Le Duc on the Road XXVI - Maranello - 'There are two religions in Italy: Catholicism, and Ferrari!'

The second part of this trip was centred upon Italy's real passion: Football (world cup notwithstanding)? the Romans? Good food? An obsession with bad actors doing dodgy accents? - Noooo - I refer of course, to Ferrari.

A massive F1 exhibit, with the history of the best (and worst) of times, and all of the awards won throughout the decades. Truly outstanding!

 There are two museums - one with a theme (music personalities who have owned Ferraris), and one attached to the factory, with a deep historical perspective, and then a factory tour (though you aren't allowed to take pictures during the tower - I can assure you however, that the factory and test track are phenomenal). Also, it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 deg Cent.) heat, with no wind and thankfully, cold beer...

The 'Prancing Horse' statue in Maranello - emblematic of the Ferarri symbol, which has an origin story all its own.

The theme museum with lots of musicians' cars as a theme this week

 

A rapper owned this (uhhh don't ask me who). Kate Bush's car hadn't arrived yet

A model from the swinging 60s

Michael Schmacher's seminal car from the 90s seasons

The Ferrari "Prancing Horse" (Cavallino Rampante) was originally the personal emblem of Italian World War I fighter ace Francesco Baracca. 

After his death, his mother presented the crest to Enzo Ferrari in 1923, suggesting that it would bring him good luck. It certainly did...

Outside the factory museum, an F1 car is trapped in steel tubing, trying to get out ...note this pic for later, when the storm hits...

One of the original 1940s models - very nice

50s racing model which won everything!

The most recent 'Le Mans' racing car - superb!

The entrance to the factory - after this point, there are no pics allowed (despite me spotting a couple of lads breaking the rules :O - clearly Merc employees). The company employs 6,000 people, and seems superbly organised - especially so for a company which essentially makes 'one-offs' - THOROUGHLY enjoyable, and highly recommended.

Remember the F1 vehicle in the pipes...this is what it looked like when the storm hit - yikes!

To end with, jazz musician Miles Davis's car - beautiful.

Now, in the obvious and endless and well-known (!) Tolkien vs Ferrari debate between the 'Prancing Horse' and the 'Prancing Pony', I think the winner is obvious... 

The Prancing Pony...

The Prancing Horse...

The answer Luigi, is obvious...

Le Duc on the Road XXV - Bologna, Prelude to Ferrari...

 Now, who am I to pass up free tickets to the Ferarri museum and factory (La Duchesse Royale, or #1 daughter...works with some influential people it seems).

Medieval towers, one with a dodgy foundation

 Founded by the Etruscans (though built upon an older settlement), and bombed as a German supply depot during the war, Bologne also has distinctive towers from the medieval period. As a prelude to Ferrari museums which would follow the next day, it also has, quite remarkably amazing 'food', which defies description! (sooo good).

 

The boys used to love a night out in Bologna in the 12th century

The main Piazza

The statue of Neptune in the town square...uhhh, from behind.

Superb architecture, populated with shops which actually fit in well with the 'aesthetic'.

Opened in 2001 next to Piazza Maggiore square, the Salla Borsa Library and Palazzo d'Accursio, the historic seat of the city’s government, in one of renaissance buildings.

Superbly evocative architecture - very clean with zero f**kwits

The two medieval towers that remain

So the church was for sale...turning into a pub seemed like a good idea?!?

The architect would be proud...

In the next episode, there may be cars...

Quatre Bras 1815 (with 'Battle Command')

 More 'Battle Command' (Field of Battle's Big Brother) today, with a large Napoleonic battle.

 

 

 First time I have had my 'strangely eclectic' Napoleonic collection engaged with these superlative rules.

It comprises 20mm (Revell, Airfix, Italeri), 25mm (Lamming & Minifigs and some items I simply can no longer identify), and 'Prussian Proxy Plastics' (try saying that when you're drunk) serving as Dutch Belgians, Brunswickers (yes I know), and Nassau today.

The scenario was based on that appearing in the 'Napoleon Returns' supplement for V&B, but as set up time was limited, some is off a bit, in terms of layout.

A superb game, highlighting the card action of BC (knowing what to do with your odd/even. good/bad roll vs the options on the card is absolutely critical), and the seamless nature of being able to fire when you like (albeit having to wait for a fire option to come back up), and being restricted by rolling an odd number on the dice, AND the very close nature of the morale deck as it draws down, where both armies in this case, ran out of morale at the same time.

Many...many French columns...mostly old 1970s Lamming Figures (I think)

 

...As it was, the poor French, having broken the Allied centre, then managed to give away their victory to the Allies, in the last minutes of the  battle 'C'est La Guerre!!!'

Cavalry with nothing to do on the left flank ...'time to find zee action!'

The French attack in the centre

French cavalry comes off worst against Allied squares

Cooke is caught out, flanked and hit by French ambuscade and columns, having still been on the road at exactly the wrong time

'Vive la France!'

French attack - massed - in the centre

Column after columns smacks into the Allies

Musketry foiled French plans on their left however...

Cooke tidies things up in the Allied centre, as much as he can

By game end, with both sides working through their morale decks and handing morale cards to each other - the first side to draw army morale could lose out - the Allied centre is shattered...

...as is the French left...but the French 'blink first'!

 A truly great set of rules - well written with mechanisms that actually work, with opposed rolling on multi sided dice, with efficient systems, instead of finding new ways to use d6 probabilities like most other rules do...buy 'em!