Just Completed Hajj to Super Car Mecca | FerrariChat
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Just Completed Hajj to Super Car Mecca

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by chris360hawks, Jun 28, 2008.

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  1. chris360hawks

    chris360hawks Formula Junior

    May 29, 2007
    477
    San Antonio, Texas
    Full Name:
    Chris Hard
    #1 chris360hawks, Jun 28, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well I just got back from Italy where I visited Lamborghini, Pagani, Ferrari, and a Maserati private collection. It was truly an amazing trip, and was extremely exciting to see some of these cars in the flesh. We hired a tour guide, Motorstars.it, which was awesome. The guide had worked in all three factories and knew pretty much anything you could ask. It was also nice to have a guide, because it made it a hell of a lot easier to find all of the factories, especially Pagani.

    The first stop was Lambo, where we toured the museum and got a factory tour. We were able to see a Reventon, nearing the final stages of assembly. At first I wasn't sure about this car, but seeing it in person really brings it to life! Every time you look at it you discover new angles. We also saw a hideous pink Gallardo being assembled, which is going to a female in Japan. The tour guide also gave us a sample of leather with the Lamborghini symbol pressed on to it. After the tour we walked out into a courtyard-like area where we saw about 50 Lambos ready for delivery. I was able to see the LP-560 Gallardo and LP-640 Murciealgo in the showroom. The people at Lamborghini were super friendly, and treated you like family.

    The next stop on the tour was Pagani, where we toured the showroom and factory area. In the showroom we saw three Paganis which were waiting for delivery. It is amazing that these cars are entirely hand built and that Pagani only produces 17 cars per year! I was able to meet Mr. Pagani himself, and he signed a Pagani hat for me. Mr. Pagani was very friendly and very down to earth. Mr. Pagani’s business is truly a family affair, as we saw his wife and his son working in the garage and the office. In the garage we caught a glimpse of the new Zonda Cinque, saw two Zondas nearing completion, and got to feel how lightweight carbon fiber actually is. It was neat to see these cars in person and see the amount of perfection and patience that it takes to make these cars what they are.

    The third stop was the Ferrari museum. It was really neat to get the feel of how the whole town is oriented around Ferrari. It was cool to see how a lot of the buildings and flowers were Ferrari red. The most exciting parts for me in the museum were to see the Formula 1 cars and to see the super-cars including the 288 GTO, F40, F50, and the Enzo. I have only ever seen the F40 in person before this and to see all of these cars together at once took my breath away. Unfortunately when we arrived at Maranello it began to rain so I wasn’t able to see any cars running on Fiorano.

    The final stop on the tour was a private Maserati collection just outside of Maranello. The cars are owned by a man who is a cheese maker (BTW he didn’t make his money in cheese making). It was really neat to see so many valuable cars under one roof. This man had a collection including Maserati concept cars, a Mercedes 300SL, several race cars (one of was raced by Stirling Moss), and many cars I couldn’t even identify. The man also had almost a whole floor of his garage dedicated to motorcycles. It was a priceless collection that I know most people are not able to even lay their eyes on.

    I’m sorry for the super long essay over this trip; I know that all you guys want to see are the pics lol! This was truly a trip of a lifetime for me and one that I will remember forever. I hope that every F-chatter and car enthusiast alike has a chance to make a trip like this in their lifetime. If you would like any of pics in high res just PM me.
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  2. JH

    JH F1 Veteran
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    Nov 14, 2002
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    Jonas H.
    #2 JH, Jun 28, 2008
    Beautiful pics.. I count myself lucky to have been there several times, everytime better than the first :D Cant wait to go again. That will make it my 5th time,.
     
  3. NYCSpotter

    NYCSpotter Formula 3

    May 28, 2007
    1,859
    New York
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    Damian
    #3 NYCSpotter, Jun 28, 2008
    Great story and photos! :)
     
  4. FandLcars

    FandLcars F1 Rookie

    Aug 6, 2006
    3,057
    Tempe, Az
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    Rick Schumm
    #4 FandLcars, Jun 28, 2008
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2008
    Thanks for all the pics! The green Maserati with red interior next to the brownish Khamsin is the car that really got me interested in owning exotic Italian cars. It was on the cover of a late 1974 R&T, IIRC. :)
     
  5. otaku

    otaku Formula 3

    Aug 12, 2005
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    Boise,Idaho
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    Josh
    #5 otaku, Jun 28, 2008
    Very cool photos THanks for posting! Awesome trip hopefully I can make it sometime
     
  6. Modificata

    Modificata F1 Rookie

    Apr 27, 2003
    2,654
    Hampton, England
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    Andy Rasool
    #6 Modificata, Jun 29, 2008
    I had to read that title twice just to read it correctly. My first time was that its not Hajj time yet!

