Great pics from Monte Carlo to Maranello

Just got back last night from the trip of a lifetime across Europe’s Mediterranean countries. The trip included the opportunity to take in the Gran Prix in Monte Carlo and to mecca.......Maranello. Also got to meet fellow F-chatter Markymark and his wife Suzanna. We met in Nice the night before the race and had a great time. Oddly enough, we accidentally bumped into each other again in the beautiful Greek Isle of Santorini later on in the trip.

Everywhere we went people were wearing Ferrari red gear. F-gear outnumbered the local favoritite’s, French team Renault, by about 4 to 1. First three pics were taken in the historic town of Eze between Nice and Monte Carlo. The Dino is made of whicker and was about 3 feet long, forgot to ask how much they were selling it for. As we were walking back down the hill I heard a distinct rumble approaching the town. It wasn’t just the note of one beautiful Ferrari, it was more like a chord with several different notes making beautiful music together. From afar, through the trees…….I could see the color that is Ferrari. Red. It was a small caravan, one of many we saw throughout the trip. (if you look closely, I believe the last car is actually a Z8) There was much anticipation in the air, as the race was just one day away.
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We took the short train ride from Nice about 2 hours before the race after hearing how crowded it would be. We were surprised to easily get on the train and wondered what all the hype was about…..until we got off the train and looked around Monaco. People had been camping out since the night before to get a good view. We were amongst the last to arrive. The lines for the bathrooms and concession stands were up to a half-hour long.

We bought tickets in the states before we left but we bought them late and so the good seats were gone. We settled for general admission thinking there would be plenty of decent views in various standing-room-only parts of the track. Were we wrong. GA is limited to the road leading up the side of the harbor towards Monacoville and the Palace. There are no real good close-up views of the track from here but you get an excellent panoramic view of the track as the cars exit the tunnel and race all around the harbor. As we walked up the road people were stacked up 4 or 5 deep peering over other’s shoulders trying to get a glimpse of the track. The one’s up front had obviously been camping out for a while as they looked haggard and had their supplies stacked under their feet. Looking to our right we saw people climbing up in the weeds on the hill and hanging from tree branches. It was pretty much “each man on his own”. It wasn’t looking good for us to try to get a view. GA tickets were about $175 each and because we didn’t get there 8 hours ahead of time we’re thinking we’re screwed. But alas, the end of the road at the top of the hill we found a great view behind 2 guys sitting in their portable chairs. A couple of times the police cleared the road and pushed everyone to the side as the royalty were being escorted in Volvo’s to their private suites at the starting line. I think I saw Princess Stephanie. She’s not as hot as she used to be. Oh well, we had a view, all is well in Monte Carlo (accept Schumi and Ferrari continue to struggle).
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We went to the casino Friday evening just after the practice trials and found hundreds of people standing outside waiting to catch a glimpse of either the celebrities going in or out or of the amazing cars being parked out front. The track runs literally right in front of the casino but they had opened up the roads by the time we got there so all the Italian cars were getting lined up in front of the casino. I had to go try my luck in the place where James Bond asks for his Martini’s “shaken, not stirred”. It’s surprisingly small inside but of course it’s the most elegant casino in the world. Friday night, about 8 PM they only had 3 black jack tables open and about 4 roulette tables. The place doesn’t really get going until later in the evening. (They don’t start dinner until after 10 PM) Luckily, they had a $50 dollar minimum table (I’m not a big gambler). I got off to a great start getting some blackjacks and doubling down at the right time. But the house has the odds in their favor so they got my profits back and I decided to walk away even.

Following is a pic in front of the Hotel Hermitage 2 blocks away from the Casino. Note the Maseratti MMC 12 parked in the prime spot. It’s not often an Enzo takes a back seat in a valet spot. (Much less 2 Enzo’s. And not a bad 430 parked in between them) BTW, Monte Carlo is rediculously expensive. 2 drinks at the casino (red bull and vodka) were $38 thanks, in part, to the declining dollar. A cab ride from the Hotel Hermitage to the train track, only about 3 blocks, was $19. The last pic is walking around Monte Carlo the day of the race.
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From Nice we went to Milan. This way I could drive to Maranello and my girlfriend Myra can do what she loves to do, shop. Obviously they don’t allow cameras in the factory so no real great shots here. The Superamerica production is in full-swing. I saw about 20 of them in various stages of production. There were also a few suspicious looking cars being driven around by the prototype test-drivers. Interestingly, our guide said there are only 5 test drivers for all of the production cars. They drive each car 130 kilometers around the roads of Maranello. I was driving my rental around a blind turn near the factory only to come across a black 575 swerving all over the road narrowly missing me. Just a test driver checking the car. I smiled.

The track is Fiorano. They were F1 testing on the track when I arrived and so I was eager to watch after the factory tour but unfortunately by then the F1 car was back in the garage and some 430’s and 575’s were running the track.

The Ferrari Museum in Maranello was pretty cool too. The last picture is of the F1 simulator. Let me just say driving a 355 is nothing like driving an F1. Can you say spinout?
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Mark and Suzanna were nice enough to take a pic of Myra and I on the beach in Nice. And then the 4 of us in Santorini after bumping into each other on accident. Myra and I had originally planned to skip Santorini and head straight to Mykonos from Athens. But we squeezed in a quick jaunt to Santorini when we realized how boring Athens is after 1 day
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Markymark..........where are your pics? We had a great time meeting you buddy. I'll let you know when we're down your way.

Jerry