Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari Factory Tour

[George (ygpz4re]

Back in '99, when I took my factory tour, it was arranged through FNA by my friends at Ferrari of Washington (some of you "old time" listers may recall that I spent a bunch of years as volunteer crew for their Ferrari Challenge, then Grand-AM GT, race team).

I got the confirmation letter back from FNA in plenty of time for the trip.  When I arrived in the office at that famous main gate, on the appointed day and about 15 minutes ahead of the appointed hour, I was told, "We're sorry, but we don't have a reservation for you...."  Ummm, excuse me??  So I presented my letter from FNA - again - and this time pointed out the factory POC name listed.  They contacted that person, and all was well.  Whew!

I was joined on the tour by a handful of other people and we toured the main assembly line (the old one), the small area where they had built the F50 (though those were done by that time, iirc), the engine shop (again, the old one...), and a bit of a "walk around" of the general grounds (some cars being prepped for delivery, some for shipment, etc.).  Not the most awesome tour (as factory tours go), but good enough for me.

The race team member who was with me on that tour had been there a year or two before, and somehow got bundled in with a group from Marlboro for a tour.  He/they got to tour the F1 race team shop as well, and at the end of the tour, they (him included) were presented with a special "gift" - a thick Schedoni leather piece with 3 or 4 F1 engine valves inlaid.  Now, *THAT'S* an awesome tour!  (and I'm horribly jealous!)

gp