7 replies to this topic

[doohanOK]

After reading Angus Browne's great article on his adventures at Maranello / Fiorano, I was interested to know if anyone here has been, and what was it like?

regards,
doohanOK.

[CeCe]

I had the pleasure of attending the race at Imola this year. We stayed in Bologna and took the train to Imola and got to the track with no problem, but it was another matter finding Maranello.

We took the train to Modena (about half an hour). After waiting 20 minutes, a cab came by and we took it to Maranello (a half hour ride). The cabby new exactly where to go and it cost about 30 bucks, but there were 5 of us. It is an industrial area, nothing very scenic. You pass the test track first on the right, then the factory is a few blocks down on the left (the locals pull off and watch the testing, like a "scenic area"). It was raining when we were there, but they were testing some sportscars. The track is rather small-looking with a tiny garage in the distance and a cluster of houses). We went to the Ferrari Museum, (a block away from the factory, near the track--full of tour buses) which was amazing: racing cars throughout the history of Ferrari, all of the trophies, a replica of Enzo's office. People were sitting on and touching all of the cars and you can take pictures. You could never see these cars anywhere else in the world. We wanted to eat at the restaurant across from the factory where Enzo would eat, but it closed at 2:00. If you own a Ferrari, you can get a factory tour we heard (we don't, so we didn't), We walked down the road and watched the cars test at Fiorano in the rain. We had no idea how to get back, but there was a bus stop in front of the factory, so we took our chances with that. It was full of locals (the whistle blew and all of the Ferrari workers came out for the bus too) and school kids who couldn't believe that Americans knew of Ferrari! The factory looks just like the photos. Excepting the museum which was quite touristy and some tshirt shops, it's just an place where people work - very low key.

It's off the beaten path and it would have been nicer to have a rental car to get there. We were mighty wet, tired, and hungry at the end of the day, but we managed to get there! There were no instructions in any tour book so we were heading out blindly. Even without insider treats it was worth the trouble.

[Shellz]

My first trip to Maranello was much the same. After attending the Monza GP I decided to make the pilgrimage. I couldn't find Maranello on any map, but an old chap I met in a bar turned out to be an ex-station master and actually had a full train timetable (the size of a phone book!) in his bag. He obviously took his retirement very seriously! He was able to tell me all the train details from Monza to Modena - which I could easily work out for myself, but he seemed to enjoy the 30 minutes it took him to look it up.

Once in Modena I was on my own. The only Italian I knew was "dov'e Ferrari" which literally translates as "where Ferrari"! Several bus rides later (most going in the wrong direction) I found myself at a suburban bus station where all the locals found me to be an entertaining curiosity. Why a woman on her own would want to travel all the way to Maranello was quite beyond them. Another 30 minutes later I was standing opposite the factory gate. Amazing. As CeCe says, very low key, but to me it was like finding the holy grail!

I tried to get a tour of the Factory, but they weren't letting anyone in. I walked around the back of the road-car factory and climbed a six-foot wall to peer over and see wall-to-wall Ferrari's. Wow! I tried the same at the F1 factory but with no luck that day.

The following year I went back, this time with 3 friends, and also completing the journey in two hours rather than five.

We were able to hang over the fence at the back of Fiorano and watch Luca shake down the three cars to be used at Monza that weekend. Then we got really lucky in that a few guys from the neighbouring factory invited us to go through their workshop, which meant that we got to actually sit on a wall right at the bridge part of the circuit. There we had an awesome view, only 2 or 3 metres from the track. But unfortunatly Luca only did one lap before they finished running for the day.

A very good friend of mine works for the team and I've asked him to try and get me into the factory this year, but for that, Todt's personal approval is required and I hardly think Todt's going to give the OK just to satisfy my dream!

[Jonathan]

Shellz -

I dont suppose you managed to snap any pictures while you were there ?

[Shellz]

Jonathan, I sure did!

The pics from the first visit (the road cars) are in storage somewhere, so not accessible.

The ones from the second visit are in a box at my feet and I'm going to be scanning them in for my website sometime over the next month.

[baddog]

I am embarrased to confess I turned up at maranello on a monday (it was my first trip to italy okay..) and the ferrari museum was shut. I was gutted. I got a look at the track and a gawp at the factory, including some f40s with disguised bodywork and such doing testing though.

next time in italy a proper visit will take place.

Shaun

[variocam]

I am so pissed. I was in Europe last summer and didnt go. I also woudl have liked to go to Stuttgart (Porsche). I was evcen in Munich, but was late for a train and didnt get to go to BMW. What a bummer. Actually I wasnt that upset until I got home. My dad used to own a Ferrari. My mom has a BMW and the owner of the the BMW dealership where we got the cvar also ownes Ferrari of Ontario...where my Dad got his Ferrari serviced. My dad knows the owner, because he wanted to buy my dads Ferrari (246GT Dino). My dad saw him at the BMW dealership and he said it would not have been a problem to get me into the factory. I would have just had to tell him a week or so earlier and he just had to make a phone call to book me.
Oh well.
I'll just have to go back again...soon
I also own a Porsche now, so I dont think it would be problem getting a tour there...Porsche might be open to the general public anyway, I'm not sure.

[Shellz]

variocam, when you're next in Europe, make sure you do take in the BMW museum. It's really impressive: architecturally as well as the exhibits.

I'm not a BMW fan, but I was really impressed by the place.