Visit to Factories???
Discussion
I need to pick some brains.....and am quite new to this!
A bunch of Sporting Bears (www.sportingbears.org.uk) are planning a run across Europe (after Le Mans, down to Geneva, Italy, Germany, Belgium) later this year and wanted to visit some of the Itialian factories in the hope of getting some freebies to auction off at our next Sporting Bears meeting.
I just wondered if anyone has a) visited any of the factories; b) any addresses/links that might be helful and c) what our chances are and any advice that might help us.
All monies raised be donated to charity via the Sporting Bears.
Thanx in advance.
A bunch of Sporting Bears (www.sportingbears.org.uk) are planning a run across Europe (after Le Mans, down to Geneva, Italy, Germany, Belgium) later this year and wanted to visit some of the Itialian factories in the hope of getting some freebies to auction off at our next Sporting Bears meeting.
I just wondered if anyone has a) visited any of the factories; b) any addresses/links that might be helful and c) what our chances are and any advice that might help us.
All monies raised be donated to charity via the Sporting Bears.
Thanx in advance.
Pretty sure the Ferrari factory is off limits unless you're an owner, but you can still get to see the Maserati factory in Modena. The latter is far more modern, and I'd take a trip to Modena over one to Maranello any day of the week. Fiorano is worth it if the F1 cars are testing.
Kevin
Kevin
I spent quite a bit of time in the Modena/Bologna area for work last year... I'd recommend the following:
Lamborghini has a great museum in their factory. They may or may not offer factory tours, but the museum is free and you could spend hours there. Contact the factory ahead of time to request an appointment - they won't let you in if you come in off the street. I found the contact info on their website.
Ferrari won't let you in, but there is an ok museum there. Seemed expensive for what they had, but what the h*ll, it's Ferrari. Well worth a trip to Maranello to stand alongside the test track and see what/who is out playing today. Perhaps Shummy is out there, perhaps a half-dozen 360s are being tested, you never know.
Pagani will allow visits if you make prior arrangements. You can't take photos inside the factory, but it is really impressive to see how they lay up the carbon fiber, small piece by small piece... Hard to find, but worth the trip.
I'm biased, but I always stop by the DeTomaso factory. They, too have a small museum featuring at least one of every road car they have made from their first Formula 3 car in 1959 (OK, that's not a road car but..) up through their current model. Contact Claudia Lodi - Claudia.Lodi@Detomaso.it
WELL worth the trip, in capital letters, is the Maserati collection of the Panini family. I think that is their name... Featuring certainly the largest Maserati collection in Italy as well as hundreds of classic motorcycles. This collection used to be owned by the Maserati factory, and when Alejandro DeTomaso sold Maserati he planned to sell off the factory collection as well. The cars were crated up and were to be auctioned in the UK for whatever reason when civic pride kicked in and a wealthy cheese maker bought the entire collection and put them on display.
That's a start anyway... You can get e-mail addresses easily on the Internet - that's how I found them. If you want more information or are having trouble finding something, send me an e-mail via my profile.
Some photos may be seen on my website at http://photos.yahoo.com/gt5s_1985 if you are interested...
Lamborghini has a great museum in their factory. They may or may not offer factory tours, but the museum is free and you could spend hours there. Contact the factory ahead of time to request an appointment - they won't let you in if you come in off the street. I found the contact info on their website.
Ferrari won't let you in, but there is an ok museum there. Seemed expensive for what they had, but what the h*ll, it's Ferrari. Well worth a trip to Maranello to stand alongside the test track and see what/who is out playing today. Perhaps Shummy is out there, perhaps a half-dozen 360s are being tested, you never know.
Pagani will allow visits if you make prior arrangements. You can't take photos inside the factory, but it is really impressive to see how they lay up the carbon fiber, small piece by small piece... Hard to find, but worth the trip.
I'm biased, but I always stop by the DeTomaso factory. They, too have a small museum featuring at least one of every road car they have made from their first Formula 3 car in 1959 (OK, that's not a road car but..) up through their current model. Contact Claudia Lodi - Claudia.Lodi@Detomaso.it
WELL worth the trip, in capital letters, is the Maserati collection of the Panini family. I think that is their name... Featuring certainly the largest Maserati collection in Italy as well as hundreds of classic motorcycles. This collection used to be owned by the Maserati factory, and when Alejandro DeTomaso sold Maserati he planned to sell off the factory collection as well. The cars were crated up and were to be auctioned in the UK for whatever reason when civic pride kicked in and a wealthy cheese maker bought the entire collection and put them on display.
