Bye bye White F430!

Ready to roll at Oulton Park

The Main Man!!

Chief mechanic & Chief Groupie       (Paul Witts & Phill Grimshaw)

Driver and chief mechanic (Paul Witts)

The Mondial - raring to go!

We are preparing the Mondial to race in the Ferrari Owners' Club Classic Ferrari Race Series in 2010.

18 months on - still looking as stunning as ever! (Sept 07)

Pretty as a picture - at this years' FOC Concours! (Sept 07)

AWESOME view!! (Sept 07)

550 Maranello.

THOSE OF YOU WHO KNEW MY 355C WILL BE SAD TO LEARN THAT I HAVE SOLD IT AND REPLACED IT WITH THIS NEW MONSTER - MY 360 MODENA!  PURCHASED FROM DICK LOVETT (SWINDON) ON 10TH SEPTEMBER 2003!

The Easter Italian Job started off from something I have always wanted to do, ever since 1989 when I brought my first Ferrrari.  I have had several opportunities to go to the factory, but only by flying – I really wanted to drive there and take one of my cars ‘back to its roots’.  When I brought my 512TR from Meridien at Lyndhurst, last Easter, I promised myself it was the perfect car to drive down to the factory and I promised my self I would accomplish this in 2003.  Talking to a few Ferrari friends who also wanted to visit the factory, the idea hatched prior to Christmas 2002.  With a lot of help from Wayne at Meridien Ferrari at Lyndhurst, he managed to secure a date for our visit so that it would co inside with the San Marino Grand Prix.  Wayne and Meridien were more than helpful making the arrangements for us, and for this we thank them.

Once the factory and the Grand Prix were secure, we then needed a full Itinerary, because the trip was going to be over 10 days.  I contacted Nick Brimblecombe of The Grand Touring Club, who, between us, came up with a full programme, including mini bus for transport to the dinners (because we don’t drink and drive) and to the Grand Prix (so our cars would be safely locked up in the Hotel), and English speaking guide for our museum visits.

So after all this planning and fine tuning, Sunday 13th April 2003 finally arrived.   4 Ferraris left my home in Collingbourne Ducis at 5am, they were Ray & Gill Ferguson (512TR), Barry & Jane Walker (355 Spyder), Brian & Greg Pearce (355 Berlinetta) and Martyn & Hayley Wyatt (348 Mondial).  We picked up Colin & Vera Cook (348TS) at Ludgershall, Graham & Eileen Dann (360) at Basingstoke, and we met up with Roy & Margaret Dowman (355GTS) at Dover.  Quite by chance, all the cars were different, but were all the same ‘ROSSO RED’.  We boarded the boat (we had priority parking at a little extra cost – but you get a little extra room around your car, and a glass of champagne in the Club Lounge – which altogether, proved to make the crossing a more pleasant experience).  We arrived at Calais, topped the cars up with petrol at the first services, and we were off for our Ferrari Dream.

The first night we stayed at Troyes, France, having difficulty finding a hotel – a French gendarme tried to pull me over going through the town, and to his astonishment, six other red Ferraris pulled in behind!  We certainly confused him and stopped the traffic.  I explained to him that we were trying to find a hotel, with great difficulty (in my best French – ha, ha) – not understanding too much of it, he decided that his only course of action was to take us to a hotel – so we had a police escort!

Onward the next day, as we got closer and closer to Italy and the border, we came across some fantastic scenery and tunnels, driving through the Alps.  Of course, being boys with their toys, the tunnels were taken in a fairly low gear, in order to make the maximum amount of noise off of the tunnel walls.  7 Ferraris doing this together – you can imagine, this was total heaven!  We had lunch in the Alps and then headed on to our second night stop at Rivolli, near Turin.  Once again, driving through Rivolli, not having much success finding a hotel, we chanced across an Ambulance driver in a garage, who spoke really good English, who after being bribed, by myself (with sitting in my 512TR and having his photos taken with himself and his friends) he agreed to guide us to our hotel.  We were greeted by the owner of the hotel with gusto when he saw 7 Ferraris coming up his drive.  He turned out some of the cars already in his garage, so that we could all park our cars near the hotel entrance and undercover. 

