Not your everyday car

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Italian cars visit Robbinsville High

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  • Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (left) and senior Christopher Shope behold a Pagani automobile that visited the campus Oct. 16. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com
    Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (left) and senior Christopher Shope behold a Pagani automobile that visited the campus Oct. 16. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com
  • Horacio Pagani (right) is now a billionaire after  forming his own Italian super-car company in 1992. His son Christopher (left) joined Mr. Pagani in visiting  Robbinsville High School on Oct. 16.
    Horacio Pagani (right) is now a billionaire after forming his own Italian super-car company in 1992. His son Christopher (left) joined Mr. Pagani in visiting Robbinsville High School on Oct. 16.
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By Matthew Miller

Special to The Graham Star

Robbinsville – When Robbinsville High School is mentioned in conversation, one may think of academics, clubs, or sports. 

However, for a brief moment Oct. 16, the focus on campus was automotive. Earlier in the year, teacher and director of automotives Dale Wiggins had come into contact with a representative of Pagani Automobili. On Oct. 16, a rally on the Tale of the Dragon was scheduled for a group of customers to partake in. 

After some communication, Wiggins had requested that the group visit the school and to his delight, they agreed. 

Pagani Automobili was founded in Italy in 1992 by an Argentinian-Italian auto enthusiast, Horacio Pagani. In his early years, Pagani built race cars from scratch, worked for big name race teams and eventually landed a spot at Lamborghini making fiberglass body panels. He would soon come to the realization that fiberglass would not be enough to beat out the competition, but discovered a material that could: carbon fiber. 

However, Lamborghini refused to buy the tools necessary to produce it. Pagani proceeded to take out a loan of $500,000 and bought it himself. This would end up being one of the most important purchases of his automotive career, as he began manufacturing his own line of super-car. With the purchase of these tools, and some help from other luxury and performance car manufacturers, Pagani Automobili was born.

Around lunchtime Oct. 16, between 20-30 Pagani Zondas and Huayras pulled into the Robbinsville High School parking lot. Leading the rally was Pagani and his son Christopher. With each car having been purchased for at least $1.5 million, this was no small gathering.

As the event progressed, students involved with the automotive program at the school had the chance to meet with Pagani, Christopher and other members of the rally, along with seeing each car. 

“I have been very excited for this,’’ said student Luke Wilson. “I have been counting down the days for weeks, and they’re finally here. It is unreal.” 

Students and faculty alike were excited to see the first car pull in and this experience will not be soon forgotten.