January 2, 2026
“A Florida Highway Patrol officer was seriously injured Christmas morning while attempting to stop a Mercedes-Benz that at one point was traveling more than 130 mph on the shoulder of I-95 through Volusia County.”
Daytona Beach Journal
Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella’s Ferrari 296GTS last week
Loyal readers know that I’ve got that ‘car thing’ going on and love driving fast cars. I own one, I go to speedways and drive NASCAR stock cars, Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Corvette. So, what I’m going to write may be a surprise, but I think it needs to be said.
What you need to know which may surprise you: There is no legal limit as to how many horsepower you can put into a street legal car in the United States. As long as the car meets various requirements (emissions standards, etc.) you stuff the engine compartment and put it on the road.
My Shelby Cobra is a street-legal racing machine, capable of 500 horsepower. It’s a baby by comparison to what is coming down the road. The Ferrari 296GTS (above) revs in at over 800 horsepower. I drove a 600hp Ferrari at Miami Homestead two weeks ago, it was all I could handle. And now, news from Europe for 2026:
“Ferrari has already announced a quad-motor powertrain capable of over 1000 horsepower and the ability to shoot to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds. Meanwhile, Mercedes is gearing up to enter the high-performance EV game with an AMG-specific model inspired by the GT XX concept. This 1341-horsepower tri-motor super sedan has a top speed of 223 mph.
What in the world are we doing here?
I can tell you I would not get into the 296, except on a track, a controlled environment. 800 horsepower snaps your head back and requires extreme concentration and focus. And then you need to be able to handle the car. Which is a learned skill.
I would not own a 296 and drive it around town.
Because honestly, what am I going to do with 800 horsepower? Drive it to Walgreens? At 30mph? No, let me guess…. I’m going to see what the car can do.
Now it really doesn’t matter how deserted the road, or sparse the population. In North Carolina, deer are endemic, a collision with one at speed is not going to end well for the deer, for the car, for the driver. As I’ve written before, driving safely is all about maintaining reaction time, and a deer running in front of you drops the reaction time to zero.
In Florida, that’s not so much a risk, but then, if you’re on a mostly deserted highway, you can expect that perhaps maintenance might be sketchy and so, a pothole can lift a wheel and you’ll be rolling 360’s which will definitely not end well. These kinds of random mechanical events were responsible for the majority of the deaths among F1 drivers back in the 50’s. You may be able to handle the car, but if a tire blows out…Serendipity kills.
I’ve learned that running fast cars can result in different effects, emotionally, depending on them. In my case, it has created respect for the vehicle, respect for the speed, respect for the dangers that abound. And a higher level thereby of focus. That is, it has calmed the ego, replaced aggression with caution.
But for another type of guy, the car conflates with his ego and amplifies testosterone levels and thereby lowers respect for the vehicle, lowers the respect for the speed and the dangers that abound. Because overestimating one’s skills is part and parcel of that emotional ramp.
Let me say it clearly: People have no business getting behind the wheel of an 800-horsepower thoroughbred racing machine on public highways, roads and thoroughfares. And most especially without professional training in the use of the car. Which is not required to own one.
I’ve watched the video of the crash. He came out of a tunnel and just drifted onto the shoulder of the road and crashed the car. My guess is he may have had a momentary mental shift called ‘target fixation.’ You stare at the cone on the track, and you’re supposed to turn left at it, but you wind up going right at the cone and through it off the track. It’s a common cause of track-related mishaps. But here is the incredible fact set that will make my point for me:
Mr. Zampella was not some kid, hyped up. He was a mature and intelligent man and very accomplished. He was not under the influence. He had experience. It didn’t matter.
“Vince Zampella had driving experience – he was described as “an amateur racing driver” and had an extensive car collection which was one of the most impressive in Southern California. His collection was McLaren-focused, including a Solus GT, P1 GT, Senna, Senna GTR, and Elva, plus a Porsche 918 Spyder, Pagani Huayra One-Off, a Bugatti W16 Mistral, and an Aston Martin Valkyrie.” Exclusive Car Registry.
“The California Highway Patrol states the cause remains under investigation, though speed appears to have been a significant factor.” NBC
We need a law. It is past time for this. Why do we have to wait for something horrific to happen to energize us?
Thoughts, questions, or reflections? I’d love to hear them. You can reach me anytime at anthony@workingprofit.com