Onward, Tuesday to Maranello.  We arrived at Maranello, full of anticipation, not worried about the hotel, we wanted to find the factory, because that is why we were there!  Having found the factory, the Fiorano Test Track and parked the cars, we enjoyed a glass of Ferrari Champagne to celebrate our arrival.  We caused quite a stir in Maranello as a lot of the students, etc., were on holiday, and they were really excited about seeing 7 English Ferraris all together in their town.  We saw our first Enzo at this time, coming out of the Ferrari gates and heading towards the Fiorano Test Track – not a sight to be forgotten. 

Wednesday – we visited the Maserati factory – there has been huge investment there.  Most of the production line equipment is brand new.  They were trying, very successfully, to stop us seeing the new 4 door Maserati – although we did get a glimpse of a blue one, very briefly.  They really made us most welcome and it was certainly a taster for our Ferrari Factory visit.  We then went onto the Stanguellini Museum, who was a maker of Italian Sports Cars, around the time Enzo Ferrari started out.  We had lunch in Modena and then on to the Righini Collection, which was a beautiful castle style museum, which houses some priceless Ferraris.  One of which, was the first Ferrari made by Enzo, but was badged ‘Auto Avio 815’ – the sole survivor of the two cars built by Enzo Ferrari before he was allowed to build cars under his own name.   We also saw an ex-Nuvolari Alfa 8C 2300 Monza and a vast array of important other cars and motorbikes.  Dinner that evening was at The Ristorante Green Village - a well known meeting place for Sports and Racing Car enthusiasts

Thursday – the main event – the big day arrives – THE FACTORY VISIT!  Those of you who have been to the factory, will appreciate that parking is at a premium, but the whole point of the visit was to drive our cars to the factory.  So, at two minutes to ten, we arrived at the factory gates, drove in, caused mayhem at the traffic lights because there were 5 cars in the road, and we were hastily parked at the front of the factory, by security guards, which is exactly where we wanted to be!  After plenty of pictures being taken, and pinching ourselves to make sure it wasn’t a dream – we were ushered into the Foyer and given visitors passes and then onto the Factory Tour, where we saw the 360’s being made, possibly the last 456 and the Enzos!  We followed the system from start to finish, where the engines were built and tested, where the leather was applied to the dashboards and seats etc., right up to where they drive the cars out of the factory ready for testing.  Tony Willis from Ferrari UK joined us for the visit and helped to explain some of the finer points.  It was really nice of him to take the time to join us for the Tour.  There was just so much to see – I couldn’t possibly write is all down – but the Factory is absolutely spectacular – if you ever get the chance to go I would thoroughly recommend it.

After the tour we received our Ferrari Factory Passport, which we will treasure forever, I am sure.  We then had lunch at the Cavallino Restaurant, where we were joined by Tony Willis for lunch and it was another experience we will never forget, actually eating in a restaurant where Enzo used to eat!  Some of us brought some Cavallino plates to commemorate our visit.  I suppose they sell these to discourage people from helping themselves to souvenirs.  Then it was on to visit the Galleria Ferrari, which is the Ferrari museum full of interesting cars, Formula One and Road, and has Enzo’s office displayed.  Then off we went to look at the local Ferrari memorabilia and clothes shops – of which there are numerous.

In the evening we visited the Panini Collection, which is housed and is funded by a Parmesan Cheese Farm, where we saw a fantastic array of cars and motorcycles, we also had a tour of the Parmesan Cheese Farm – the cheese has to be stored for a minimum of 2 years before it can be sold.  There is only one outlet for this particular top grade Parmesan in London, the rest is sent all over the world.  We then went on to have dinner in Ristorante Montana, beside the famous Fiorano Test Circuit.  This is a well known meeting point for the racing team, and Ferrari drivers old and new.  It is allegedly Michael Schumacher’s favourite watering hole when he is in town.

Friday we had a free day – so we had a drive up into the mountains and just generally hung around Maranello, waiting to follow an Enzo around the Test Track.  Eventually, we came across one coming out of the Factory gates, and obviously the test driver decided to play with us – he tried to lose us in the traffic a couple of times, unsuccessfully, then when we got to the Autostrasa he was off like a scolded cat.  Myself in my 512TR and Brian and Greg in their 355 managed to keep with him, to twice our English speed limit, plus a bit!  He then planted his foot on the floor and was gone like an skud missile.  It is an experience none of us will forget, including my wife, Gill who was the passenger in my car!

