with employer were not necessary when I applied for my residence permit, but it’s better to have the documents with and not need them, than to need them and not have them.The first time your number appears on the board, you hand over all of your documentation, including your passport, to a man behind a counter. After this, you go back and sit in the waiting room. The second time your number appears on the board, you go into a room and talk to the visa agent. In my experience, the visa agent spoke excellent English, so if you don’t know German very well, don’t worry. You will be asked a few questions, such as “what do you plan to do after your visa expires?” and “how long do you need your visa for?” and then you will be given a plastic card. You will load your €50 onto this card via a machine that is found in one of the waiting room areas. Take the card back to the Visa agent and then he will print out your residence permit and stick it into your passport, sign, and stamp it. Congratulations! You have completed the process and now have your German residence permit!

The Cobra-Ferrari Wars

Posted on by carol_tallyho

The Shelby American Collection’s 15th Anniversary Bash

On a breezy warm August afternoon in Gunbarrel, otherwise known as North Boulder, Colorado, a select group of Mustang and Ferrari car racing enthusiasts were privileged to attend a momentous fundraiser in support of pioneer racer Carroll Shelby’s Mustang car museum.Cars for viewing (and drooling over) at this 15th anniversary event included sleek Ferraris, sporty Ford Mustang GT 500s, locally owned vintage 1960s series Cobras, select one-of-a-kind Corvettes, a distinguished older Jaguar, a well preserved (and still running) 1953 Cunningham-style Ferrari and a newer model 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage that was so sophisticated and refined, it seemed that James Bond would show up at any moment. Alas, James Bond was NOT in attendance, but even better for those 1960s racing enthusiasts, a featured special guest, Bob Bondurant, was.Bob Bondurant raced cars back in the same 1960s time period as Carroll Shelby and their contemporaries. He was among the first American race car drivers to help overthrow Ferrari’s dominance in the European racing circuit. In 1995, Shelby and his team became the first US manufacturer to beat Ferrari during the FIA World Sports Car Manufacturers Championship series of racing.Many victories and decades later, Bob Bondurant is the current owner of the Bob Bondurant Racing School based in Chandler, Arizona. Bob was gracious in meeting with his many awestruck admirers at this 15th anniversary gala event and patiently answered a few questions from those gathered around him before moving on to the museum area.Other notable activities at this 15th anniversary celebration included an on-site barbeque with open bar by Green’s Point Catering out of Longmont, Colorado and admission to the on-site Shelby American Collection of Mustang cars. The Museum also hosted a silent auction featuring Shelby Cobra-related posters and memorabilia. I placed a bid on the exquisitely crafted lead crystal Mustang car model but, sadly, was outbid, much to my husband’s relief. Outside the Museum, a band performed ’60s tunes to which all could rock and roll. Nostalgia was the word of the day to those in attendance!Presently open to the public only on Saturdays with an admission of $5 USD per person, the Shelby Mustang American Collection Museum highlights the history that Carroll Shelby’s Cobra cars played in smashing Ferrari’s road racing dominance until 1995. A historic collection of vintage Cobras and GT Mustangs are featured at this museum with pictoral and printed documentation of selected races from the era.


Sources–Shelby American Collection
5020 Chaparral Court
Boulder, Colorado 80301
(303) 516-9565
www.shelbyamericancollection.orgBob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Gate 3
20000 South Maricopa Rd
Chandler, AZ 85226
(480) 403-7600
www.bondurant.com

