2nd May 2016: Maranello and Modena

A particularly wet day to walk back via the station (2.1kM) to pick up our hire car; a nice little Lancia with less than 400kM on the clock. An easy enough drive out to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. The Museum has a comprehensive collection of it F1 and road cars, and is located close to the factory and test track.The 1958 winning car is front engine, rear drive, foot clutch and manual gear change, disc brakes with the petrol tank nicely squeezed next to the drive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favourite car was the majestic FF.The company has 3000 employees; 600 are directly involved in the F1 team! Enzio Ferrari's home is in the middle of the test track, and the top floor has private suites for the current two F1 drivers. No photographs were allowed in the factory and track areas!All cars off the production line undergo 50kM test on public roads; max of 30 a day. On the road out of Maranello one blasted past me.

 

 

Lenore did like the 'California'; we could order today for delivery in 12 to15 months. And you do get a choice of colours and to personalise everything except engine and chassis: yes you can change the body shape! With the GP drivers yet to return from racing in Russia, the opportunity to jump into an F1 car was too great. I must admit I required help to get out!

 

 

We learnt a new term today; Dog Parking. When you take your dog to a museum you can park it outside. The regional capital is Modena. It has an impressive but very dark cathedral, that suffered some sinking of foundations at the chapel end; c.f. Winchesterr Cathedral. Copyright noel.moore@gmail.com