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vip maranello factory visit

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by ross, Jun 24, 2010.

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  1. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    as i described to you guys earlier, i was invited, and have now been on the factory visit with our local dealer and some other friends. we got on the falcon 7x in geneva and flew to parma, and then had the factory tour. we started at the museum (where i had been before), and then the engine assembly production and assembly area, the 8 cylinder assembly line, the f1 area where there were only the spares since everyone had gone to valencia already, the corso cliente warehouse with 51 former f1 cars lined up, the fxx corso cliente warehouse with about 15-20 of the fxx and 15-20 of the 599xx. then we had some lengthy driving time in the california and the 599gtb hgta, then onto a nice restaurant outside of parma, then back on the falcon to get home close to midnight. a full and fun day for sure !!

    my 2 disappointments were that we were not allowed onto the v12 assembly line because they were retooling for the new 612. i saw one but had had my camera confiscated at that point and was not quick enough with the iphone. i can tell you that from what i could see and glean from subsequent conversations was that it will have 4 wheel drive up to 140kph, whereupon it will switch off, and that it will be in the style of a shooting brake, whereby the reardeck will open to the passenger compartment and the rear seats can be folded down to increase luggage space.
    secondly, we had been promised track time on fiorano, but while we were there a helicopter came swooping in with montezemolo and he apparently wanted to see the 458 challenge progress so we were kicked off the track and had to drive in the surrounding hills. i saw a 458 challenge, and it looks much like the road car, but has center spline wheels and plexi side windows. otherwise it does not look that aggressive.

    i also saw a gto but it was a customer driving it and i wasnt fast enough with the camera. thats mt blanc out the plane window.

    some of the photos were taken with a camera, but others with the iphone since they took our cameras away before parts of the tour. not all the pics are correctly focused, sorry.

    here is a selection of pics of the day:
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  2. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    more, including lunch at montana
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  3. Kev33

    Kev33 Formula Junior

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    #3 Kev33, Jun 24, 2010
    Wow! That must have been an exhilerating experience. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Great pics as well. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the new 612 Scaglietti.

    Kevin
     
  4. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    #4 Ferraripilot, Jun 24, 2010
    fabulous pics. ty
     
  5. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    notice 3 passenger f1 car, ferrari bicycle
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  6. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 Napolis, Jun 24, 2010
    Very Cool.
     
  7. Chicko

    Chicko Formula 3

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    #7 Chicko, Jun 24, 2010
    Great pics, loving the F1 and FXX garage pics, thanks for sharing.. Like most people, including me, you also seems to have problems getting all your museum pictures in focus, i guessed it might be due to the mix of natural and artificial light confusing the sensors in there.

    Thanks again.
     
  8. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

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    #8 don_xvi, Jun 24, 2010
    So let me get this straight, for the parts of the tour at which they confiscated your real camera, you went ahead and snuck pics with your phone?




    That's a good way to ensure you and your friends won't ever have a chance to repeat the experience.
     
  9. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

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    #9 SrfCity, Jun 24, 2010
    Very comprehensive list of pics there. Thanks!
     
  10. 4REphotographer

    4REphotographer F1 Veteran

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    #10 4REphotographer, Jun 24, 2010
    That GTO is hideous, I'm really getting tired of the random pieces of carbon fiber.
     
  11. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    i very much doubt it.
     
  12. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    sorry about some of the pics. the ones with the camera i have no excuse for since it should have focused automatically, so i cant figure that one out, but it might be that mix of lights as you mentioned, since the outside pics are fine. btw, did you notice the cool carbon fibre shield on the silver gtb. the pics taken with the iphone were taken on the sly so i didnt have a lot of time to focus or aim, so no excuses but thats the reason.
     
  13. S Brake

    S Brake F1 World Champ

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    #13 S Brake, Jun 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Very cool, love the 275 and the row of F1 cars. Here is a pic from when I got to play on a Falcon, very excellent way to travel.
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  14. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
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    #14 PaulK, Jun 24, 2010
    Very cool pictures. They all scream Passion for Ferrari!
     
  15. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 ross, Jun 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2010
    some observations. the 599xx is a mean looking machine. all carbon fiber and plexiglas. the test drivers were divided on which one was faster, 599xx or fxx, but i think it depends on the track.

    after the drives, there was a little extra time, so i sweet talked one of the testers to let me take out the silver 599 onto some back roads. very nice. but gotta say, those ccm brakes are weird and i dont think they are that great. they are nearly the same ones as on my cs but the car weighs 50% more, so the stopping power is not as good as i expected.

    the california is a better car than i thought, but i still wouldnt buy one. dunno why, just have no aspirations to own it.

    they have managed to erase a lot of schumi stuff, BUT on the inside of the f1 area, his pic is everywhere. and that trophy cabinet is all him. so i think the guys there still must revere him.

    the engine assembly is pretty cool. mostly automated, but then the human element comes in during assembly. in the assembly line, it was a neat combo of modern super high tech, and artisan work to put it all together. the cars are delivered into the room with an overhead crane that then lowers the frame onto a rolling table that raises and lowers itself depending on the station. there is a box full of parts about the size of a mini that gets allocated to each car and has all the particular options chosen. each box has the complete list of data to build and then deliver the car; there were some pretty funky options going together -egg crate grills, special colors, stereos, leathers etc. it was a pretty cool layout, very sophisticated. and at the end, they get driven out the door and into another warehouse, that was a neat part. they make roughly 24 v8's per day. 5 days a week. no set schedule of 458 vs cal's.


    the iced coffee at the cavallino bar is pretty good...
     
  16. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

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    #16 Wolfgang5150, Jun 24, 2010
    Epic thread! Thanks! Any pictures of the inside of the jet?
    Kevin
     
  17. Monteman

    Monteman Formula 3
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    #17 Monteman, Jun 24, 2010
    I can only imagine the thrill of riding in the 3 seat F1 car with Alonso or Massa driving. Where do they take that car? I'm assuming it's for VIP and sponsor events but have never seen it run. Anyone here ever been in it?

    BTW, thanks for sharing!
     
  18. thecheddar

    thecheddar Formula 3

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    #18 thecheddar, Jun 25, 2010
    Three-passenger F1 chassis: Awesome! I've got to think that's heading for the amusement park's F1 track in Abu Dhabi.
     
  19. jasonporsche

    jasonporsche Karting

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    #19 jasonporsche, Jun 25, 2010
    Great Pics, Thanks for sharing!
     
  20. 903L

    903L Formula Junior

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    #20 903L, Jun 25, 2010
    WOW! A true experience of a lifetime. Ferrari Factory Tour via a Falcon 7. Unimaginable to me. Thanks for the great post!
     
  21. JTR

    JTR Formula 3
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    #21 JTR, Jun 25, 2010
    What a Great day!
    Thanks for posting.
    John
     
  22. lung7707

    lung7707 F1 World Champ

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    #22 lung7707, Jun 25, 2010
    What a fabulous opportunity.
    Thanks for sharing.
     
  23. stereotaipei

    stereotaipei Formula Junior

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    #23 stereotaipei, Jun 25, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  24. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #24 ross, Jun 25, 2010
    Well since those are the same areas I was in when my camera had been confiscated, then the fello with a sensitive conscience needn't fret. What a relief ! ;)
     
  25. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
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    #25 bigodino, Jun 25, 2010
    Were you asked by the tour guide to not post any pictures on the internet or publish them in any other kind of way? Our guide did so I've respected that.
     
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