New User, Planning Visit to Monza & Maranello

[sun-zoom-spark]

Hi there

I have been lurking the site for the last few days as I have been reading the wonderful guides in the forum on planning a trip to the Monza GP/Planning a trip to Maranello. I decided I had best make the plunge, join the forum, introduce myself and ask for some opinions on the trip I am planning.

About Me:
I am from Scotland. I have been a huge F1 fan since around the '94 season and have been a huge car nut since even before that! I have always had a huge passion for Ferrari. It appears as though I am in good company here anyway!

I am also a keen motorcyclist. It goes without saying that I am a big Valentino Rossi and Marco Simoncelli fan.

If only I were Italian, eh!

My Trip:
The trip I am planning is a birthday gift for my father (who is also a huge Ferrari and Valentino Rossi fan). It will also really be a huge treat for me (I'm going with him).

I plan for us to go to Milan, Monza, Bologna, Modena, Maranello, Imola, Misano, Tavullia and Coriano in September 2013. We will be taking in the Italian F1 GP and the San Marino MotoGP race. We will also be making visits to Ducati, Ferrari, Imola (really just the Senna memorial, to pay tribute to the great man). I intend for us to hire a Ducati at some point and take test drives in Ferraris.

As I said above, I really appreciate the time and effort that users on here ("Ste" and "Asphalt_World" in particular) have put into their respective "guide" threads. Hopefully I can add some experience to that after I have been and can give some tips to others who will plan a similar trip in future.

We have been to Monza before for the Italian GP (back in '09) but didn't really go all out. I intend for us to do so this time though!

Help!
The aspect of my trip that I am planning at the moment is the Ferrari test drive. What better place to ask for some opinions than here?

I have two options:
1. A track driving experience for each of us in an F430 Challenge, at Autodromo di Modena. You get 1 lap being driven by an instructor, followed by 4 laps driving the car yourself
2. Taking a 1hr test drive in the mountains by Maranello, with pushstart.it. There will be two cars (probably a F458 Italia and an F430 Scuderia) and we will each get to take 30 minutes in each car (we will essentially swap cars at the half way point).

Quite a dilemma.

I am really looking for some opinions from fellow Ferrari enthusiasts here. If anyone has any experience of either activity then I would be especially grateful for any advice or opinions you can give me.

F430 On track:
The thought of getting to drive a F430 Challenge on a track, with no speed limit, is obviously appealing. The drawbacks of this are that the experience will be very short and I could arrange to do similar experiences in the UK at a lower cost (making it a slightly less exclusive experience).

F458/F430 Road Driving:
Taking an on the road test drive is obviously also appealing. It will last for much longer, we will get to drive two Ferraris and we will be driving in the hallowed roads around Ferrari's true hometown. The drawbacks are pretty obvious: speed limits, Police, other cars/people!

The price of the two options is comparable. I just can't choose between the two.

As I said above, any opinions and/or previous experience would be very gratefully received!

[fratelliferrari]

Welcome to the forum! Iam sure your father will love that birthday present LOL! Iam already very excited to hear your experiences after you have completed the journey!

[Tobes]

Welcome...

That's quite a dilemma...

If it were me i'd go for the track option, but i'd take tracktime every day, a 430 Challenge Stradale and an empty track, for four laps... Seriously...
I know it's a bit of an old car now, and the 458 would have some serious appeal, but the F430 CS is some serious kit, I appreciate it will be over quicker, but i'm guessing that's you in your avatar and hence you wouldn't be adverse to giving it some proper beans and what a four laps it could be...
I appreciate you could do it here, but Knockhill isn't Modena... Definately the track option... I want a go now.... :-)

How are you going...? Road trip...?

[sun-zoom-spark]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

It would be amazing to do a proper road trip by motorbike, or even car, but we are flying in to Milan and back from Bologna.

That is me in my sig pic. I'm no hero on a motorcycle but I've yet to experience anything on four wheels which can compare. Pretty sure either a 430 Challenge or 458 Italia would surpass just about any experience on a production motorbike though.

I must admit I'm leaning towards the 430 track driving experience. Being let loose in a lightweight race prepped Ferrari, with carbon ceramic brakes, isn't something to be passed up! The cost per minute is the only worrying factor.

Like you say, Autodromo di Modena is a bit different from Knockhill. They don't even have 430's yet at Knockhill, let alone the Challenge or Scuderia versions. They're still on the 360 road car (which I'm sure is still pretty handy).

[fratelliferrari]

I drove a Ferrari 360 and it was fantastic! You can't compare it with any other car! And that was just with a normal 360 so Iam sure a 430 scuderia will be the bomb!

[wisepie]

Welcome to TSN and have to say that your proposed trip is what dreams are made of, although you're already obviously well-versed in what you may be able to do on your visit, much more so than me. I'd go for the track option too, you'll have the chance to drive/ride the roads around Maranello/Modena with any means of transport and the areas you're planning to cover will make you live and breath the Italian passion. I'm not a speed freak but have been a Ferrari supporter since the 60s, as well as a real Italophile and have done similar trips to your planned one over the years in things ranging from a Mini/Uno/500, they were some of the travel highlights I'll never forget, so you can't fail to make it the trip of a lifetime for you and your Dad. Buon viaggio!:-D