My weekend in Maranello, Modena, Sant Agata, Imola..
 

Hey guys..

I'm back! I have been to Italy for 2 days the last weekend. Visiting Maranello, Sant Agata, San Cesario, Modena, Imola etc.. :)
It wasn't as good as I expected that it could be, but not that bad at all.

I took 470 pictures. I'll post only a few here.. some cars and some impressions from the cities, countryside etc.

Friday afternoon, 4pm, departure at Frankfurt airport, to Bologna.

The distance from the airport to Maranello was not big, but a friday evening on the Autostrada near Bologna is not a high-speed-thing :D . Probably I could go to Maranello faster by bike at that time. When I arrived it was already dark.
To spot any car I had to go to Modena, searching the city centre.

I searched the city until 1am, but all I could catch was a crappy 308 and a lovely placed RS6.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1...04032pk.th.jpghttp://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8...03883ss.th.jpghttp://img487.imageshack.us/img487/2...03971lc.th.jpg

OK, so that was the friday. Went to bed at around 2am, got up at 6am.. time is money for such a short trip. ;)
Again, at that time, there was no car around. But it was an awesome landscape.. foggy dawn. :)
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/2...04142lm.th.jpghttp://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9...04100uk.th.jpghttp://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5...04084xu.th.jpghttp://img371.imageshack.us/img371/3...04077vi.th.jpg

Sadly it was also bloody cold in the morning. But after 10am you did not even need a jacket.

Time for breakfast (in the car). Always ready to start hunting anything that comes by. And suddenly.. *wrrroommm* my vacation finally begun!
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5...04167ur.th.jpg

Yep, I got him a few minutes later outside the town. Unbelievalble, I caught up in a 80 hp car. :) Anyway, perfect color!
http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/8...04227aa.th.jpg

On Saturday I was cruising between Maranello, Sant Agata, Modena, again and again and again. :) Driving there is really cool when you are alone on the road, but if there are other Italians on the roads you have really fear for your life :D ! 99% of them must have won their driving license in the lottery.. scarry!
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6...04322bv.th.jpghttp://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2...04297cw.th.jpghttp://img133.imageshack.us/img133/1...rama3wi.th.jpg
Somewhere near Sant Agata: http://rapidshare.de/files/16176077/...33_1_.avi.html

Around midday the action finaly begun in the city. I almost died when I saw the first car in Maranello, and it wasn't a Ferrari, it was a Lamborghini Miura SV. :)
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8...05215zx.th.jpghttp://img388.imageshack.us/img388/3...05204xw.th.jpg

There have been also other old cars on the parking space in front of the Galleria Ferrari. Some old Ferraris like 350, Dino and a orange 275! Aston Martin, some old Bentley-like Lancias and other cars.
They have all been participents at the last concours d'elegance and did a small meeting there.
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/8...05247la.th.jpghttp://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9...05317eg.th.jpghttp://img512.imageshack.us/img512/4...05600sv.th.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2...05759qg.th.jpghttp://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3...05479ak.th.jpghttp://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1...05429fc.th.jpg

..gentlemen, start your engine! :)
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7...05890rf.th.jpghttp://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2...05823oh.th.jpghttp://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9...05851ka.th.jpghttp://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2...05889mc.th.jpg

When the first cars were waiting on the street for the others, I heard a loud sound far away. I turned around and saw a dark car flying towards me. Looked like a 612 in the first seconds. But then I realized that it has been the new 599GTB! Yeah baby.. that car rocks! :)
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2...rari599.th.jpghttp://img512.imageshack.us/img512/3...rari599.th.jpg

A few minutes later the other cars left the parkings and they all drove away. I placed myself at the street and could take these pictures.
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5...05901ei.th.jpghttp://img476.imageshack.us/img476/1...05924qf.th.jpghttp://img476.imageshack.us/img476/7...05944fb.th.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3...06034im.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1...06042lc.th.jpghttp://img369.imageshack.us/img369/3...05981rq.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2...06000ff.th.jpg

Later that day I got another 599!
I followed him to his house in a small village next to Maranello, don't know what it's called. I wanted to take pictures but I wasn't allowed to. Even 15 Minutes later when I tried it again they saw me again and shoo me away. Only way to get a picture: James-Bond style: Driving by, brake, *click*, quickstart! :D
Kinda blurry but best I could do. That car looks amazing in the real world, away from showrooms. So fucking amazing! :)
http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/7...06805xv.th.jpghttp://img476.imageshack.us/img476/2...06881bx.th.jpghttp://img476.imageshack.us/img476/1...06935ih.th.jpg

130 kph in the city centre? Quite slow for italy.. ;) But we had to slow down before hitting the 200! lol :)
http://rapidshare.de/files/16175503/...04_1_.avi.html

A quick visit at the factory and test-track..
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2...05061la.th.jpghttp://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1479/img06054yt.th.jpghttp://img462.imageshack.us/img462/2...06184ub.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7...06080nb.th.jpg

..and I then drove to Sant Agata. The doors at the factory were open and I could easily walk in and take pics. I wasn't allowed to, but they told me that when I already got a bunch of pictures. ;) But I ran out of menory and had to delete those great picture (Miura, Counach, everything inside the factory, because I saw this one coming by and started to chase it.
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/8...04825aa.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4...04700iu.th.jpg

