Tuscany/Emiglia Romagna Events

[50/50]

Greetings:
I will be touring through the region 24/10-11/1/09. Are there any 356/911
events taking place or shops to visit?
Grazie,
Lawrence

[John Z Goriup]

As John McEnroe so often asked puzzled and shocked linesmen after what he considered a bad call: "you CANNOT be serious".

You will be in the heart of Italian sportscar country, both from a standpoint of where they are built, as well as amidst the greatest driving roads South of the Alps with a certain manufacturer of famous red cars right there in Maranello, their museum down the street ( closed Mondays), the Fiorano test track two blocks further down the street, and the Cavallino Ristorante across the street........and you wanna visit 356 / 911 shops.

Then there are all the famous Ferrai restoration shops in the area, maybe even pay Lamborghini a visit in Santa Agate a short distance away. If I were you & if there's any interest, I'd be busy contacting Ferrari and Lamborghini to see if I could arrange for a peek inside the factories. (Forget the race shop, they won't even talk to you).

As I said, if there's any interest in things automotive other than Porsche, you will be on hallowed ground indeed, and especially at the time of the year you are planning your journey, I would definitely plan on spending the major part of a day driving the Chianti Road, stop to taste wine and sample some of the most divine food on the planet for all the world. You are visiting a magical area in Italy where the best tartuffi ( Trffels) are found and harvested this time of autumn. I promise you a lunch you'll never, ever forget if you stop at one of the many vinyards ( look for the black rooster symbol ) which will probably be located in a 500-year old palazzo for a plate of fresh pasta & Chianti out on the veranda under an old oak tree and a little Grappa & Espresso after that with your cigar.

To answer your question more directly, NO, there's not a lot of Porsche anything happening in that part of Italy, but you might check the international rally calendar for a possible event that might feature an air-cooled car or two from Stuttgart at the time you're there.

Have a great trip, and please post a photo or two when you return.

JZG

[vipergruen]

Lawrence,
the Emilia region has many interesting places to visit if you are a petrolhead. Most obvious are the factories and their museums, but there's also a network of very high-end restoration specialists. The only thing is that for privacy reasons they are usually not very keen in having people going there to see the cars they are working on.
There's a 356 specialist in Parma which is quite famous http://www.vintagetoys.it/en/index.html

A little private museum that is not widely known but has a few important italian cars (most notably the Auto Avio 815, the first Ferrari) is the Righini collection, I think it's open only by appointment. He has also a wonderfully original ex-Nuvolari Alfa 8c2300 monza. Here's the link http://www.righinimario.it/prima_lastoria.htm

During the period of your visit the classic car scene in Italy is concentrated in Padua, where there's the "auto moto d'epoca", a sort of italian Essen Techno Classica (albeit a smaller one, still the most important in Italy).
Porsche will have an official stand, with the Registro 911&912, Registro 356 and Registro 914 official clubs. I'll be there.
In the event there are usually a lot of Porsches and parts for sale, from privates, dealers and auction houses (COYS).
Here's the link http://www.autoemotodepoca.com/?LID=1

Just for reference, this next week-end there's the Italian Porsche Parade in Riccione http://www.porscheparadeitalia.com/

Ciao
Andrea

[50/50]

John:
I know that I am in the heart of Italian Sports Car Heaven. My maternal kin
folk are in Modena. My 16 yrs of voluntary servitude (alimony) have precluded
the prancing horse from my stable ( Daytona, Lusso,GTB etc) and I am not interested in the new game/boy speed racer stuff, so I am stuck with my S,
Speedster and 993 for now.
Forget about getting in the Ferrari Factory unless you have a little dolce on
order. I did get set up for a visit at the Ducati factory in Bologna.
Of course much time and effort will be devoted to the gustatory delights but
man does not live by panne alone.
Andrea:Grazie for the tip on ;http://www.autoemotodepoca.com. I will definitely be there.
Regards,
Larry