| Author |
Message |
Dave Helms (Davehelms)
Junior Member
Username: Davehelms
Post Number: 90
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 6:18 am: | |
6655 Arapahoe
Thomas Vintage Motors
303 449 9112 |
V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member
Username: Ama328
Post Number: 207
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 11:12 pm: | |
ok, Dave, thx for the response...whereabouts in Boulder is your shop located and name/phone info? Won't have the Fcar with me, but am scheduled to pick up a replacement 'grocery getter' set of wheels from a friend of mine in south Denver after Labor Day, usually try to get up to Boulder(Carelli's, over by the Broker, is one of my fav restaurants), might try to swing by for a minute if time permits. |
Dave Helms (Davehelms)
Junior Member
Username: Davehelms
Post Number: 88
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 6:22 am: | |
VZ,
Independent in Boulder now, I was with FOD up until about 7 months ago. Yes, only dealer techs get factory training. Damn shame, but I guess thats how the game is played. FNA has one of the best trainers in the game! They picked up Mike Fisher a few years ago from Porsche / VW. Once they lost John Amette (former FNA technical rep, exceptional tech, and a wonderful person) to Lamborghini it left a big black hole for technical knowledge at FNA. John and 2 or 3 other former FNA execs are now Lambo USA. Mike Fisher was given the title of Director of Training for Ferrari USA. He over hauled the training procedures and raised the bar to a new level. This is one person Im damn proud to have known and worked with. I learned far more at his classes at FNA, than I ever did at the factory. Jeff Wilson, now the head of Warranty at FNA is another great guy and huge technical knowledge base. Now that I have moved over to the "dark side" (independent) I dont have any acess to these folks, but for all the Ferrari owners sake it is nice to know they are there. On the technical front, these two guys are irreplaceable! |
V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member
Username: Ama328
Post Number: 197
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 11:16 pm: | |
Dave, do you work for the Ferrari dealer in Denver, or are you with an independent shop?...saw your profile lists Boulder, and I always thought ONLY dealer mechanics get to journey to the home office in Italy for training. |
Dave Helms (Davehelms)
Junior Member
Username: Davehelms
Post Number: 87
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 9:38 pm: | |
Myself and about a dozen other techs were at the factory for about a week for training on the 360. As interesting as it was, when on of the F1 cars started testing on Fiorano, the instructor simply gave up on trying to teach the class, and said "go and watch". Traffic stops right in the middle of the street, and everyone runs for the fence to watch. Make sure you stop by Tubi as well. Worth the time. Fausto was quite inviting and kind. |
Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi12
Post Number: 1603
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 8:38 am: | |
Interesting Faisal, that you call the 360 line 'boring'. To some degree I felt the same way. Maybe I was anticipating too much and it was cool to enter the hollow ground of Maranello, but there wasn't really that much to see. Part of it was, because the tour begun at 11:30 and 12:00 sharp they all run away and you're left with only your tour guide, who was very nice, but didn't know squat about any Ferraris.
The Enzo 'line' was cool though. More like a F1 team at work.
In hindsight I'm very happy, that I did have a chance to see the factory. But it isn't heaven. Visiting Maranello itself with all its memorabilia shops and the Galleria actually gave me a greater kick. To each his own I suppose.
PS: Have been to Zuffenhausen visiting Porsche once. That was kinda anticlimatic too. The 'races' on the Autobahn were more exhilirating. |
Justin (Justin)
New member
Username: Justin
Post Number: 30
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 3:57 pm: | |
Wow, Faisal, sounds like you've seen some amazing factories and had some incredible private tours. I must say I'm jealous.
When I have the time to actually do something like this I'll have to discuss it with you before planning it. As with other car related issues, it seems you have a lot of knowledge on how to best go about doing something like this.
Best,
Justin
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Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 685
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 3:10 pm: | |
Justin,
I have toured a few factories. It was great, but then I am really interested in all this stuff. I found TVR in England to be the worst in terms of organization, but it reeked of character. TVR Malaysia was very modern--much better than TVR UK.
In Italy, the Ferrari 550 engine assembly area was very interesting, the 360 assembly line was pretty boring. Ducati was great--lots to see there. Pagani was awesome. Lamborghini's idea of a private tour was just ok, but I had a great time checking out everything lying around, like crashed Diablo GTRs.
