Ferrari Factory in Maranello Italy
- Ferrari Enzo resting in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello Italy
In every car guys life there is a least one ultimate goal, a lifelong dream, a pilgrimage if you will. No I’m not talking about a religious act or even a family tradition, I am talking about the few things you put on your bucket list before dying. For some it’s going to the Indy 500 or to drive a race car, for others it’s simply to meet someone like Carroll Shelby. For me it was visiting the Ferrari Factory!
Ferrari Formula 1 Cars at The Ferrari Museum in Maranello
Ever since I was lucky enough to have gotten a job at International Auto restoring vintage Ferrari’s as a teenager, I have had the urge to make a pilgrimage to the Ferrari Factory. I would hear stories about how the wealthy doctors I worked for would get flown to the factory by Ferrari to view their new models. It sounded so cool I immediately made visiting the factory one of my top goals. Fast forward 20 years later and I finally did it!
Standing in front of Ferrari Museum in Maranello
Let me first say it wasn’t the easiest to find. We flew into Milan and made our way towards Modena after staying a few nights in Venice. I went cheap and declined Hertz’s $300 up-charge for GPS and decided to use a map purely out of spite (not the best idea). After driving aimlessly for 4+ hours I knew I was getting close as signs for Maranello began to appear. Soon thereafter I glanced to my right and behind the trees and bushes on the side of the road looked like what appeared to be a race track. I thought to myself could it be? Yes it was! The Ferrari test track. As I continued down the road another few minutes, and as the trees cleared away, there it was, just like I imagined, Ferrari heaven!
Formula 1 Cars in Ferrari Museum
I turned off the main street and pulled in to a large parking lot which was surrounded by the Ferrari Museum, multiple Ferrari stores, cafes and most importantly Ferrari rentals. I was immediately overwhelmed and couldn’t speak as everything became silent; my wife was snapping her fingers in front of my face to see if I was still conscious. A nice Italian boy walked up to me and asked if I wanted to rent a Ferrari and I just starred at him. Ferrari’s were driving past me from the left and from the right. It was so much sensory overload , I really almost shut down. Finally my wife grabbed me with both arms and pulled me towards the museum as I was unable to make any decisions.
Ferrari Engines Inside Ferrari Museum at Maranello
We paid the 13 Euro entry fee and walked around in awe at the display of race cars, models, trophy’s etc… I took a ton of pictures and will have a post specifically on the museum soon after this post. Upon leaving the museum I ran into that kid that asked me if I wanted to rent a Ferrari earlier that day. Without hesitation I said yes. Fifteen minutes and 85 Euro later I was in a Ferrari California Spider with Francesco and my wife flying down the back roads of Maranello; more on this to come as well.
Ferrari California Spider Test Drive in Maranello
I had 2 more stops before leaving this magical place; the actual factory and the test track. While both of these are off limits to common folk, you could still drive to it, pay homage and snap off a few pictures, both of which I did.
Pista di Fiorano aka Ferrari Test Track
More to come on actually going through the Ferrari Museum and my test drive of the Ferrari California.