A Summer Sunday at Arapahoe Park Races

Posted on by carol_tallyho

“What do you want to do for your birthday this weekend?” was the question of the month frequently asked this August from my family. After pondering all of the possible places and activities to be enjoyed in this part of Colorado, watching an exciting afternoon of horse racing at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado, was my ultimate decision.We travelled from the north Denver metro area to the Arapahoe Park track via tollway E-470 with a minimum of traffic – a small wonder for the Denver metro area! Free parking was readily available in a large marked parking area next to the park’s grandstand facility. Once inside the doors we elected to celebrate at the track’s Reserved Clubhouse level instead of the general admission grandstand seats. What a bargain! For $12 USD we purchased a daily racing program and our party of 5 adults sat in the air conditioned luxury of our own private “box” (table with 5 padded chairs) complete with a personal TV monitor and Ryan, our personal waiter, for the afternoon. A fun, pampered beginning to 4 hours of excitement and possible betting-profit!We arrived at our “box” about 30 minutes before the start of Race #1. The others in our party decided to find some snacks while I scoped out essentials such as the betting area and restrooms. After a short stretch of my legs I arrived back at our clubhouse table to find nachos laden with cheese and the yummiest onion rings waiting. Our waiter, Ryan, made periodic trips to our box during the course of the afternoon, willing and eager to bring us burgers, hotdogs, brats or (bar) alcoholic beverages – whatever we desired to enhance the afternoon’s enjoyment.At 1 PM sharp the track’s PA system played the National Anthem. Everyone readily rose during the presentation and erupted into spontaneous applause as the last note played. What a fantastic start to the official beginning of the afternoon!Arapahoe Park’s claim to fame is that it is Colorado’s only home to live Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, Arabian, Paint and Appaloosa horse racing. The day’s Race #1 featured Quarter horses racing a sprint of 350 yards on the dirt track directly in front of the grandstands. Just prior to the running of Race #1 my husband handed me a $20 bill and said “Happy Birthday—enjoy the betting”. This being said, I had already decided to “mentally” place a bet on a horse from the race as practice before betting any real money. As the horses were being led to the paddock for saddling I explained to my Mom and daughter exactly how to read the printed racing program for today’s festivities and we each set about to see who could predict the winner. We watched eagerly as the horses and their riders (“Riders Up” for all you novices) were led onto the track for the Post Parade. A buzz of anticipation rose among the crowd while the horses were loaded into the starting gate. Then…a few short seconds later the bell rang, gates flew open and 10 horses exploded into a flat-out full sprint lasting about 19 seconds.After thunderously crossing the finish line directly in front of our view, my daughter turned and said, “that was fast,” (when asked if she enjoyed Race #1). The winner, El Muneco Vision, was pulling away from the others at the finish line but a photo was needed to determine the second (“place” for you bettors) horse, Wildecard, who finished just a nose in front of A Zestee Brisco, the third place (“Show”) finisher.It became apparent by mid-afternoon that both my husband and daughter’s systems of determining the winners were more consistant than mine—especially for Race #3 where my daughter, A Colorado State University music major, picked a horse named Miss Music Major, who, coincidentally, won that race, but what a fun way to celebrate a birthday on a summer weekend; 10 exciting races over 4 hours! The perfect ending to this fantastic afternoon was the triple rainbow we saw when exiting the racetrack grounds at day’s end.
Sources-Arapahoe Park
26000 E Quincy Avenue
Aurora, Colorado 80016
(303) 690-2400
www.mihiracing.com

The 23rd Annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Round-Up Weekend in Steamboat Springs

