On its surface, the automotive enthusiast community can appear one-dimensional. If a guy posts on a Mustang forum, it’s tempting to think he doesn’t own a Camaro or a Challenger. Teamspeed member 360racer is proof that such a perception is flawed.
His company is named Ferrari Advocates Australia and identified as a “genuine Ferrari Parts supplier and a licensed motor dealer dealing in the distribution of vehicles” such as the “250, 275, Dino 246, F40, F50 and Enzo.”
However, 360racer has a soft spot for Lamborghinis. For instance, last week, he received an Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario (watch his video tour of it below). Only 99 other Giallo Maggio tributes to Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary exist on the planet.
There aren’t a whole lot of Aventador SVs out there, either. You know where you can find one, though? In 360racer‘s garage. Before it wound up there, he had to visit his local dealer and figure out he wanted it configured. He made sure to film some of his experience and threw it up on Youtube (clip below). Although we’re able to see some of the pieces of the carbon fiber interior kit that 360racer ordered in his footage, we’ll have to wait to get an eyeful of the Ad Personam accessories he’s going to add to his Italian supercar.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
