[250lm]

Just a quicky now, but the visit to the Ducati and Ferrari factories was great! I was not allowed to take pictures, but I have been to the factory, the F1 department and Fiorano! Also there was at least one Enzo still on the premises and possibly two. Several Maserati Quattroportes were seen around the factory, one body only too! On the assembly line there was one car completely covered, which the guide thought was a prototype. My guess it could be a 575 Barchetta or Convertible. Lots of 430s are made already and I even saw a pearlwhite 612 Scaglietti and a white 360 Spider. Pretty special to see. The Galleria had a exhibition on F1 cars and many were present. The new complex is really state-of-the-art and big. Great to see some classics in the new buildings as well. The Ducati museum also had a bike with the prancing horse on it which was driven by Mike Hailwood. I think this was one of the bikes that were raced with involvement of Ferrari but could not find evidence for it. Really a great trip, powered by Shell ;-) On the Bologna airport the Galleria exhibited a 166MM in front of the Ferrari shop.

More to follow,


Niels

 

[senna21]

This is the trip you won from Shell, right?

Were you given any special swag by Shell or the factory?

 

[Dj Dirk]

very nice Niels, i still say that i should have poisoned your dad and that i should have taken his place

you couldn't take any pics at all?
so no pics of that pearlwhite 612?

 

[250lm]

Taking pictures was not allowed in the factory, so I have no picture of the 612 or any other car inside the factory. I think the extra part of the tour we got for being the Shell group was the F1 department, but I am not totally sure. And Dirk, if it makes you feel any better, you weren't number two on my list either ;-)


Niels

 

[Dj Dirk]

WHAT? i'll remember that

so did you actually took ANY picture at all?
and how big was that group now?

 

[250lm]

I did take pictures in the Ducati and Ferrari museums, but not in the factories themselves. Still no digital pics and my scanner is not working, so be patient!


Niels

 

[Dj Dirk]

oh boy, when you say be patient, that's very dangerous then :lol:

what else did you see cruising around in the town? did you get to see Fiorano?

 

[250lm]

Well, it was a trip of two days including the travelling, so I did not have much time to see Maranello itself. In the bus I drove by Zanesi and Toni Auto, but I had no time to visit them. On Thursday there was at least one 355 in front of Toni, and a 612 Scaglietti inside Zanesi along with four to six other Ferraris. A German 308 GT4 drove by in Maranello itself and one member of our group (of about 30 people) drove his own Ferrari, which was a 412 Automatic.

I did see Fiorano and even had a tire changing competition in the Shell building on the track. Also visited the home of Enzo Ferrari at the track and the F1 department!

Niels

 

[Rosso]

Ahh, sounds like you had a good time. Glad to hear. Can't wait until you can get some photos onto your computer.