|
Click
the
picture
to
see
the
photo
gallery
of
the
trip!
A
good
friend
of
mine
chose
to
enlist
in
the
United
States
Air
Force,
while
I
chose
to
attend
Colorado
State
University.
Over
the
years
we'd
share
about
our
experiences
and
live
vicariously
through
each
other.
He'd
travel
and
see
the
world;
I'd
sit
through
class
and
experience
all
that
the
college
life
had
to
offer.
A
few
years
ago
he
was
assigned
to
Aviano
Air
Force
Base
just
outside
of
Venice.
Then
and
there
I
decided
I
was
going
to
work
as
hard
as
possible
to
graduate
so
that
I
could
visit
before
he
was
discharged
from
the
Service.
That
dream
became
a
reality
this
March,
2007!
After
graduation
I
began
to
prepare
for
my
trip.
Now,
I
won't
bore
you
with
the
details
of
Venice,
or
Rome...
:)
But
I'd
like
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
about
my
side
trip.
With
my
passion
for
motorcycles,
I
told
my
buddy,
"I'll
visit,
but
we're
going
to
go
to
Ducati!"
We
boarded
a
train
from
Pordenone
outside
of
Venice
and
a
couple
of
hours
later;
we
stepped
into
the
sunshine
of
a
really
cool
city.
Ducati
is
located
in
Bologna,
in
the
Emile
Romagna
region.
This
region
has
two
passions,
food
and
racing!
(My
kind
of
place!)
Not
to
mention
the
affinity
to
great
art,
but
then
again,
I
was
in
Italy!
After
checking
into
the
hotel,
we
caught
a
cab
and
just
said,
"Ducati".
With
a
smile,
the
cab
driver
took
us
to
the
outskirts
of
the
city
to
the
factory.
We
checked
in
at
the
security
gate
and
they
escorted
us
to
a
little
cafeteria
room
where
we
waited
with
the
other
excited
motorcyclists
for
our
tour
guide.
First
stop
was
the
museum.
A
circular
room
with
their
history
in
racing
lined
up
chronologically,
with
little
rooms
off
to
the
side
to
further
tell
the
story.
Everything
from
the
first
"Cucciolo",
to
the
race
bikes
of
Mike
Hailwood
and
Paul
Smart.
The
rare
Supermono,
and
a
special
room
at
the
end
with
three
of
Lori
Capirossi's
race
winning
Desmosedici
GP
Race
bikes.
As
I
approached
that
room,
I
was
blinded
by
a
wall
full
of
shiny
trophies
further
showcasing
the
racing
heritage
of
Ducati.
I
felt
a
little
rushed
only
from
being
overwhelmed,
but
they
soon
escorted
us
downstairs
and
to
the
factory.
They
request
that
you
don't
take
photos
in
the
factory
for
the
sake
of
privacy
of
the
workers
so
from
here
on
out
it's
all
my
written
account...Besides,
I
don't
want
to
fully
spoil
the
experience
since
you'll
be
going
there
anyway!
The
tour
starts
out
in
the
casting
area
where
they
prepare
the
cases
and
cylinders.
All
marked
for
their
final
destination
of
a
2
or
4
valve
completed
machine.
You
wander
among
workers
to
another
room
where
they
begin
to
press
the
bearings
and
put
the
motors
together.
They
are
prepped
on
a
slow
conveyor
belt/motor
stand
by
another
row
of
workers.
As
they
are
completed,
they
face
the
dry
test
area.
As
you
exit
this
area,
you
finally
start
to
see
the
bike
take
shape.
Working
in
pairs,
the
motors
are
placed
in
the
frame
and
the
wheels
and
suspension
are
bolted
in
place.
At
the
front
of
the
group,
I
started
to
bug
the
tour
guide
and
pester
until
I
could
see
the
Hypermotard.
There
were
a
few
completed
models
waiting
for
their
seats...
Needless
to
say,
I
had
to
catch
up
to
the
group
a
few
feet
later!
I
made
it
to
Laguna
Seca
last
year
for
the
GP
and
I
missed
the
Desmosedici
street
bike...
and
I
flew
all
the
way
to
Italy,
and
once
again,
forgot
to
ask
and
still
have
yet
to
see
that
insane
street
machine!
As
the
models
were
put
to
the
test
in
the
Dyno
room,
I
could
tell
it
was
about
to
be
over,
so
we
hung
around
and
checked
out
some
of
the
bikes
being
prepped
for
shipping.
About
10
wide
and
6-7
rows
of
1098's
were
more
than
I
could
handle,
but
it
was
cool
to
see
anyway!
After
the
tour,
we
headed
to
the
most
obvious
place...
the
gift
shop.
For
myself,
it
was
mostly
items
that
I
could
order
through
our
store,
but
it
was
nice
to
see
their
presentation
anyway.
As
we
exited
the
lot,
I
took
some
more
pictures
of
the
outside
of
the
building
and
by
the
recommendation
of
my
Ducati
representative,
I
headed
down
the
block
to
the
Ducati
Apparel
store.
Located
across
the
main
intersection
from
the
factory
is
a
retail
location
of
everything
in
the
Ducati
apparel
catalog
and
more!
Some
used
bikes
and
other
items
that
we
don't
import
to
these
United
States.
Due
to
the
strength
of
the
dollar,
I
was
forced
to
limit
myself
to
a
Ducati
Service
Polo
shirt,
but
again,
it
was
the
only
thing
I
found
that
I
couldn't
order
myself,
and
just
had
to
have!
Tyler
would
explain
Ducati
and
the
soul
as
coming
from
the
bike
itself.
The
sound
of
the
pipes
that
make
it
stand
out
from
all
the
rest
and
the
handling
second
to
none.
I
have
to
argue
that
the
soul
of
Ducati
isnˇ¦t
something
physical
at
all.
Seeing
the
faces
that
still
put
these
bikes
together
by
hand
and
move
them
through
the
production
line
are
what
truly
set
them
apart.
The
men
AND
women
that
wrench
all
day
long
to
produce
a
handful
of
bikes
a
year
and
distribute
them
to
the
world
is
what
gives
them
their
appeal
and
their
soul.
If
you
decide
to
make
the
journey,
make
sure
to
stay
awhile
and
experience
the
local
cuisine,
it
is
a
taste
not
to
be
forgotten
and
different
from
the
more
touristy
cities
in
the
area.
I
wish
I
could
leave
you
with
more,
but
Iˇ¦m
hoping
youˇ¦ll
have
the
chance
to
experience
the
tour
(it's
free!),
the
city
and
the
culture
of
Italy
for
yourself
sometime
in
the
future!
Ciao!
Nick
|
