Planning a trip to Italy...
Discussion
... it looks like i'll be taking the Chimaera to Italy the week after Easter.
Has anyone driven to bologna, if so what routes would you suggest, I want to enjoy the drive not just blat across Europe.
Any web site for ideas on planning the route would be welcomed.
I think that a photograph of a nice bit of Blackpool muscle outside Ferrari might go down well, also does anyone know if you can visit the pagini factory?
thanks
Tim
PS: Can anyone remember the name of the road through the mountains, on stilts, that they used in EVO for some of the car shots of the Zonda amongst others and I believe Pirelli used the venue too.
>>> Edited by TT Tim on Monday 5th January 11:50
Has anyone driven to bologna, if so what routes would you suggest, I want to enjoy the drive not just blat across Europe.
Any web site for ideas on planning the route would be welcomed.
I think that a photograph of a nice bit of Blackpool muscle outside Ferrari might go down well, also does anyone know if you can visit the pagini factory?
thanks
Tim
PS: Can anyone remember the name of the road through the mountains, on stilts, that they used in EVO for some of the car shots of the Zonda amongst others and I believe Pirelli used the venue too.
>>> Edited by TT Tim on Monday 5th January 11:50
I usually just blast down but take the scenic route on the way past.
One was blast down to Chamonix, as there is'nt much in France before there, then come up the mountain towards the St Bernard tunnel and cut off and take the pass instead.
Another one is down the side of Lake Geneva and across into N. Italy. Any of the passes around Stelvio Pass are supposed to be quite good.
Not much help but usually I just grab a map and wing it. If one road is getting busy I'll have a quick peek at the map and head off a different way.
Andy
One was blast down to Chamonix, as there is'nt much in France before there, then come up the mountain towards the St Bernard tunnel and cut off and take the pass instead.
Another one is down the side of Lake Geneva and across into N. Italy. Any of the passes around Stelvio Pass are supposed to be quite good.
Not much help but usually I just grab a map and wing it. If one road is getting busy I'll have a quick peek at the map and head off a different way.
Andy
TT Tim said:
... also does anyone know if you can visit the pagini factory?
Yes you can, it's a free tour but they only run it on Friday from 3pm.
I think you need to let them know you're coming up front too, drop them a mail at info@paganiautomobili.it
Also consider doing Lamborghini and Ducati who are also in and around Modena.
Anthony.
France -> Belgium -> Germany -> Switzerland -> Italy works out cheaper due to lack of toll roads [*] and has the added bonus of a bit of unrestricted hooning in Germany. 
[*] You should only need to pay for a Swiss Vignette which is pretty cheap and lasts for a calendar year (Jan-Dec) so no need to pay again on the way back, or for subsequent trips for that matter.
{edited for spellin'}
>> Edited by pdV6 on Monday 5th January 16:59
[*] You should only need to pay for a Swiss Vignette which is pretty cheap and lasts for a calendar year (Jan-Dec) so no need to pay again on the way back, or for subsequent trips for that matter.
{edited for spellin'}
>> Edited by pdV6 on Monday 5th January 16:59
Definitely second that for the Ducati factory. It is free and they run two tours a day with English guide. You get to actually go round the factory production lines as well as a pretty interesting museaum.
Ferrari is worth a look but you can only get into the museaum (Galleria) although there are a few roadside stopping points that you can see over to the test track.
Never taken the TVR over although would like to sometime, sure it will attract plenty of attention!
Cheers
Mark
Ferrari is worth a look but you can only get into the museaum (Galleria) although there are a few roadside stopping points that you can see over to the test track.
Never taken the TVR over although would like to sometime, sure it will attract plenty of attention!
Cheers
Mark
Whatever way you get there just take the autostrada to Bologna once you hit Italy.
Unlike motorways here they are intensely quick and the tunnels and bridges make it a great experience.
And anyone will race you from the lights. Remember 4 lanes at the lights are a suggestion of how many cars will fit. Take your brave pills and enjoy
Unlike motorways here they are intensely quick and the tunnels and bridges make it a great experience.
And anyone will race you from the lights. Remember 4 lanes at the lights are a suggestion of how many cars will fit. Take your brave pills and enjoy
Ducati sits at Borgo Panigale (north ring round Bologna) and is 
If it's not wet or snowy, you might also consider the Gothard pass in south of Switzerland, which offers exceptional scenery! (instead of the one lane, 10 mile+ tunnel).
Would also advize to take the Belgium, Luxembourg (cheap gas), Germany (for the 100+mphs cruise through boring landscapes), Switzerland, Italy. Is the fastest and will provide you with the possibilities to take alternative routes.
If it's not wet or snowy, you might also consider the Gothard pass in south of Switzerland, which offers exceptional scenery! (instead of the one lane, 10 mile+ tunnel).
Would also advize to take the Belgium, Luxembourg (cheap gas), Germany (for the 100+mphs cruise through boring landscapes), Switzerland, Italy. Is the fastest and will provide you with the possibilities to take alternative routes.
I did the trip in '99, shortly after i got my Griff, and, apart from getting caught in a monster hail-storm outside the Ducatti factory and the hail stones jamming up the cooling fans and fusing them (true!), it was a blast.
I went Hull-Rotterdam, through Germany so I could have a few, legal 160 mph plus blasts on the autobahn, and over the Brenner pass autoroute from Austira into Itlay near Bolzano. Obvisously, being in Kent, you'll cross the channel there, but other than that, you could still easily take this route into Italy.
AFAIK some of the smaller, windier alpine passes, like the infamous Stelvio, whilst being extremely entertaining, can still have weather problems at that time of year - you'd need to check.
If you're in Bologna, it's only a very short drive to Maranello and the home of the dancing donkeys. The Ferrari museum has some great motors and you can spectate for free, from the roadside at the Fiorano test track - often the F1 cars are testing here.
Whatever route you take, I'm sure you'll have a blast.
Oh, and by the way, if you're in Bologna and find yourself in need any fuses there's a little auto factors down the road from Ducatti, opposite the hotel Amadeus.
I went Hull-Rotterdam, through Germany so I could have a few, legal 160 mph plus blasts on the autobahn, and over the Brenner pass autoroute from Austira into Itlay near Bolzano. Obvisously, being in Kent, you'll cross the channel there, but other than that, you could still easily take this route into Italy.
AFAIK some of the smaller, windier alpine passes, like the infamous Stelvio, whilst being extremely entertaining, can still have weather problems at that time of year - you'd need to check.
If you're in Bologna, it's only a very short drive to Maranello and the home of the dancing donkeys. The Ferrari museum has some great motors and you can spectate for free, from the roadside at the Fiorano test track - often the F1 cars are testing here.
Whatever route you take, I'm sure you'll have a blast.
Oh, and by the way, if you're in Bologna and find yourself in need any fuses there's a little auto factors down the road from Ducatti, opposite the hotel Amadeus.
TT Tim said:
What's the fuel like out there, am I going to need octane booster, the 500 is running on Super or Optimax at the moment?
I usually aim for the Shell stations - in Italy they they sell "V-Power" which is the equivalent of Optimax (possibly even a bit higher octane?). I've never had a problem finding 97 octane or higher on the continent, done two trips to Italy in the Chimaera so far and planning another for April/May.
Alex
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