You Never Forget Your First… Lamborghini

Our managing editor recalls his first-ever encounter with a Raging Bull and why it was memorable for many reasons.

This line of work brings with it some truly memorable events and occasions. Some stand out more than others and for odd reasons. One of those near the top of my list is the very first time I got behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. To be fair, it’s an experience that would be memorable to anyone. But let me explain. In 2006, Lamborghini gave its ageing range-leader a mid-life refresh. The Murcielago (580) transformed into the Murcielago LP640-4 with added power and sharper styling. The world media ride-and-drive event took place at a circuit called Sepang.

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No Pressure

I’d just joined SA’s leading motoring publication that month. For some reason the boss thought it’d be a great way to welcome me to the team, by sending me to Malaysia. About ten days after starting my ‘new’ job I was heading east to drive a V12-powered supercar on a fully-fledged F1 circuit. No pressure then. I flew on my ace to Kuala Lumpur, ie no representation from the brand, which is not the usual run of play. But I’d already undertaken work trips before so knew what to expect.

Unfortunately, when I landed in KL at around 06:00, there was no Lambo representative waiting to welcome me, which would be the norm. No shuttle driver, no hotel bus – nada. Remember, this is back in 2006, long before smart phones and connectivity were the norm. So I had no way to get in touch with anyone, either in KL or back in SA. I was in a real pickle. Thankfully, a sympathetic taxi driver saw that I was a bit out of sorts and offered some help. He told me that the racetrack isn’t far from the airport and that he’d drop me off, even if it was for just the few dollars I had in my wallet.

Click here to read about a recent drive of a rare Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster in manual guise.

Locked Out

A few minutes later I was standing at the main gate of the circuit waving the generous cab driver goodbye. The gates were all closed. It was about 07:30, already 30 deg C and there was no one to be seen anywhere. I did the only thing I could: I plonked down in the shade and waited. Waited and waited for what felt like an eternity as I was hungry and thirsty.

At about 09:00 a car pitched up at the gate. The gents inside, both wearing Pirelli branded gear, asked what I was doing there. When I informed them that Lamborghini’s comms team failed to fetch me at the airport, they simply shrugged unapologetically and asked if I’d like to wait in the pits.

A few minutes later I was standing in an empty pitlane as the tyre gents managed to get some folks from the automaker on the phone. There was much gesturing and raised voices. But my grasp of Italian was pretty poor, so they could have just been discussing the weather. I was told to hang tight at the track as the day’s proceedings kicked off in a few hours. All the media had landed from eastern countries the night before and they were given a chance to have a slow morning before the program kicked off… lucky them.

The Main Course

It was another full hour or so before the other guests and full staff arrived at the track. Long after I’d checked out the fleet of cars and chatted with every technician who spoke an ounce of English. The formal program started soon after.

We received a media briefing about the car and the changes it underwent to morph into the LP640-4. Following that we received another about the circuit and how we’d approach the day’s driving activities.

Lost in Translation

I was paired up with a Japanese businessman/publisher who also happened to be a Lambo and Ferrari collector. Our hosts told me he spoke the most English of anyone there, which turned out to be as much Japanese as I spoke. Anyway… The driving part of the day was incredible. We did multiple driving sessions as the afternoon progressed. Taking turns behind the wheel to tame the Raging Bulls, learning the track, getting quicker with each passing session.

Familiarity also brings with it bravery, sometimes unfounded, as one Japanese scribe found out. His driving ambition exceeded adhesion as he sent the mid-mounted V12 supercar pirouetting into the Sepang outfield on one of the longer left-handers in the early part of the lap. I’ll admit, I smiled a little too much as I saw it happen large in my windscreen, more for the fact that it wasn’t me who brought out the full-course red flags.

The Memories

That trip was memorable for so many reasons, some bad, most were good. But one of the most enduring took place towards the very end of the day. I stood on the pit wall, which faces the grandstands alongside the main straight, trying to take in all that had happened during the day.

As I ogled the dozen or so LP640s sitting in pitlane behind me, I heard it… a single car on a hot lap. An instructor needed to ‘check out’ something so headed out on his ace. It sounded as though he was in qualifying mode: hard on the brakes, attacking every apex, wringing every single rev out the naturally aspirated V12 on the straights.

For a moment I time travelled back to the 1990s, the era of V12-powered F1 cars as I imagined this is what they sounded like. Then the wide wedge exploded into view from the final corner. The V12 screaming to over 8 000 r/min, noise momentarily punctuated by upshifts, with the sound bouncing off both buildings for added drama. I’ve been very fortunate to drive many Lamborghinis all over the world on road and track, but, as they say, you never forget your first…