ISSUE ARTICLES

NUCLEAR SECRETS FOR IRAN

NUCLEAR SECRETS FOR IRAN Seems that in virtually every issue of my daily newspaper (yes, I still get most of my news the old-fashioned way) concerns are expressed about the possibility of the country of Iran developing a nuclear program capable of allowing that nation to produce nuclear weapons. So, of course, efforts are made to keep that knowledge out of their hands. Much the same paranoia can be found in the Ferrari world, although the consequences are much less earth-shaking. I have been keeping a database on Ferraris for even longer than I have been publishing the Ferrari Market Letter. In fact, it was the compiling of the database that indirectly led to the publication. Years ago I made the mistake of starting to provide information from my personal database to virtually anyone who inquired. All that was asked in return was additional information about the Ferrari in question or, for that matter, information about any Ferrari. A small group of Ferrari serial number "train spotters", a very small group, understood and over the years we have exchanged a great deal of information, enhancing each other's database in the process. Unfortunately too many Ferraristi, including quite a few who do not support the Ferrari Market Letter by subscribing, decided that having free and unlimited access to the information in my personal database was one of their inalienable rights. At the same time they seemed to be offended when I explained to them that information was a two-way street. To receive information you needed to give information. Building my personal database required considerable effort, and involved a sizable expenditure on my part not only of time and effort but also of money. Of late there has been an increased reluctance to provide reciprocal information. There has always been some reticence, but as values have increased so has this penchant for secrecy. I saw it happen in the late 80s and early 90s, and it seems to be coming back stronger than ever now. I believe the Iranians may be finding it easier to uncover nuclear secrets than it is to get information about certain Ferraris. I have tried to make it policy that I won't send information unless I first get information. I really hate receiving an email that rather imperiously demands my file information on a particular Ferrari, often without even a "please" or similar courtesy. I have a standard boilerplate I like to send out in response to most requests. It goes as follows: "Why are you inquiring about this car? Is it for sale? If so, by whom? What do you know about its history? What is its current condition? Colors? Mileage? Etc. We provide this valuable information FOR FREE from our personal database (which we have been compiling for 40+ years) as a courtesy to those WHO SUBSCRIBE to our Ferrari Market Letter. All that we ask is ALL current pertinent information on the vehicle. Unfortunately, in the past too many inquirers never reciprocated! We are not brokers or dealers and will not use your information for our financial gain. We are historians and your information will be used strictly to improve our database. The primary mission of the Ferrari Market Letter is A) Provide an easily accessible marketplace for buyers/sellers of Ferrari cars and B) Provide current and historical Ferrari related content to ALL subscribers via our publication. Providing free information from our personal database is NOT a primary mission of the Ferrari Market Letter, but a way to personally thank those who have helped us build the database." I am regularly amazed and astonished by the number of responses I get to this message that state in essence "I know nothing about this Ferrari." How can someone be interested in information about a Ferrari and yet claim to know nothing about it, no explanation about why they are interested, no knowledge about colors, name of broker, seller or owner, location, much less any provenance! There is another aspect that, unfortunately, can have a negative effect. When the information I have on file is less than complimentary and as it is passed back up the line someone is offended by the truth and gets mad because the secret was revealed. Such is the problem with being in the information business. Often damned if I do and damned if I don't.

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