Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari Factory Tour?

[Doug and Terri Anderson (dnt]

Carl - picture this - Italy - August 1979,  I was a guest of Tibor with two 
other fellows staying in a motor camp in Icici, Jugoslavia.  At the end of 
our first month, one of our party, Bill, had to leave.  We dropped Billy off 
at Aerodrom Ljubljana in northern Jugoslavia - so now what?  ROAD 
TRIP..Tibor and I set off for Modena.  Arriving at the factory, the first 
day of the month vacation period in 1979, I was in for a surprise - - - 
driving along the road in our new diesel Rabbit. around a corner, and  - - - 
POP - there it is!!  I recognize the little red brick factory two story 
front and some beige buildings from pictures in "The Cruel Sport."

No one about except a guard in his light blue shirt sitting at his desk - 
who doesn't speak English.  But with some sign language there will be 
someone here at 1:00 who does - come back then.  We trip across the street 
to a little pizzeria, named the Cavallino, and have a cold lunch of cheeses, 
tomatoes, and cold cuts.  No one else around BUT the water bottles are all 
over the tables - so it just hasn't been cleaned up.

At about 12:30 I get my camera and we go back to the waiting room - a tiny 
affair adorned with the most recent F1 car and no chairs.  Number 11 on one 
side, and 12 on the other.  Jody Scheckter was on one side and Gilles 
Villeneuve on the other.  One way to save space.  ah ah

A wall made up of very nice yellow tiles with the prancing horse fired into 
them made a nice back drop.  I snapped a buncha pictures.  About 1:00 a 
neatly dressed fellow in an elegant brown suit came through a door and 
approached us - How may I help you?  Well, we would like to see a bit of the 
Ferrari factory - Hmmmm, he sez.  Um, do you own a Ferrari? No [keeping the 
secret we have about 4 Porsches between us];  Ah, I see - um, do you work 
for Ferrari Dealership?  No - hmmmm, do you work for an independent? 
No - - - Ahh, well, um, then I guess, sweeping his arm around the small 
waiting room, without chairs - - you have seen a little of the Ferrari 
factory.  Case closed.

Ahhh, But I say - we both own Porsches - and in the mind of a Porsche owner, 
the last car to own is a Ferrari.  I see, he says.  Well, looking at his 
watch, (an Audemars Piguet? Maurice Lacroix? Vacheron Constantin?  Timex?) I 
could maybe give you 45 minutes - is that enough?  (ENOUGH - - ?!!) Oh, uh, 
sure.  Mind if I take my camera?  Bring it along he says.

We left the brick building and crunch crunch crunched on the rock hardscape 
across the open yard toward the distant long yellowish building.  It was 
about 1:10 and that's when a long wailing siren went off - thinking that was 
signaling the end of the lunch hour (remember - no one else was there), I 
asked if that was the end of lunch signal.  No, that is a motor being 
tested.  If it stays together, about 20 seconds - and THAT is a long time - 
we ship it.

I clicked away at the huge milling machines and other machine shop tools and 
grinders - no CNC then.  Then the cars, all in various stages of build, are 
lined up.  308s 512 bbi's mostly if not exclusively.

We ended up back at the Guard shack - no souvenirs except for my pictures 
and memories.

Returning to Modena a scant 20 years later, Mille Miglia time in 1999 - it 
was about as quaint as Disneyland on the 4th of July.  This time as part of 
a group.  No cameras - stay with the group - and DON'T touch anything.  All 
around us cars are being built.  CNC machines making transmission cases for 
the new F360 and a master craftsman banging away on camshafts straightening 
them and then the upholstery sewed up and made for the car in front of the 
seamstress - zip zip zip - and its done.

And so that trip ended at the Cavallino Restaruante - now VERY high end.  I 
bought several sets of dishes and wine glasses.  They don't ship.  Neat to 
have.  Flatware not for sale.

Off to the museum, and stores - ayep - Main Street Disneyland.  Wotta place.

There you have it.  Hey, I need a 10 year fix - - -  heh heh

Oh - Carl - Tibor always reminded me of one of his sayings - Always ask - If 
you don't ask, you end up with the same answer as if they said no.  So 
always ask.  Seems as if you are on the right track.

Onward

DOUG


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cmlf1" <cmlf1 [at] optonline.net>
To: "DOUG" <dnt [at] dock.net>
Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 8:24 PM
Subject: [Ferrari] Ferrari Factory Tour?


> I am going to Italy in April, and would like to do a factory tour. Not 
> being an owner, is this possible? If not, can anyone provide some things to 
> do or must sees/places to stay in Maranello or Bologna? I am doing a Ducati 
> riding day and factory tour, and of course would like to spend a day in 
> Maranello.
>
> Thanks!
> Carl
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