California Dreaming
Perhaps an odd title for a review of a trip to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello but the 2014 exhibition celebrates 60 years of Ferrari in America and the arrival of Ferrari’s latest model – the California T. During my holiday to Lake Garda we jumped at the opportunity to go to the Ferrari Museum and we weren’t to be disappointed.
Inside the museum there are five different rooms dedicated to five different themes;
- the Ferraris that won races in America and the Moto GP bikes belonging to Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi, protagonists of the famous battle in Laguna Seca
- Holywood and the films starring Ferraris
- Los Angeles and its surf and glamour with some of the most beautiful road Ferraris from the California of 1957 to the present day model, the California T
- the luxury and extravagance of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with the most spectacular models built for America and last but not least
- the Silicon Valley room with a display of models and components featuring Ferrari technology and a unique presentation of the exclusive LaFerrari Hy-Kers.
The tour guides in the museum are very knowledgeable and the groups of visitors are given an array of fascinating facts to digest as they move from one part of the museum to the other. The exhibition is sympathetically laid out with plenty of good photo opportunities. Outside the museum it is clear that Maranello revolves around Ferrari – Maranello has been the location for the Ferrari factory since the early 1940s, when Enzo Ferrari transferred operations from the Scuderia Ferrari Garage and Factory in Modena, which had been his base of operations dating back to Scuderia Ferrari’s days as an arm of Alfa Romeo.
For those wishing to fork out 90 euros for the privilege of a 10 minute ride in a Ferrari around the streets of Maranello there were plenty to choose from – from 458 Italias, Californias, 430’s and even an F12 Berlinetta. I wasn’t tempted though as I think Johnny or Paul would take me for a spin in their cars for a little bit less than that!!
I hope you enjoy looking at the selection of photos that I took – it really was a memorable trip.
Tim Logan
Club Secretary