Saturday, we left the cars at the hotel, and went to the San Marino Grand Prix practice.  We saw the Ferraris qualify 1st and 3rd.  We were full of anticipation for the race the following day.  In the evening we had dinner at Luciano Pavarotti’s Restaurant – he is one of Modena’s most famous sons, and has established this restaurant by his own race course, and is currently building himself a new villa next door to the restaurant.  The food, the service, everything, was fantastic.  We didn’t actually get to see Pavarotti though

Sunday – Race Day!  We watched the race from Rivazza, on the grass banking with the Tifosi, which is also another exciting experience we wanted to savour.  Everybody dressed in red, including us – with flags – it is something we will never forget.  Michael doing the business was the icing on the cake, if it hadn’t been for a poor pit-stop – it would have been 1st and 2nd, I am sure. The Tifosi went mad, invading the circuit, including some of the more energetic of our party (Barry, Martyn, Greg & Brian)!

Monday – checked out of the hotel for our long drive back to England.  Not quite so exciting going back!  We had had a brilliant time – and all good things have to come to an end.  We stayed at Macon for the first leg back, after driving the tunnels and Alps again, the opposite way. 

Tuesday – we headed to Epernay, near Reims, where we had a visit to Herbert Beaufort’s Champagne House – where we received a great welcome – 7 Ferraris parked adjacent to his vineyard.  We got the full tour, right down into the cellars, and we were shown how, over the years (they have been making champagne there since 1860), the different methods, up to the present day.  We were then able to taste different champagnes and wines, and buy some to bring back to England (if we had any room – as we all know there is not a lot of room in a Ferrari for luxuries, if you have been away for 10 days!).

Wednesday – we boarded the boat in Calais at lunchtime – enjoyed a Club Class lunch, and bumped into Joan Collins, who was travelling back from the South of France.  I managed to get a photograph of Brian with Joan, as apparently he has been a lifelong fan, having missed none of the Dynasty and Colby episodes!

Looking back – we had taken 7 Ferraris down to Italy and back, inclusive mileage while we were there was 2,500 miles x 7 = 17,500 miles – none of the cars even missed a beat!  So what a good advert for modern day Ferraris.

We said our goodbyes and headed back on the M25 – back to our respective homes – to reflect on the Trip of a Lifetime!

I would like to thank all the members of the ‘Easter Italian Job’, for making the trip so special, and for presenting Gill and myself with a gift of a silver Prancing Horse.  Once again, I’d also like to express my thanks for the help we received from Meridien Ferrari, Lyndhurst (Wayne), Ferrari UK (Tony Willis) and The Grand Touring Club (Nick).

My name’s Ray Ferguson and I’m a 50 (ish) year old builder.  My dream was always to have a Ferrari, right from a boy.  In 1989, by selling my Porsche, borrowing the VAT and Tax money from my business and some of the house-keeping from my wife, I managed to buy my Ferrari 348GTS – RAY 348.  I joined the Ferrari Owners’ Club in 1989 and competed in the Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours in 1990, not knowing anything about Concours Competitions.  The car was virtually brand new, 700 miles on the clock, and I came 5th our of 6 cars – beaten by 3 x F40’s, another 348 and a Mondial (the other F40 was 6th)!  The following year I started preparing the car 2 months earlier, intending to do better than the previous year, and came 1st in class and retired, undefeated, for a couple of years.

I started doing track days in my 348, got addicted and wanted to race, so I brought a 308GT4 - RWC308, in the middle 1995.  I competed in the last few races of 1995 in the Ferrari Maranello Challenge.  I competed in the whole 1996 season of the Ferrari Maranello Challenge, I was never at the front, due to the car being not as competitive as the rest, but it was always very enjoyable, and spurred me on to get a better car.

In the meantime I brought a 328GTB, which had 2,000 miles on the clock, it was the last right hand drive GTB imported into this country, registration number A1 GTB.  I kept this for 3 years, during which time I successfully competed in numerous Autoglym Concours Championships, Master Car Club Concours, and of course, the Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours.  We had many class wins in all three competitions, and we got to the Grand Final of the Autoglym Championship at the NEC, Birmingham, in 1998.