Koenigsegg in Sweden was absolutely fantastic. Simply incredible. McLaren was a highlight just because of who they are. And the amount of time and effort they expended on me made me realize just what makes this company so great. Koenigsegg and McLaren are the only places where I could pose any question to anyone, and they would know the anwers in detail. However, both of these companies do not have factory tours. You have to be affiliated with a customer or supplier or have some other inside track.
BMW is boring. Both in Germany and in the US. Lotus is boring too (even the racing area), but being taken around the Hethel track by a factory driver is fun.
Saleen in the US is pretty good. Shelby is just ok, but if you combine that with a track day at Las Vegas Speedway, it would be a great day.
I prefer visiting race shops or suppliers to the factory now. The operations are smaller, so you can absorb a lot more detail about one aspect of a car. And you get to know the key people pretty well. That's the real "inside track." |
Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 684
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:54 pm: | |
Sean,
if you are talking about Fiorano, make sure you take a good zoom lens. The vantage points beyond the fence are some distance from the track surface. A high vantage point (like the roof of a rented van) might also help.
If you can get into Fiorano, you will be all set. At the main entrance, if you go left on the service road, you will come to the gym used by the drivers. Cool place.
If you go straight in from the entrance, through the overpass, you will arrive at a cluster of buildings. This is where everything happens. There's an old Italian air force jet parked to one side. It makes a great backdrop for pictures. And there's usually a few tasty cars parked here, although they are often covered up.
Best,
f |
Justin (Justin)
New member
Username: Justin
Post Number: 28
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:48 pm: | |
Sounds like a great idea.
I'd love to do a trip around Europe when I have time, perhaps 30 years from now, and just visit all the major factories of my favourite car manufacturers....Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Porsche, Ruf, McLaren, Aston, etc.
Anyone ever done anything like this?
So how impressive are the factories anyways? Having never been to one, I'm not even sure what to expect.
Justin |
Sean F (Agracer)
Member
Username: Agracer
Post Number: 281
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:44 pm: | |
I meant outside at the F1 test.
Ha, It's a fantasy for sure, but my brother is leaving Manchester in December and he said he will be going THIS YEAR and I'm welcome to join him. I told him to check with his local guy to find out when the best time to go would be. |
Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 683
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:30 pm: | |
Sean,
photography is strictly prohibited. They are very particular about this, and often warn visitors that they will summon the police if anyone is found to be taking pictures. They ask you to leave the camera at the reception or in your car.
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Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 5345
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:25 pm: | |
Sean,
I doubt they will.
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Sean F (Agracer)
Member
Username: Agracer
Post Number: 279
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 2:23 pm: | |
I'm hoping to get a nice, behind the scenes tour with my brother in September. He's the Marketing Director for Europe, South Africa, and England for Ingersoll Compressors, of which Ferrari buy lots of $$ of stuff from each year. The local rep. visits all the time and told my brother he's been to F1 tests, and seen lots of the factory.
I'll be sure and bring the camera if they'll let me take photo's. fingers crossed..! |
Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 5336
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 1:43 pm: | |
Steve I had it arranged directly through FNA. Call up there and ask for Mrs Rodriguez. She is very nice and has been super helpfull.
You are possibly a little ahead of the ball here for a year in advance but need at least 3 months lead time.
Your wife will love it. My wife loved it. It is a humbling experience and makes you apprechiate the cars so much more.
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Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi12
Post Number: 1600
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 1:36 pm: | |
Either through your dealer or FNA. Do a search on this forum, this is a fairly well debated thread. The visit last only one hour, so shouldn't be much of a burden on your wife. There is plenty of stuff for her in that region as well (Florence, Venice to name a few). |
Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 682
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 1:28 pm: | |
Ask a dealer to arrange it. |
Stephen E. Schroeder (Seschroeder)
Junior Member
Username: Seschroeder
Post Number: 65
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 1:27 pm: | |
My wife and I are planning a trip to northern Italy in early fall 2004. We (read me!) would like to visit the factory and area. Tried the "E" Mail address ([email protected])found in a thread but it doesn't work. Might anyone else have a contact point?
Thanks
Steve Schroeder |