That's a start anyway... You can get e-mail addresses easily on the Internet - that's how I found them. If you want more information or are having trouble finding something, send me an e-mail via my profile.
Some photos may be seen on my website at http://photos.yahoo.com/gt5s_1985 if you are interested...
Try www.grandtouringclub.co.uk. They have a tour that includes:
ITINERARY
Day 1
Passengers will need to arrive at London Gatwick Airport, no later than 12.25 to check in for our British Airways flight to Bologna. The flight will depart at 14.25.
A representative from The Grand Touring Club will be on hand to assist with check in and arrival.
Refreshments are served during the flight. Arrival into Bologna will be at 17.35 (local time). On arrival we will board the coach and following a 45 minute drive we will arrive at our hotel between Modena and Maranello.
We are staying in a 4 star hotel located 5 km from the historic town centre of Modena. All the rooms have private bathrooms, TV/radio, satellite TV and a mini bar, other facilities include a bar, excellent restaurant, outside swimming pool and a sauna.
This evening we will get together at a welcome drinks reception after which dinner will be served in the excellent Ristorante adjoining the hotel.
Day 2 - Modena and Maseratis
A Buffet Breakfast will be served in the hotel each day. After breakfast today we will board the coach for the transfer to the Maserati Factory. This morning we will have a guided tour of the factory. From here we will go into the Historic centre of Modena for a
short guided tour and then free time for shopping etc. in the city centre until our visit at 3.00 pm to the delightful Stanguellini collection on the edge of Modena. From here we are visiting one of the famous Carrozzeri who produced one-off cars for Ferrari and Maserati, in company with a Modensese expert and friend of Enzo Ferrari.
We then return to the hotel to change and will leave at 18:30 for a visit to the famous Panini collection at a local Parmesan cheese farm, then continue to country restaurant well known as a meeting point for
sports and racing car enthusiasts offering genuine and traditional dishes.
Day 3 Lamborghini and Ferrari
After breakfast we will leave for the special private Lamborghini museum recently started by the founder's family. From here we transfer to the Lamborghini factory at Sant'Agata . We will visit the factory museum as well. Lunch will be served in a traditional restaurant which has a production of Balsamic vinegar , Lambrusco wine and liqueurs.
Then we transfer to Maranello, passing the Fiorano test circuit, and will visit the Galleria Ferrari, which has a new display dedicated to all the 2+2 models produced by Ferrari. There is time to visit the official Ferrari store and other shopping outlets devoted to the Prancing Horse, grouped around the factory. Back to the hotel to change, then there is a free evening with a bus transfer arranged to Modena city centre and an optional dinner at own cost (25 Euro pp).
Day 4 - De Tomaso and Pagani
This morning we will go to Pagani to have a guided tour of the factory. After this we will go to visit the De Tomaso collection in Modena. We then offer free time in central Modena. Optional light buffet lunch in the Piazza Grande for 19 Euros per person. In the afternoon we will transfer to San Martino in Rio for a visit to the automobile museum there. We will then visit another fascinating Carrozerrie before returning to the hotel to change, then we will be dining at Michael Schumacher's favourite watering hole, Montana, right beside Ferrari's Fiorano circuit.
Day 5 - Bologna and Ducati
After breakfast this morning we will check out of the hotel and leave to visit a highly unusual private car collection housed in a castle before continuing to Bologna where there will be free time in the city centre and over lunchtime. We will then visit the
Ducati museum before transferring to the Airport.
On arrival at the airport we will check in for our
return flight with BA which departs at 18.20,
arriving at LondonGatwick at 19.40. Refresh-
ments will be providedon the aircraft.
PRICES per person
2 sharing dbl/twin £1075
1 in a single room £1165
Personal Travel Insurance is available at an extra cost of £23.00 per person. If you still require insurance cover please send full payment now.
Included in the price:
Return flights and airport taxes, all coach transfers in Italy, 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast, welcome reception, three dinners and one lunch including wine. Visits as detailed in the itinerary, tours of the Maserati & Lamborghini factories & Galleria Ferrari, museums and car collections as specified, hotel baggage gratuities, Guide for some visits and the services of an experienced Tour Manager throughout the tour.
Not Included:All meals not listed as included, drinks other than those served with meals or at the welcome reception, gratuities, travel insurance and any personal expenses e.g. telephone calls, laundry etc.
This tour is being arranged through The Grand Touring Club by Kirker Travel Ltd who are licensed as an Air Tour Operator by the government’s Civil Aviation Authority under licence number ATOL 2450 for whom they act as agents. Any money paid to The Grand Touring Club for this tour is held by them as agents for Kirker Travel Ltd.