Posted on by carol_tallyho

Imagine closing off the entire main street of a town for an entire Saturday morning and afternoon… well, that’s just what happened Father’s Day weekend in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, this June. Never having visited this oasis in the middle of the Rocky Mountains before, this Western event was just the start to a memorable family weekend (and subsequent Father’s Day gift).We started our trip to Steamboat Springs at rush hour on Friday afternoon. After surviving sluggish traffic due to an accident near Boulder and creeping through Golden, we were finally moving on Interstate I-70. The pace was fast, considering it was a Friday afternoon, for traffic heading into the mountains to try and escape the summer heat of the Front Range. Upon arriving in Silverthorne we exited at mile marker 205, made a brief stop for snacks and drinks and started the 37.6 miles drive north on Colorado Hwy 9 to Kremmling. This portion of the drive was a gorgeous one with hillsides dotted with vivid blue lupines, lavender water iris and yellow wildflowers. Getting closer to Kremmling, the rain settled in, but the road was in very good condition so we travelled onward. Once in Kremmling we turned west onto US Hwy 40 and completed our trip into Steamboat Springs 51 miles later, surprised at the amount of snow still present around the Rabbit Ears Pass area before descending into the valley where Steamboat Springs resides.Our hotel, the Hampton Inn and Suites, was easy to find, thanks to the very reliable travel directions on the hotel’s website. After parking next to the Inn I climbed up the full flight of stairs to the lobby registration area. The evening reception manager was patiently waiting our arrival and was very pleasant and understanding about the late arrival. Noticing his surname on the Registration Desk board, I discovered he was a distant cousin to a close family friend. What a serendipitous beginning to the weekend!After getting directions to our room, we grabbed our travel duffels and headed to the 2 bed family suite that I had booked on the Internet. Upon unlocking the door to our room, we discovered this was, indeed, a rare find. The suite contained 2 king beds, a sitting area with a sofa, table and chair with ottoman. We also had two full bathrooms and a vanity area that included a mini-refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker. There was a small sideroom that could have easily housed a double air mattress for additional people. We, however, used this as a changing/luggage storage area. Since it was getting late we decided to go to a Qdoba Mexican restaurant we had seen on the way into town. Little did we know this Qdoba was the State Patrol’s stop of choice for the evening. After much needed sustenance, we headed back to our hotel room for the remainder of the evening.Saturday we woke to a sunshine filled blue sky with the promise of some afternoon rain. Downstairs in the common area next to Registration a hot “courtesy” breakfast was waiting – cereals, pastries, muffins, fresh fruits, self-service waffles, several different juices, teas and coffee were only some of the choices for those of us just (mentally) waking up to start the day. After finishing breakfast, I inquired at the front desk about sidewalk availability to walk into the main part of town. The desk manager informed me about a paved bike path just a block away from the back parking lot of the hotel that would lead us conveniently to the Main Street festivities which were only a quarter of a mile away! The bike path was a pleasant winding walk along the fast-flowing Yampa River, complete with meeting a new canine friend (or two). It was also an easy way to erase some of the morning’s breakfast calories as well.Once on Lincoln Avenue, the main street of Steamboat Springs, we were impressed by the sheer number of Mustangs lining both sides as well as the middle of the street – there were well over 300 cars total at the official show as well as many other Mustangs just cruising town. One of the first cars we viewed was the same year and model as our son’s – a 1993 Mustang LX. It was in superb condition for its age. The owner was a very personable female from Lakewood, Colorado, who obviously appreciated her car. After walking the length of downtown Lincoln Avenue and talking with numerous owners of cars at the show, we decided to eat lunch at the Old Town Pub and Restaurant at the corner of 6th and Lincoln Avenue.The history of this establishment is a very colorful and varied one. Built in 1904 as the Albany Hotel, this structure subsequently was used as the town’s first hospital, then a post office, general store and finally a movie theater. The second floor of this two story Victorian building was even used, at one time, as a dance hall. In 1983 the Old Town Pub & Restaurant took up residency and still remains there today. Proprietors Matt and Lizzie Larock currently operate the business. I am attest to the fact the fried mushrooms are very tasty (and so is the Bailey’s coffee).After lunch we meandered back via the bike path to the Hampton Inn and Suites and decided to enjoy one of the three outdoor hot tubs on-site to soak and re-energize ourselves. To our amazement, we were the only ones using this facility and were enjoying both the soothing warm waters and the conversation, until it was time to leave the pool area due to an impending afternoon storm.After some quiet downtime we decided to go exploring and find somewhere to eat for dinner. Luckily, I had found a restaurant that fit all our criteria for the evening and was relatively easy to find. Saketumi is a self-proclaimed “sushi/asian fusion” restaurant that, according to their website, flies in the freshest fish daily. I was somewhat dubious about the freshness claim since we were in a landlocked area right in the middle of the USA, but we were all game to try the food anyway. The food at Saketumi was one of the highlights of this trip – the miso soup was very flavorful and the plum wine very potent. Everything we ate was extremely fresh and well-prepared, especially the Bula roll, Saketumi’s best selling roll. A delectable roll of panko fried shrimp, crab, avocado and tuna, served with a sweet soy and spicy aioli sauce, the Bula roll was just heavenly. My husband and son agreed that the sashimi assortment they ordered was not only very fresh, but a high quality selection of fish as well. Given the popularity of this restaurant, the fact that Saketumi is housed in a small “intimate” space and does not take reservations, it is strongly recommended to arrive at its opening time of 5:30 pm in order to get a seat (before starvation sets in). Just bring a healthy credit card limit or plenty of cash because prices are not inexpensive (did I mention that the fish is flown in daily to landlocked Steamboat Springs?!?), but even waiting an hour or so would be well worth it; the food is just that good.After a restful night’s sleep, we decided to forego the Hampton’s ample “courtesy” breakfast and try a recommended breakfast eatery, Freshies, which was less than a block to the north of the hotel. We walked over and were seated just before the main breakfast crowd arrived. There was a large selection of both breakfast, brunch, smoothie and beverage choices to meet just about any dietary need. My ham, egg and cheese croissant was incredibly fresh and the coffee was delightful (must have been the local area water they used to brew the coffee). I could have drank the entire pot but, since we were going to be on the road to home soon, good reason kicked in and I elected not to do so. Soon after we reluctantly checked out of our weekend hideaway, bid “adieu” to Steamboat Springs and headed on down US Highway 40 to home, going by way of Granby and Winter Park (but that’s a story best told another day…).

Sources–
Rocky Mountain Mustang Round-Up
PO Box 21706
Denver, CO 80221
www.rmmr.orgOld Town Pub & Restaurant
600 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487
Phone: 970-879-2101
www.oldtownpub.jimdo.comSaketumi
1875 Ski Time Square Drive
Torian Plum Plaza, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-870-1019
www.saketumi.netFreshies
595 S Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487
Phone: 970-879-8099
www.freshiessteamboat.com