THE DRIVER
The Freccia Rossa train stops in Reggio Emilia, Sant' Agata Bolognese, Maranello.
Mediopadana train station in Reggio Emilia: the first stop of this day as a driver and guide, for this full immersion in my beloved land. And it’s here that I meet Angelo for the first time. I’m parking my Alfetta and head towards the arrivals platform, but I’m getting a message telling me: “I'm already here by your car!”
By the time I’m back he had already taken a couple of dozens of shots of the GTV, and I immediately understand that I'm dealing with a sharp guy!
With Angelo on board we leave for Sant'Agata Bolognese to meet Weedix, an automotive journalist from the Chinese branch of the well-known CAR magazine, invited by Lamborghini for the global presentation of its latest supercar - the Revuelto.
Weedix shows up with the black leather jacket, black sunglasses, and still fresh platinum blonde hair! He looks more like a manga character than a stiffed up journalist. A great fan of vintage sportscars though, to the point of renting a driver and a 1977 Gran Turismo Veloce for this "Motor Valley Vintage Tour". I have to let him get in the back because Angelo is the tallest Chinese guy I know, and we leave for Maranello.
For lunch I had already thought of the typical Osteria Emiliana, with tortellini, tagliatelle with meat sauce, Lambrusco and 2 tigelle on the side. After lunch we leave for our main destination of the day, which is Maranello... but in Bazzano Emilia we have already made our first stop. The Via Emilia itself is a spectacle,and passing in front of a typical old school garage, with a front yard full of truly cool motorbikes and cars, noticing the appreciation of my companions, I’m making a 180 u-turn in the middle of the road, among the first screams of irrepressible enthusiasm of the day, stepping over the threshold of my friend BR MotoArt. In this packed garage shop of vintage signs, and anything with an engine my companions will have taken 200 to 300 photos in just a couple of minutes. Well done.
The red arrow leaves again and arrives in Maranello in an instant. I'll bring the kids right away in the "dream factory": the historic Ferrari SPA headquarters & factory in via Abetone Inferiore, a classic photospot.
It's impossible for me, even if I was born here, not to notice the constant procession, perpetual, respectful and devoted flow of of people arriving from all over the world, with light in their eyes, driven here to Maranello by a passion that cannot be described, but can only be understood by coming here.
In a strategic position, just 300 meters away from the wonderful Ferrari Store located in the center of Maranello, I’m introducing the boys to one of the key visits of the day: Toni Auto. Mr.Toni Senior himself is there, welcoming us inside. Entering the workshop at Toni Auto in Maranello is like entering a sacred place, where every centimeter, from the clinker floor, to the walls chock-full of trophies, models, photo books, workshop manuals, everything here takes you on a journey in time, thanks to some of the most iconic cars created by that great genius named “Il Drake”. It is precisely thanks to a handshake with Enzo Ferrari that his grandfather Franco began his work in this garage, after having worked for 20 years in the Maranello racing department. And with Drake's handshake approval it becomes THE workshop, at just 300 meters from the factory gates to repair all used Ferraris.
Today it’s the nephews Andrea and Davide who, thanks to that handshake, still carry on the workshop with the same inexhaustible passion as their father Silvano and grandfather Franco. Entering the "engine room" I realize that this is the true beating heart of this workshop, in fact, here we are kindly asked not to take any photos. My eyes can’t take enough of the shelves full of engine blocks and heads, carburettors, overhauled or restored, all labeled and ready to be mounted on these mechanical jewels that bear the Cavallino as their symbol.
This is where the knowledge, technical competence and experience of the most specialized mechanics are needed, as only they are capable of repairing and restoring from A to Z the most beautiful Ferraris. And here they know how to do it, because here in this workshop they still have a direct and intimate relationhip with the Cavallino.
With a glorious 512 BB parked outside, in the afternoon light, the shutters of the two cameras started shooting like two machine guns. Excited, we thank and greet Mr. Toni for this unique visit. I’m checking my watch, it's already 6PM. But I still have another Joker! Another personal acquaintance, off the motoring tourists’ beaten track. Claudio from Auto Elite.
He is in Fiorano Modenese, where my father was born. One minute in the GTV and we're there. They recognise me, telling me to go ahead, as Claudio is over there somewhere among the cars...
We slalom between Massimo Bottura's Pantera de Tomaso and a Ferrari 250 prepped for 1000 Miglia, I see Claudio in one of the sheds where mainly classic sports Ferraris are kept, whose lucky owners from all over Europe and the world bring them here, where they are prepared and tested to face and win the most beautiful competitive races in the world, from 12 Hours of Spa, to Le Mans Classic or Monte Carlo Historique and up to the Mille Miglia.
The real strength of Auto Elite is the 24-hour assistance service with a legendary service van closely standing by from the start to the finish of the race, with specialized racing mechanics capable of repairing the cars, and making sure the racing car can only break down after crossing the finish line.
Claudio gives us a unique and unexpected welcome, firing up a monstrous Cobra Shelby GT to also bring home some audio/video content, and to make sure we don't miss anything he gives each of us a book, the 25th anniversary of the “Menu dei Motori”, practically “the Gospel” of the Motor Valley. Petrol never runs out here and I would never leave, but it's 7PM and the hands of th clock are running...
We say goodbye to Claudio, take a farewell photo, Angelo & Weddix went crazy for this visit and I’m so happy!
It would be the perfect time for a nice aperitif, half an hour until sunset, I ask the boys if they want to take the road where the Ferraris were tested, the legendary Maranello - Serramazzoni… What a question!
I wanted to finally drive, so I put on my gloves, and at the wheel of the GTV it’s just so easy to show off some of my driving skills,
Between photos, short films, laughter and euphoric screams, inside the cockpit of a Scoppiettante GTV that made this day unique, which I wish would never end, the special stage ends in the small square at the Maranello café, where the well-deserved aperitif arrives, and where I become more and more in tune with these two guys, who have exactly the same passion as I do, which has no boundaries, and I realize the privilege I have in being born right here, where all this passion had its origins.
The perfect job doesn't exist?
Today I feel like I haven't worked even for a second.
Photos courtesy of Angelo Starla Zhang.