    Congratulations, I can see you must have had a great time. I've been once and was lucky enough to have a factory tour of both Ferrari and Lambo. Even without the tours its still a great visit.

    Thanks for the pics.
     
  7. stuckinkuwait

    stuckinkuwait Formula Junior

    Jul 25, 2004
    630
    Northern New Jersey
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    Lenny S
    #7 stuckinkuwait, Jun 29, 2008
    Incredible pictures. I cant wait for my turn to visit the Ferrari factory.
     
  8. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    Apr 6, 2004
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    #8 of2worlds, Jun 29, 2008
    Great story with pictures to and a nice look at that excellent Maserati collection! Thanks
    CH
     
  9. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    6,478
    #9 Shark01, Jun 29, 2008
    Does the Ferrari plant require current ownership even if working with a tour company?
     
  10. Davesvt2000

    Davesvt2000 Formula 3

    May 3, 2005
    1,144
    Central Mass.
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    Dave G.
    #10 Davesvt2000, Jun 29, 2008
    Thanks for the incredible pics !!!!!!
     
  11. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
    Italy
    #11 rfking, Jun 29, 2008
    Yes - if you are not an owner, then you need to hook up with your owner buddy and offer to finance a joint trip to The Factory. An owner can usually bring a guest on a tour. I've only ever taken family, but I see no reason why I couldn't invite my "brother-in-law" along.
     
  12. Division

    Division Karting

    Jul 24, 2006
    214
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Jeroen
    #12 Division, Jun 29, 2008
    Woooowww Chris, great story and a lot of fun to read! Thanks for sharing those pics too, it makes the article complete! :)
     
  13. sTyleR

    sTyleR Formula 3

    Jan 18, 2007
    2,252
    San Antonio, Texas
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    #13 sTyleR, Jun 29, 2008
    Great post and pics!

    Thanks for sharing your experience.
     
  14. coachi

    coachi Formula 3

    May 1, 2002
    2,108
    SC USA
    #14 coachi, Jun 29, 2008
    very nice. You made me want to go on such a trip...The cars are so beautiful.
     
  15. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
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    Jason
    #15 TexasF355F1, Jun 30, 2008
    Awesome pics. Sounds like you had an amazing trip.
     
  16. Clubsport78

    Clubsport78 Formula 3

    Sep 7, 2005
    2,336
    D-Nbg
    Full Name:
    Marco A.
    #16 Clubsport78, Jul 2, 2008
    Congratulations on your trip!

    One thing: you claimed you saw the new Zonda Cinque.
    You may be wrong, since these days they're finishing to built the 1st Zonda R.
     
  17. Challenge64

    Challenge64 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2004
    6,365
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    Ron
    #17 Challenge64, Jul 2, 2008
    Glad you saw that Maserati collection! It is really out there and hard to find..but yes it is worth it and I hope you did sample the cheese as well. I brought home a 1/4 wheel of it!
     
  18. chris360hawks

    chris360hawks Formula Junior

    May 29, 2007
    477
    San Antonio, Texas
    Full Name:
    Chris Hard
    #18 chris360hawks, Jul 2, 2008
    Yep, the cheese was great! They actually gave Michael Schumacher a wheel of cheese with the Ferrari horse stamped on it for Christmas. We bought some cheese but forget it in the refrigerator of our hotel room.
     
  19. jefmal

    jefmal Rookie

    Jul 18, 2007
    34
    Lisle, IL
    Full Name:
    Jeff M
    #19 jefmal, Jul 3, 2008
    Wow, what a great trip to take! The bike at Pagani is really cool looking with the quad stack of exhaust. Any more info on that?
     
  20. Ibn Rushd

    Ibn Rushd Karting

    Jun 23, 2008
    76
    Ottawa, Can
    Full Name:
    Shaan
    #20 Ibn Rushd, Jul 3, 2008
    Awesome pictures. Sounded like a blast....have to say i love the title too.
     

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