Called SUPERCARS& SUPERBIKESin MODENA there are two of these this year:
Monday 5thApril – Friday 9th April
Monday 4th - Friday 8th October
ITINERARY
Day 1
Passengers will need to arrive at London Gatwick Airport, no later than 12.25 to check in for our British Airways flight to Bologna. The flight will depart at 14.25.
A representative from The Grand Touring Club will be on hand to assist with check in and arrival.
Refreshments are served during the flight. Arrival into Bologna will be at 17.35 (local time). On arrival we will board the coach and following a 45 minute drive we will arrive at our hotel between Modena and Maranello.
We are staying in a 4 star hotel located 5 km from the historic town centre of Modena. All the rooms have private bathrooms, TV/radio, satellite TV and a mini bar, other facilities include a bar, excellent restaurant, outside swimming pool and a sauna.
This evening we will get together at a welcome drinks reception after which dinner will be served in the excellent Ristorante adjoining the hotel.
Day 2 - Modena and Maseratis
A Buffet Breakfast will be served in the hotel each day. After breakfast today we will board the coach for the transfer to the Maserati Factory. This morning we will have a guided tour of the factory. From here we will go into the Historic centre of Modena for a
short guided tour and then free time for shopping etc. in the city centre until our visit at 3.00 pm to the delightful Stanguellini collection on the edge of Modena. From here we are visiting one of the famous Carrozzeri who produced one-off cars for Ferrari and Maserati, in company with a Modensese expert and friend of Enzo Ferrari.
We then return to the hotel to change and will leave at 18:30 for a visit to the famous Panini collection at a local Parmesan cheese farm, then continue to country restaurant well known as a meeting point for
sports and racing car enthusiasts offering genuine and traditional dishes.
Day 3 Lamborghini and Ferrari
After breakfast we will leave for the special private Lamborghini museum recently started by the founder's family. From here we transfer to the Lamborghini factory at Sant'Agata . We will visit the factory museum as well. Lunch will be served in a traditional restaurant which has a production of Balsamic vinegar , Lambrusco wine and liqueurs.
Then we transfer to Maranello, passing the Fiorano test circuit, and will visit the Galleria Ferrari, which has a new display dedicated to all the 2+2 models produced by Ferrari. There is time to visit the official Ferrari store and other shopping outlets devoted to the Prancing Horse, grouped around the factory. Back to the hotel to change, then there is a free evening with a bus transfer arranged to Modena city centre and an optional dinner at own cost (25 Euro pp).
Day 4 - De Tomaso and Pagani
This morning we will go to Pagani to have a guided tour of the factory. After this we will go to visit the De Tomaso collection in Modena. We then offer free time in central Modena. Optional light buffet lunch in the Piazza Grande for 19 Euros per person. In the afternoon we will transfer to San Martino in Rio for a visit to the automobile museum there. We will then visit another fascinating Carrozerrie before returning to the hotel to change, then we will be dining at Michael Schumacher's favourite watering hole, Montana, right beside Ferrari's Fiorano circuit.
Day 5 - Bologna and Ducati
After breakfast this morning we will check out of the hotel and leave to visit a highly unusual private car collection housed in a castle before continuing to Bologna where there will be free time in the city centre and over lunchtime. We will then visit the
Ducati museum before transferring to the Airport.
On arrival at the airport we will check in for our
return flight with BA which departs at 18.20,
arriving at LondonGatwick at 19.40. Refresh-
ments will be providedon the aircraft.
PRICES per person
2 sharing dbl/twin £1075
1 in a single room £1165
Personal Travel Insurance is available at an extra cost of £23.00 per person. If you still require insurance cover please send full payment now.
Included in the price:
Return flights and airport taxes, all coach transfers in Italy, 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast, welcome reception, three dinners and one lunch including wine. Visits as detailed in the itinerary, tours of the Maserati & Lamborghini factories & Galleria Ferrari, museums and car collections as specified, hotel baggage gratuities, Guide for some visits and the services of an experienced Tour Manager throughout the tour.
Not Included:All meals not listed as included, drinks other than those served with meals or at the welcome reception, gratuities, travel insurance and any personal expenses e.g. telephone calls, laundry etc.
This tour is being arranged through The Grand Touring Club by Kirker Travel Ltd who are licensed as an Air Tour Operator by the government’s Civil Aviation Authority under licence number ATOL 2450 for whom they act as agents. Any money paid to The Grand Touring Club for this tour is held by them as agents for Kirker Travel Ltd.
Called SUPERCARS& SUPERBIKESin MODENA there are two of these this year:
Monday 5thApril – Friday 9th April
Monday 4th - Friday 8th October
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