In 1997 I sold the 308GT4 to a good friend and fellow FOC member, Gordon Hackshaw, who has still got it to this day.  With the proceeds, I was able to buy a 348 Challenge Car, which I raced in the Ferrari Maranello Challenge and Auto Italia Series for a complete season.  Again, I was never at the front, but always in the middle of the pack, thoroughly enjoying myself.  Never having too many problems with the car and not much damage, but always supporting a big smile!
 
In 1998 I did 3 races in the 348 Challenge Car, in the 1st race  we had a major problem with the gearbox (EXPENSIVE!) and in the 3rd race the engine blew up at Brands Hatch (VERY EXPENSIVE!!).  I had the car repaired, raced it at Snetterton after that and was made an offer by Paul Spackman, from London, to buy it, and he has since raced it in the Ferrari Maranello Challenge.  He crashed it at Donington this year, causing extensive damage, I’m not sure if it is being repaired or non-economic to repair.

Just prior to selling the 348 Challenge, I brought a left hand drive, 348GTB – RAY 813, road-car from Germany.  We modified it, roll cage, seats etc., to race in Production Class of the Auto Italia Championship, which is for all Italian Cars, which I won in 1998.

In 1999, we didn’t race due to the expense of the two cars in 1998!  We decided to concentrate on Concours and Track Days.  I had RAY 813 (348 GTB) totally stripped and repainted – yellow, thus repairing all the knocks and scrapes it had incurred during 1998 – it now looked beautiful (as you can see from the pictures)!

In 2000 we competed in the Autoglym Concours with RAY348 (348GTS), and won our Class at Bromley Pageant, which got us through to the final, this time with a different car, at the NEC, Birmingham, where we got a Class Win, but unfortunately not Car of the Show, which is the ultimate.

The Year 2000 also saw the departure of the 328GTB and the arrival of a right hand drive, 1987, 355 Challenge Car, which was brought from Ian Hetherington, via Martin Shaw Specialised Cars.  The car was also road-registered by Martin Shaw and it is 1 of only 9 right hand drive 355 Challenge Cars.  The car has done 3,000 miles and only competed in 4 races.  I had the paintwork – stone-chips etc, part re-painted by Haslams of Manchester, and major service and extra ‘goodies’ which I wanted fitted, by R&D Automotive of Manchester.  The car has not yet been raced by me, because to be honest, it is in too nice a condition and I don’t want to damage it.  We have been to track days at Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome, Silverstone, Le Mans and Spa Ferrari days in April 2001. 

The 348GTS has had extensive Concours preparation done over the winter of 2000, to the suspension and underside, as we are in the Champions Class at the Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours in July 2001 and it would be ever so, ever so nice, to win the Champions Class, and we can only dream about winning Car of the Show – but who knows!  We can but give it our best shot.  We are once again competing in the Autoglym Concours’, hopefully getting to the final at the NEC, Birmingham, and bettering last years Class win.

 2001 arrived, and the 348GTS was in the best condition it had ever been.  In June 2001 we entered the Bromley Pageant round of the Autoglym Concours and won our Class and Car of the Show – this gave us our entry to the final at the NEC, Birmingham, in November, where we again won our class.

July 2001 came, and with it the Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours, in which we were in the Champions Class, a class full of class winners from the year before, so competition was of a high standard!  So to hear my name called out as winner of the class was something of a surprise – a wonderful surprise, only to be bettered by the sound of my name being called as winner of The Car of the Show – an achievement I have been trying to attain since first taking part in the Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours back in 1989 – it really was ‘a dream come true!’

Easter 2002 saw the arrival of the newest edition to the family, a beautiful Red 512TR, brought from Meridien Modena at Lyndhurst – Ferrari Main Dealer.  It came with 8,000 miles on the clock in beautiful condition, with only 1 previous owner.  Since then I have done 1,000 miles in it and it is fantastic – as you can see in the pictures.

My wife, Gill, and I used to organise the Wessex Area Group of the Ferrari Owners’ Club, back in the early 1990’s for 4 years.  We had to give it up due to racing, Concours, and everything mentioned above.  In 2000 we were asked to take it back on, and with the help of our committee of members, the Wessex Area Group is going from strength to strength..  Thank you everybody, from Gill and myself, (a) for being a Wessex Member and (b) for bringing your Ferraris and supporting us, and thanks to everyone who helps us run the group.