Sant Agata is a really tiny village, tiiiiiny. Many houses look like ruins from the world war but all-in-all it's very beautiful.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/84/img04752zt.th.jpghttp://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8431/img04800oj.th.jpg

Next stop: San Cesario, Pagani. Sadly closed on the weekend. But I went there again on sunday and luckily there was a Zonda. :) Only one picture.. that was the only position were I could take a picture.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3206/img04396pi.th.jpghttp://img388.imageshack.us/img388/5...04895xs.th.jpg

The vilage of San Cesario is not worth a mention. Only good thing is that Pagani is located there.
On they way there I saw this Offroad Ferrari :D
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/6...06380vh.th.jpg

In the night between saturday and sunday I was in Modena again and saw this awesome placed Gallardo! :)
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4...06476mz.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8...06552fg.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7...06615tb.th.jpghttp://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1...06674bi.th.jpg

Video of this Galardo driving away: http://rapidshare.de/files/16175319/...68_1_.avi.html

Sunday evening I did a quick visit to Imola before leaving the country. Also an amazing beautiful town!
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8667/img07607wh.th.jpghttp://img52.imageshack.us/img52/7694/img07526lo.th.jpghttp://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8938/img07490ei.th.jpg
..sadly only one car in Imola:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6...07469pn.th.jpg

On the roads between the cities I saw also some nice cars. Here is a small choice:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7050/img04450do.th.jpghttp://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1267/img05003ta.th.jpghttp://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3562/img05809ol.th.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3...06214zl.th.jpghttp://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2...07862go.th.jpghttp://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4...06254cx.th.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3...07630ci.th.jpghttp://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7...08027aw.th.jpghttp://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7...07025mn.th.jpg

Testarossa driving away: http://rapidshare.de/files/16175057/...07_1_.avi.html

And on sunday eveing my weekend-trip was over.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6794/img08424ey.th.jpg http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9397/img08643ug.th.jpg

It was my first and probably last trip to Maranello. It was quite nice, but not as good as I expected it would be. Definately not worth the stress and money I spent for the whole thing.
Other people have to travel to Mekka once in their life, and car-nuts like me have to go to Maranello once in their life - and that's what I did: a once-in-lifetime-trip. Not more.

:drool:! Great pics Dodo, thanx for sharing with us! 599 looks killing :twisted: Non cars pics are very nice too.
Actually Ive dlded all of pics so I know where to go when Ill be there :)

One of the dreams to accomplish :P

Dodo!!! You're back with your awesome topics !!! I love you man !!! ( I'm not gay !! :roll: )

I would love to do a trip like this.... maybe someday! 8)

The white pearl 575 is gorgeous :drool: The Miura SV is absolutely stunning :drool:
As far as I remember, those are the first 599 GTB in this section.... they're not costumers cars ( I think ) but, still, street sights !! :o Thanks for the effort on the red one :mrgreen:

Too bad Pagani factory was closed :?

Thanks a lot for the report, and don't forget: I'm waiting for your Nurburgring reports :mrgreen: :P

yep.. this weekend i'll go there the first time im 2006! ;) if it's not snowing.. :?
..and currentley there is a lot of snow

That Testarossa is a lowd-ass :twisted: Thanx very nice vid as 430 chase :) What was you driving?

Well, big thumbs up to you! You are a brave hunter David, not scared to travel far to get some pictures :good: I respect you ;) You didn't really get many cars, but it's still pretty much winter, you should also consider this ;) and well, picture quality wise you did a great job!

Now, if you have a fav picture to use for the next contest...

thanks dodo! the first pics i've seen of the 599 gtb on the street (in pre-prod form it looks) it really has some great presence about it.

it might be me... but the perspective on some of the pictures looks squished... mabey its just the angle from in the car.... still some very nice sightings; even if its just a "few" ferraris... its still quite nice; and more ferraris then most see in a few days (i haven't yet seen one on the road this year).

looking forward to the next round of NS sightings :)

an.. one of the trips I have planned before I die.. Thanks for sharing .. great pics!

And I agree. the 599 is good looking from certain angles.

beautiful trip you had dodo :D

I love the white pearl GTB, those country side shots are nice too! great bunch of ferraris :love: , one miura :drool: and zonda :love: :drool: and wtf is that GTO? what a spaghetti ricer :x

thanx for the report, I should think about a trip like this :hmm: :D

Great trip, thanks for the report! :D

Definately some stunning sightings, seems like a worthwhile effort IMO.....need to do it oneday. You guys in Europe are so lucky that you can do a trip like this over a weekend, for me it would be more than a week at least to do something like this (and alot more $$$$). :bah:

Superamerica. ;)

bravo !!
nice report...
my fav pic :
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1...04032pk.th.jpg

dingo :arrow: oh yes, slap my mouth :oops: :mrgreen:

I was looking at SA and was writing GTB :roll: lol

I've seen SuperAmerica in both versions - LHD and RHD 8) :fuck: :lol:

Nice pics Dodo .. Sad that some of the places were closed on you. But there were some great sightings there!!! 8)

very nice trip and a bit luckily ! :mrgreen:

DAMN!!!! Great pictures! :D

Your new 599 GTB pics are all over the net already! Congrats for the accomplishment :wink: