Day 6, Part II: Maranello, Ferrari Museum and The Cavallino Restaurant
Before I visit the Ferrari Museum, I get diverted and I rent a Ferrari 458 Italia for a short 10-minute drive around Maranello. It was a lot of fun to drive such an amazing car. Probably a stupid a thing to do in Italy.
My co-driver/babysitter (damn, I forget his name). Great guy. I’ll always remember him saying for these little spurts “poosh . . . 8,000 rpm . . . goh, goh!”
A couple of other Ferraris available to drive: F430 Scuderia, F458 Spyder, a couple Californias in the background. I believe a 599 was the most expensive to drive.
The Ferrari Museum (formerly The Galleria Ferrari). My favorite sports are the NFL and Formula 1. Ferrari is my team. I consider this my F1 Hajj.
A couple of gorgeous, classic Ferrari F1 cars.
Another classic F1 Ferrari.
One of the iconic Gilles Villenueve’s Ferraris.
Nigel Mansell’s Ferrari
Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa’s 2011 Ferrari F150
The Old Man
After visiting the Mercedes & Porsche Museums, the Ferrari Museum appeared small. Even though, there is so much F1 history with Ferrari, the building itself is a bit dull. But, this room to me was holy ground. And Ferrari plays it up here, too, with the historic videos and music. It’s quite emotive.
I started watching F1 in 1996 when I caught the last half of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Michael Schumacher won an improbable victory in a slug of a John Bernard designed Ferrari. The car was fugly, slow and unreliable. To win at Monza in such a car was totally unexpected. The Tifosi appeared to be overcome and invaded the track (little did I know they storm the track every year). But, this started my interest in F1 and the Scuderia Ferrari (the F1 team). After several soul-crashing years, this room displays the cars from Ferrari’s modern golden age and all of its F1 trophies. This room is glorious.
I hope I have this correct. The 1999 Constructor’s Championship Ferrari F399 of Schumacher and Eddie Irvine
Michael Schumacher’s 2000 World Driver’s Championship F1-2000. This car ended Ferrari’s 20 year winless world driver’s championship streak.
Michael Schumacher’s 2001 World Driver’s Championship F2001.
Michael Schumacher’s 2002 World Driver’s Championship F2002.
Michael Schumacher’s 2003 & 2004 World Driver’s Championship F2003-GA & F2004.
Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 World Driver’s Championship F2007 and the 2008 Constructor’s Championship F2008 of Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Mercedes may have a nicer, bigger Museum, but their trophy case pales in comparison to Ferrari’s.
My guy when he was at Ferrari, the 7-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher (93 F1 wins). No one comes even close statistically.
Next I go upstairs.
One of my favorite all time Ferraris. the Berlinetta Boxer. These two pictures are weak and a poor effort. Apologies.
The Daytona California. Incredible car, incredibly crap pictures. Again, poor effort on my part. I must have been out of sorts.
I’ve never thought too much of the Dino, but restored and in this classic color it’s great looking. I wonder what they are worth now. They used to the red-headed step child for Ferraris.
That’s it for the Museum.
Next, I drive around the factory before I head to the world famous (and perhaps tourist-ee) Cavallino Restaurant.
This is the rear entrance to the factory where all the prototypes enter and leave. Think of those ‘spy’ photos in the car mags of prototype Ferraris in full camouflage.
Of course, I had to find Fiorano, Ferrari’s test track. Unfortunately, this is it . . . the gate.
This the home of the Scudera Ferrari Marboro, the F1 team.
Right across the main entrance to the factory is The Cavallino Restaurant. Food on my trip actually has been a little of a disappointment. I expect big things since I’m in Italy.
A couple Schumacher helmets. And, an Alain Prost helmet? The 4-time world champion was famously fired by the Italians for criticizing the car.
Photo of Enzo Ferrari, Niki Lauda, and the current Chairman, Luca de Montezemolo.
After taking my photos and completely embarrassing myself as a total tourist, I sit for lunch. They must be use to it. My waiter speaks no English and the menu is in Italian. Great waiter and I tell him I’ll eat what he recommends. This pleases him. I just tell him I only require proscuitto, and something in the region’s famous balsamic vinaigrette.
Of course, he starts me off with San Pellegrino, and then the proscuitto and melon. Just kill me here, I’d die happy. Clearly, I’m too emotional to take a photo in focus . . . with a fully automatic Nikon.
This was the best pasta I’ve ever had . . . seriously. I didn’t know it was allowed to put the aged balsamic vinaigrette on the pasta. These Italians are genius.
This whole meal was amazing. Best of the trip.
A photo with a picture of the Old Man in the background.
One last picture of the Ferrari factory entrance in the late afternoon light.
Next day, the long drive back to Munich . . . the big day at the Welt is the day after that.