China and the two 612s

Does anyone here know anything more about the 15,000 mile tract around China? There are two 612s with reporters driving. They also have a support team following along. It started August 28, 2005.

12 cylinders or walk

 

I have this small article on my site:

http://www.nansens.dk/2005_08_01_sogni_di_ferrari_archive.html#112546790718434717

That's about all I know I'm afraid....

 

Thank you. It looks like is will be a fun and interesting trip. I hope there are more acticles as time moves on.

 

Yes I hope so too And i'm sure there will be more articles and photos later on.... it is a great trip so....

 

You mean the one's that drove through my neighborhood the other day?

 

Since leaving the birth place of the China tour in Shanghai just 7 days ago, the two Ferrari Scagliettis have travelled through Nanjing to Jinan, the homeplace of spiritual leader Confucius.


Continuing onwards from Jinan to Dalian through Quingdao, both vehicles masterly weaved their way through the Monsoon rains currently present in the Asian country.


The third stage of this awe-inspiring route, saw the super-modern sports cars drive from Shenyang to Beijing. Undoubtedly the most spectacular leg of the journey so far brought the tour to within just metres of one of the worlds most famous ancient landmarks of all time– the Great Wall of China.

 

China Tour - 29th August 2005 Printable Version





First ever tour by a car manufacturer of this vastly diverse country


Shanghai, 29th August - The first ever tour of China by a car manufacturer, the “Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles”, got off to an exciting start in Shanghai this morning. The Tour will see two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis, driven by teams of Chinese and international journalists, cross the length and breadth of this vast country.



The “Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles” Tour is enormously symbolic on several levels. Firstly, China itself looks set to epitomise the 21st century better than any other nation. Secondly, its economic and industrial growth also make it hugely important for the world car industry and it is significant that cars by the world’s most exclusive and sought after marque will be the first to explore its immensity.


It is equally significant, however, that it is an Italian brand that is introducing journalists to the incredible diverseness of a country that combines past, present, tradition and future. The Tour also celebrates “2006 Italian Year in China” while the car windshields will also display the emblem of the upcoming 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.


The “Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles” has been made possible thanks to the kind support of Fiat China and the Chinese State Tourist Authority. The strong position of the Fiat Group in China, in fact, was in great part responsible for the gaining of official approval for this historic Tour.



The two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis will be supported by a team of maintenance staff and trucks supplied IVECO. Two Fiat cars will accompany the team also. After setting off from Shanghai this morning they will pass through Nanjing and then move to Manchuria. At Shenyang the team will turn South to Beijing then travel right across the country to Golmud in Qinghai province before driving across Tibet to Lhasa. After travelling over 4,000 kilometres at an altitude of 4,000 metres, the team will continue along the edge of the Gobi Desert and head to Xingjian province and Kashi, the world’s most land-locked city and home to a famous silk market since the times of Marco Polo.


After leaving Kashi the China Tour team will once again cross the Desert, this time heading South towards Urumqi and the start of the return leg. The group will follow the Great Wall of China then make a right turn and head off to the tropical belt and as far South as Guangzhou. On the 30th of October, the team finally returns to Shanghai. A total of about 40 journalists from China and abroad will take part in driving throughout the entire journey.






This morning’s departure ceremony was a spectacular event held at the Ferrari showrooms on Tomorrow Square. Media representatives and Ferrari clients gathered to watch the drum performance and symbolic tank filling ceremony held by Shell China. Afterwards, at People’s Square, Ferrari presented Mr. Wei Hu (the deputy director of the standing committee of the Shanghai People’s Congress) with a symbol of friendship, the Ferrari Trophy.



During the two month tour we will be posting regular updates charting the progress of the two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis through China.

 

China Tour Map
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Not to be redundant but I made this up earlier and didn't have time to post it for you viewers, but at least it has a pic of them leaving Shanghai. (Wish I was there then, and not just in Shenyang watching them drive by)
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Anything new?

 

Give me a minute......

 

one minute.

 

OK. AAaah, give me three.

;p

 

This just in!
Typical traffic here in China....

It's terrible!!!!
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Notice everyone has their hood up. (The heat) There's coolant everywhere!!!!!

 

That picture is not from China, it looks more like NYC.

 

Brilliant observation.....


;p

 

so where is the pics of china ?

 

Beijing - Lanzhou


The "Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles" tour continues to surprise the fans, as it does those who have had the chance to watch the passage of the cars in the most remote central-Northern part of China.


The 2+2 Maranello cars have crossed a variety of environments. These have ranged from Hohhot to the mines of Baynnur, taking in the traditional villages of Baotou. It was then on to lesser known sections of the Great Wall near Yinchuan and, from there, to Lanzhou and a great celebration.



