Were going to visit the factory next Wednesday. Has anybody been and if so , any tips for me??????? Cheers Si
Don't arrive in Maranello on a Monday and hope to see something - the factory is closed! ENJOY!! MARK
Don't know what time you're visiting, but allow at least a few of hours to visit the Galeria (museum) but it's closed for luch 12 - 2.00 and having a look at what's going on at the Fiorano test track (a 5 minute walk). Lunch at the Cavallino Rampante Restaurant with a bottle of Lambrusco (surprisingly cheap - the Lambrusco that is) is de rigeur - though not perhaps the best food in Maranello. Hang around the factory gate for a bit and see the cars going out for tests. There are lots of body shops in Maranello worth nosing into. Then another hour in the souvenir shops. Restuarant Lauro in Modena is a great place for atmosphere. (full of cars and pics)
Get some space on your credit card. There's some nice stuff in the store (plus a lot of tat, but some great things). There are plenty of other shops to have a mooch around too, but *everything* is Ferrari. Galleria is OK but a bit spartan. If you're staying around there, the Planet hotel above the store and right opposite the factory gates is nice enough, not too expensive and if you get a top floor room you can see the test track. If you're in the region for a few days, check out the Lambo museum. Pagani, deTomaso, Maserati and Ducati are all very close and well worth a look. As is the Maserati Collection at the Pannini farm (cheese makers and sticker album magnates). It's basically a converted barn, but some lovely exhibits in a nice setting. All the above are within a very easy drive each other.
The only thing you may have a chance of taking is your pass (if you leave quickly...no I don't have one). When I went to the factory I recieved a free cap (sadly it was just promoting the Ferrari owners website). As mentioned earlier, the nearby shops etc will keep you entertained.
The PLanet Hotel is nice. So is the Domus. If you stand outside the factory gates facing the Ferrari Store and Cavallino Restaurant you will see a shop to the right of the Cavallino. In there they give away free maps with stuff marked on that you could easily miss like the Gilles Villeneuve Memorial and the Enzo Memorial that's outside the Hotel Domus. On the tour don't expect to see any modern F1 stuff and don't expect the guide to be particularly knowledgeable. We had a very nice French girl showing us round. She knew what to say and where to say it, but she couldn't answer any questions! It's worth rooting around some of the garages around Marannello you'll find some great stuff. I saw smashed up Enzo's with bits from 1970's F1 cars lying next to them! It's a fabulous, if slightly tacky, place! Have a great time!!!
Thanks for all your Tips Not long now I can't wait, I only hope my wife doesn't break the bank! See you at Gatters Dave Cheers..........Si
Will do Mate,Richard Fane and Myself will be coming down from Edinburgh and will be there about 10:30,so We will be waiting!! All the best Dave
Anthony meant the original factory gate. It's all changed now with a new modern entrance competely the other side of the factory.
As you face the restaurant (back to the factory gates), go right down the main road on the opposite side to the gates. A little way down (on the left) is a garage (as in mechanics rather than show room) that has some very interesting stuff in it. The guys in there are top blokes too - fixed my speedo sender for 80Euros with zero notice. Just dropped in and they sorted it out, plus topped up the oil. All whilst poking around a Ferrari F1 car from the 60s, a Porsche 962 (I think) and a 60s 250. Some amazing cars. Keep walking down the road until you're almost out of town (not that far, a few minutes walk!) and there's a decent gap in the trees that gives a reasonable vantage point for the test track.
Also keep you eyes open as there may be Ferrari VIP's about. I went to a restaurant (think it was the the Cavallino) busy looking at the signed helmets etc and moved aside to let someone past. I continued looking at the Ferrari 'junk'. I was told later that it was Luca (The F. president) who had walked past me. So be alert and have a good time.
Not this year, no. I left it too late to start making enquiries so I've had to put it off for a year. Worth the wait I'm sure .
Err, that's not the gate that most cars use. It is the one you go through for your factory tour. But the factory cars mostly come out from the gate that's around the corner and down the street a bit. It's on the right as you go towards the railroad tracks. If you go all the way to the end of the street, you might get to see some railroad cars loaded up with Ferraris and Masers. Always a nice sight. Follow the fence to the right, then around the back, and you will see the wind tunnel. Pretty cool-looking structure. In the factory, check out the build sheets. They have all kinds of cool information on them. Also check out the quallity control rejects. Very impressive how they catch the smallest details (usually). The V12 section is special. And so is the area where the F50 was built. I am not sure if the Enzo is built in the same area, but from the pictures I have seen, it does not seem to be. Have fun!
That's right. It's the gate I was referring to when I gave directions to a shop that gives away maps. Correct. Also the Enzo builders have a really cool uniform. It's similar to what the F1 team wear, but it has Enzo's signature on the shirt and on the back of the trousers. This uniform is harder to get hold of than the F1 team uniform. Although if you want any I know a man who can!...
