Hello and happy new year! We're starting off the year behind (but not too much) as we visit TT Automotive for their Christmas party. TT Auto organizes a summer and winter party each year, although this was the first party that I attended. Looking back, I've only really known the team there for 6 months, but we've become great friends in that short time. They asked if I could take some photos for their event, which I was more than happy to oblige. Not to mention there were huge surprises that day!
Cleaned up and dressed up, the normally full-of-cars-and-tools garage is now setup for a party!
Hmm, what could be under this giant tarp and bow?
We were encouraged to put our best guess in for what's under the covers!
One thing that I quickly learned about TT Auto parties is the insane amount of food there was available. Being a pot-luck style gathering, everything under the sun was brought in. From KFC to sushi to homemade stuffed porchetta (Andrew you are a God among men), there was something for everyone there.
Various platters
Those fried (?) tofu (?) things in the bottom left were amazing. I don't remember how many I ate but it was too many!
Mr. Porchetta Man
Green onion cakes and more!
There was also this fantastic (and massive) cake to celebrate TT's 15th Anniversary! Very tasty cake too, very light and not too sweet.
The seats quickly filled up
But wait...what was under the cover?
So the big surprise here, was that Terence had purchased a new car and it was up to us to take guesses at what car it was. Now, I visit the shop frequently enough to have a decent idea what the car was, but you could never really be too sure. But when the cover came down, I had 2 reactions:
1) I was right, but more importantly
2) Holy smokes, did he actually buy that?
Rosso Corsa Ferrari F430!
After staring and oogling at it for a few minutes (because frankly, I've never really be up close and personal with a Ferrari before, I decided to pick my jaw up from the floor and take some photos.
4.3L V8 goodness.
Cockpit views. Some comments on the seating. Firstly, it's incredibly low. When you step out, you are basically centimeters from the ground. Secondly, it's a very reclined driving position. It almost feels like you're sitting in a very tight and fancy leather-clad lounge chair.
One of the greatest moments after I congratulated Terence on his new purchase was when he was going to give me a ride. Of course, since it's the dead of winter and we basically had 10 cm of snow piled onto our cars during the party, it wasn't going to happen until spring at the earliest. But instead of telling me when I could tag along, he said I could drive the car myself.
What?!
Now I'll probably not do much more than drive it around the block once and be in some intense anxiety while driving it, but for him to just say sure just take it for a spin when it's warmer is a testament to Terence's mindset towards cars: he wants to share the experience with everyone.
To top it off, we played some baby picture matching games, exchanged secret santa gifts, and ate some more before I decided that it might be a good idea to head back. Unfortunately I had been scheduled to work on Christmas Eve, which was the day after the party. Some final team photos before I said my goodbye.
They got my sister a stocking!
#squadgoals
That's a wrap for the party! It was an exhausting but incredibly fun day and I can't wait until the summer party (especially since everyone's summer cars will be out!) Big shoutout to TT Automotive, Terence, Theresa, Nicholas, Andrew, Wayne, and everyone who make the party a big success!
Until next time,
Gary