From Beijing the 612 Scagliettis negotiated an area featuring pre-desert vegetation and some mountains. They pushed west along the motorway into Datong. The Scagliettis then took the G208 national road until Ulan Qao, a town situated in a rural area. Hohhot was the destination.


Hohhot is the capital of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. It's name means 'green city'. The city is characterised by the many ethnic groups that live here. These peoples have always been warmly welcomed and integrated into the society. Thirty six different ethnic groups call the city home, generating an active commercial and cultural feel.


On 9 September the teams left for Baotao. There they could view traditional villages whose income came from farming the land and keeping animals. The dwellings were of the clay and crude brick variety often found in Inner Mongolia. The scenery and the meetings with the local people were decidedly muted in this stretch of the race. From the curious looks of the Beijing crowds to small clusters of huts on the margins of the vast commercial constructions in modern China.



Before the tour moved on to Baynnur, some places of interest were visited. This area is rich in history and industrial archeology. It offered the chance to see some traditional, and extremely rare, kilns as well as sample the flavour of time past. In an atmosphere intense with the smell of zinc, copper and graphite, the Scagliettis
reached the surroundings of Baynnur the following day. The city is well known for its unusually designed 'Pisè' houses. Antique in style, they stand out even more in the bare, desert environment.


The day that closed out the stage was 12 September. The start took place close to grazing animals on the outskirts of Yinchuan. Here the Great Wall was revealed to the crews as a surprising feature in an otherwise barren terrain. It was unusual in that it had been built with materials typically found the the area: mud and crushed stone were used for the towers and ramparts.



The 612 Scagliettis left this scenic environment to take the last section of road to Lanzhou. They reached their destination in the evening, allowing the team to visit the city. Lanzhou is an ancient place and its buildings and history of commerce made it an essential stop on the Silk Road.



The modern day city was, in the past, a crossroads where Chinese and Roman merchants met and conducted business. The city retains much of its original beauty.

 

Lanzhou - Golmud


Leaving the age-old Silk Road the Ferrari 612 Scagliettis headed off into the third stage of the China Tour. The tour is visiting the northernmost parts of the country and aiming for the peaks of Tibet. The Lanzhou-Golmud leg witnessed a sudden change in the climate and type of road surfaces to be negotiated. The higher altitudes brought more demanding roads that the Scagliettis coped with brilliantly.


In the evening of the 14 September, the cars made their entrance into Golmud surrounded by green steppes and silver coloured rivers. Forming the background were the ever present and imposing mountains.



The Maranello 2+2 had left Lanzhou onthe morning of 13 September driven by Italian and US journalists. They were heading for Xining, the jewel of the Quinghai region. The city is characterised by a huge buddhist temple, the seventh largest in all of Tibet.



The Scagliettis entered the city, the key southern point on the Silk Road, and made for the Ta'Er temple. Set in lush mountainous vegetation, the complex has a mystical air about it. The detailed vision of the temple and the presence of an extremely strict order of monks living under the hierachichal 'Geluk Pa' regulations, only added to the fascination.



The crews had now reached an altitude of 2,300 metres and the destination was now Chaka. The route would be rich in yak and Tibetan goats herded by farmers. This leg caused some inconvenience for the cars and the silver Scaglietti had to have a tyre and wheel rim changed after running into a rock.



The cars got going again the next day along a much easier route. Golmud was reached after five hundred kilometres had been negotiated. From here it was on to the highest stretches...destination the very roof of the world.

 

where is the pics from China ???

 

Golmud - Lhasa


Shanghai to Beijing | Beijing to Lanzhou | Lanzhou to Golmud | Golmud to Lhasa | Lhasa to Golmud



The fourth stage of the Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles Tour ended on Sunday evening when the team arrived in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.



The route featured snowy mountainous peaks along the centralnorthern part of Tibet. The roads were largely traffic free with herds of yak and Tibetan goats dotting the terrain.


Tibet has always drawn great interest and curiosity in the European collective imagination. This comes from its air of mysticism, its world famous peaks, age-old history and Buddhist religion. It is yet another magical place that the 612 Scagliettis have crossed. Lhasa was reached after the convoy had made a stop in the city of Naqu.



The red and silver 612 Scagliettis, with an F1 and manual gearbox respectively, continued climbing the Tibet mountains on the morning of 17 September. The first day saw the vehicles arrive in Naqu, a city situated some 4500 metres above sea level. The high altitude caused some sickness among members of the team as they were not used to the rarefied air. After driving a long stretch of the high plateau, the Scagliettis took on the Kunlun pass (4800 metres above sea level). It the afternoon an even higher pass was reached: Tanggulashan at 5231 metres. This was the entry point to Tibet. The area was rich in vegetation with rivers and lakes providing plentiful water sources. The city of Naqu came into view to the Ferrari crews in the evening as rain and sleet greeted their arrival.



