Ferrari V12 Engine

The production of the famous Ferrari V12 motor as used in the 612 Scaglietti:

Scuderia Ferrari Racing News n. 6 (English version)

News from Ferrari ahead of the start of the 2011 Formula 1 season.

Ducati Desmosedici vs Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Here's an earlier test between the Desmosedici RR and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. Different bikes and cars but the result is much like the post below. When it comes to who wins does it REALLY matter? Either two or four wheels these vehicles are truly special.

Rainy February and the MCN Video Review of the Ducati 1098R

Outdoor fun has been fleeting during the month of February... plenty of rain and the flu had me down and out. The Ferrari finally got on the road after basically being in storage for the last three months. Besides a perfect Sunday drive out to Malibu in the F355 on 10 February

Amanda's birthday drive in the F355 on the best Sunday in February

and a motorcycle ride down to Lake Elsinore and over Ortega Highway to the Orange County coastline on the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, I haven't gotten out much. The MINI's oil pressure gauge is acting up again so I might need to head over to Steve's Auto Clinic to have that issue sorted out. We'll see. I still need to get the Nurburgring sticker on the car!

I came across Britain's MCN (Motorcycle News) Magazine's video review about the Ducati 1098R. What a bike! Truly an awesome machine and backs up my conclusions about the beast.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Video courtesy of MCN

Finally, today is Academy Awards day a couple of miles from my place. But back in the summer of 2006 I headed to Hollywood Boulevard to see the stars of MotoGP and the awesome Ducati race bike strut its stuff in front of the Kodak Theater. Here is a picture of that day that shows future world champion Nicky Hayden riding his Honda on the boulevard. Down the line (just past the outstretched hands and wearing sunglasses) you might find a familiar face (mine!) enjoying the event. I had returned from Italy and the Italian Grand Prix a month earlier and it was interesting to see the racebikes on the streets of L.A. instead of the rolling hills of Tuscany!

Nicky Hayden (not on his MotoGP bike) on Hollywood Boulevard

Picture from MotoGP.com, the official website of the MotoGP World Championship

Ferrari are World Champions!

I know that this is old news now but on the heels of Ducati's triumph in MotoGP, Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen managed to reel in the manufacturer's and driver's trophies in Formula 1.

What a good year to be a fan of the Scuderia Ferrari and the bikes from Borgo Panigale!

Molto Bene!

The Best of France and Italy

Another great event that took place on November 4th was the "Best of France and Italy" car show. After the Hansen Dam ride my friend Dodi and I rode our bikes over to the car show to peruse the beautiful vehicles on display. Of course my love of Italian machinery runs deep and there were all kinds of gorgeous cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. To tell you the truth I was more taken by the very rare (for the North American continent) French vehicles on display. So much so that I realized that I didn't have a single photo of an Italian car. If you would like more information on this event check out the official website: Best of France and Italy .

I might show a bike or car next year...

Anyway here are a few pictures from the show:

F430 Scuderia

Ferrari unveiled the F430 Scuderia at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show. The successor to the 360 Challenge Stradale and the pinnacle of th V8 Ferrari where less (weight, mass, spartan ergonomics) is truly more, the F430 Scuderia sure sounds impressive in this video from Road & Track Magazine. Although I prefer the standard F430 from an aesthetic viewpoint I still like the F430 S... but those stripes need to be WHITE and the wheels need to be polished.

For a video of the car in action click here: Road & Track Behind the Wheel of the F430 Scuderia

Photo and video courtesy of Road & Track Magazine

Ferrari Challenge, California Speedway, Fontana California

F430 Challenge Car on track

Interview with a local newspaper reporter after returning from the lapping session on-track

The F355 Spider in good company

Today I had the opportunity to drive yet another racetrack... my third racecourse this summer. First was Zandvoort in the Netherlands, then the Nuerburgring in Germany, and today was the California Speedway east of Los Angeles. Jennifer also decided to join me for the day's events.

Ferrari had its annual Southern California round of the Ferrari Challenge, a race series for Ferrari F430 V8 cars. Supporting categories showcased the classic Ferrari racecars from earlier eras.

While at the track I had the chance to drive our F355 Spider for several laps with other Ferrari owners and enthusiasts. The event was a treat and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.

Although my focus was on the Cavallino Rampante and all things Ferrari today, I couldn't help but notice that there were several MINIs in the parking lot as well!

Sights and Sounds and an in-car lap during the Ferrari Challenge at the California Speedway

Superbikes, Supercars, and On to the Alps

JCW MCS at the famous entrance to the Ferrari Factory

Video Impressions of northern Italy

Today we completed our visit to Italy by visiting the Emilia-Romagna region. This area is pretty dear to me as it is the home of Italian automotive engineering art: Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, and Ducati. The food isn't bad either as the region has given the world such Italian staples as prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan Cheese, ravioli, and more.

Jennifer with our Ducati factory tour guide Natascia

The day began with a tour of the Ducati factory at Borgo Panigale, Bologna. This is my third visit to the factory and Jennifer's first. She was quite excited to see bikes being built and learned quite a bit.

With the original Paul Smart 1972 race bike. Scroll down the blog to see my modern interpretation of this bike.

My MINI does wear a Ducati logo. Here we are parked near the factory.

With a Ducati Factory worker's MINI

Autovanti BMW/MINI in Bologna

I stopped by Autovanti BMW/MINI in Bologna to have a diagnostic test carried out because my "Service Engine Soon" light has come on again. No fault codes were present and that gave me comfort as I had a drive through the Alps ahead. Autovanti did not charge me for the diagnostic test and even gave me a printout (in Italian). Nice dealership.

From Borgo Panigale we drove up the A1 to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. Driving around supercar alley is always a treat and we did spot several new Ferraris being road-tested. Cars were being tested at the Fiorano test track as well.

At the Fiorano Test Track Gate

One big highlight of the day was that our car managed to turn the heads of supercar weary Ferrari factory workers. Another memorable moment from this trip!

After Ferrari we drove up towards Verona and on into the Alps, crossing the Brenner Pass and passing through Innsbruck and on to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the musical "The Sound of Music."

More to come!

Sundown in the Austrian Alps

Two Wonderful Cars Side By Side

At the Ferrari Service Clinic

Our 355 Spider up on the lift undergoing a 27 point inspection. The car has a clean bill of health. Only a rubber drive axle boot is starting to crack which will allow grease to seep through. It'll be fixed at the next service. Other than that all is good in Ferrari land.

Ferrari Beverly Hills Service Clinic

Picture: Our 1997 355 Spider on the dyno at a 2005 MINI Dyno Day event. Suffice it to say that it made a few more HP than the JCW 210.

This weekend Ferrari Beverly Hills is hosting a service clinic in conjunction with Ferrari North America. A new Quattroporte automatic will be on hand for test drives and I'm sure I'll take advantage! :) A good time for a check-up for our car and it needs to have its bi-annual emissions certification SMOG check. Shouldn't be a problem even with the lovely Tubi exhaust system on the 355.