The next morning, 18 September, saw the caravan take the road for Lhasa, the capital of this fascinating region. The average altitude along the route was 4000 metres. Again the roads were little used and progress was smooth for the Ferraris. The only colour viewed from the windows came from the usual yak and goats, often found roaming close to the settlements of farmers built up along the road. In the early afternoon the Scagliettis arrived in Lhasa. The atmosphere in the city is enthused with Buddhist religious sentiment. The medieval constructions, the huge Jokhang temple, the Potala fortress, (once the seat of Tibetan government) and the burial place of the Dalai Lama give the city this air. However, Lhasa is not just a religious centre but also a political, economic and cultural one. A stop of a few days will allow the cars to be admired and the crews to enjoy the spectacle of this incredible mountain capital.

 

Lhasa - Golmud


Shanghai to Beijing | Beijing to Lanzhou | Lanzhou to Golmud | Golmud to Lhasa | Lhasa to Golmud



This time the route taken by the 612 Scagliettis to the Tibetan pass of Tanggulashan was in the opposite direction. The pass is some 5321 metres above sea level and led to the city of Lama and its natural beauty and architecture.


The crews spent time along the main streets of Lhasa, ones that border the imposing Potala. They then took the road for Naqu, visiting the abodes of the local farmers that surround 'God's throne'. From here, the Ferrari caravan moved on towards Golmud along the traffic-free highways of the plains.



The 2+2s left the city of Lhasa on the morning of 23 September together with their support vehicles. The team enjoyed spectacular views in the city while the Tibetan people had the unusual experience of seeing these exclusive vehicles driving down their streets.


The local population was also involved in a charity event with the distribution of Ferrari packages containing books, games and educational materials to around 200 children.



The Maranello 2+2s spent more time at the Potala, the imposing stone, earth and wood construction. It is 1187 metres tall and is divided into two parts: the Red Palace and the White Palace. One thousand rooms are situated alongs its 13 floors. There are ten thousand chapels and two hundred thousand statues. The tombs of the Dalai Lamas are found in the Red Palace. One of these, that of the fifth Dalai Lama is embedded with 3,700 kg of gold. The White Palace was the official seat of government and hosted meetings of the Tibetan national assembly. The Scagliettis are ready, after visiting this marvel, to leave the capital of Tibet to head back towards Golmud.



Though Lhasa is situated high above sea level, moss grows there and greenery can be found. Lakes extend throughout the mountain plains. It was then onto Naqu for the Scagliettis, a city they reached in the evening after a 330km leg at an average altitude of around 4000 metres.



A request has been made to Guinness World Records to register the recordbreaking achievement. The cars had to be sports vehicles, standard models and registered normally.



It was along these demanding stretches that the 12 cylinder, all-aluminium models displayed their sprightly handling and torsional strength. The innovative stability and traction control, installed on standard Scagliettis as well as those used in the Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles Tour, really came into play.



The Qinghai province was crossed for the second time on the road to Golmud. The scenery was as breathtaking as ever with salt water lakes sprinkling the plains. The strong winds and springs added to the eerie charm.


The teams reached Golmud on the evening of 25 September and began preparing for the next stage. This will see the crews head towards Urumqi, in Xinjiang, another city steeped in fascinating history.

 

A request has been made to Guinness World Records to register the record-breaking achievement of two Ferrari 612 Scaglietti which are currently participating in the Tour of China. This marks the first time that a standard, road-registered 540hp two-wheel drive production car has achieved an altitude of 5,231 metres – across the Tanggulashan mountain pass, on the border between the Autonomous Region of Tibet and China.

The cars, driven by international journalists, reached the mountain pass easily. Despite the reduced oxygen levels available at such a high altitude, and the lower quality of fuel available in the area, the Ferrari’s 5.7-litre V12 engine, performed effortlessly without any necessary modifications.

The expedition has crossed the Tibetan plateau, one of the most isolated regions of the world, with the cars being driven for thousands of miles at over 3,000 metres altitude, from Lhasa, Tibet’s main city and the ancient home of the Dalai Lama.

In Lhasa, as in other cities reached by the Tour, the Team was welcomed with enthusiasm by more than 200 children of a local school which received books, school equipment and toys for the children as part of the Tour of China’s programme to help schools most in need.

The China Tour started on 29 August in Shanghai and now moves on to the Gobi Desert, passing through Kashi (Kaxgar), the most continental city of the world and home of a wealthy silk market which dates from the days of Marco Polo.
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All I can say is thanks to the posters here. Keep it up. The trip sounds as a journey of a lifetime.