Castell´Arquato-Vernasca, 15th - 17th of June, 2012
After the major international classic car events in May and with
Goodwood FoS and Le Mans Classic just around the corner last
weekend gave the opportunity to visit one of the smaller and less
known events, the Vernasca Silver Flag in the Emilia-Romagna in
Italy.
When talking to owners and enthusiasts on the various events
one could quit often hear them relate on this hill climb as one of
their favourite events and so we headed to Castell´Arquato about
30 km south of Piacenza to get an idea of what they are talking
about. Many have heard of the Grand Prix of Piacenza as this
was the venue of the first appearance of Enzo Ferrari own race
car, the Ferrari 125 in 1947 but the nearby hill climb to Vernasca
is less known being part of the Italian Hill Climb Championship in
the 1950s and 60s before it disappeared after a crash in the early
1970s, a fate it shares with many other historic races. In the mid-
nineties the event reappeared as a historic event and become
popular over the years resulting in its 17th edition in 2012.
When entering Castell´Arquato on Friday afternoon one can see
what people mean with “familiar” as this is refreshing different from
the big organized events one does know these days. The
paddocks are the parking lot aside the main street and a small
Piazza in front of the church, the scrutineering and inscription
takes place in a small tent in a small avenue and many volunteers
guide the entrants and they cars to their spot in the beloved
Italian way. But not many of them need a guidance as most of
them come here every year as one could see when greeting each
other just as old friends, the bar over the road is the first place to
drink an espresso and talk about what happened during year
since the last edition.
So far it sounds very much like a normal local car event but what
makes the difference is the quality of the cars. This year no less
than 177 car were entered in different classes including single
seaters, pre war cars, Gran Turismo, Sport and Prototypes. Every
year has its own theme and after Abarth and Ferrari in the last
two years this editions slogan was “Best of British” introducing
machinery from the isle to the Italian public. Hill Climbs are
popular anyway in the United Kingdom and so it was not a big
surprise that several British drivers took the long journey to Italy
but certainly not all British cars had to travel that far.
A few big Cricklewood-Bentley´s were lined up aside Frazer Nash,
Talbot, Lagonda and a Sunbeam plus a duo of Aston Martin. As
the small 1 ½ litre cars are very reliable and front runners in
today´s Mille Miglia the cars of the Bertelli era became very
popular in Italy in recent years and both the Ulster and the Le
Mans team car at the hill had Italian drivers.
Jaguar was represented by an original C- and D-Type, other
British cars included several Cooper sports cars and single seater
and a couple of Lotus.
On the Italian side again several Abarth were lined up in the
paddock, not as many as in the feature year but still more than
one usually does see on one spot plus a few Ferrari and Maserati
from the early 1950s. The four cylinder Ferrari were represented
by a 500 Mondial and a 500 TR, 12 cylinder cars included the
only 166 MM bodied by Scaglietti and a 250 Europa GT and a
250 GT Boano. Late entries were a 250 GT SWB California Spider
and the lovely Dino 206 S Prototype in just its second outing with
its new owner. Being prepared for track racing with its previous
owner the small Dino was quite a challenge to get up the hill as
the event is not a race but a demonstration run without timing. In
three un-timed runs the groups run up the hill in rather
comfortable speed separated by a few pace cars to avoid any
touch of competition between the drivers minimizing the risks. But
unlike other events with this concept the speed was still quick
enough to guaranty some fun both for drivers and spectators.
Saturday morning the cars were lined up at the Start in
Castell´Aquato were most of the spectators took the chance to
have a closer look at them. In intervals of about half a minute the
cars were flagged off to take the long straight to Lugagnano before
they took a turn left toward the actual hill climb. After leaving the
small village the street become narrower and winds up to the old
town of Vernasca, the name giving finish. Whereas both start and
Lugagnano were crowded just a few spectators climbed the hill to
look at the cars in the bends and so the drivers could enjoy the
roads almost by themselves. After about two hours all cars have
taken the drive up and were escorted back to the paddocks for
the lunch break and the second run in the afternoon.
The third run is on Sunday morning before the event finishes in
Vernasca with a lunch and the prize giving at the Ancient Abbey
Park overlooking the cars parked on the market place and the
hilly scenery of the Piacenza area. Now one might ask why there
is a prize giving at an event without timing. A jury selects some
cars in every group they think are worth getting a prize for the way
the are presented at the event, be it the history of the car, the
way they are driven or restored. Others might say that the
organizers give away a souvenir to some of the entrants to thank
them for bringing their cars and supporting the event and no one
is jealous because they are all friends of the event. Most of them
will be back in 2013 to meet again and taking again a fun drive up
the hill.
Report & images ... Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
Vernasca Silver Flag (2012-06-20)
002 AUSTIN MINI COOPER S (1962) MONTENEGRI
003 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MKI (1965) WISE
004 FORD MUSTANG GT350 (1965) BRAGOLI
005 FIAT ABARTH 1000TC (1966) VAN LING
006 ABARTH 1000 OTS (1967) BRAMBILLA
007 ALFA ROMEO GTA 1300 JUNIOR (1968) DE BONIS
RICASOLI
008 ALFA ROMEO GTAm 2000 (1971) VALERIO
009 FIAT RITMO GR 2 (1979) SFULCINI
010 ASTON MARTIN DB2 (1952) HIPEL
011 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 BN1 (1954)
012 AC ACE (1955) ROBERTSON
013 AC ACECA BRISTOL (1956) MITCHELL
014 JAGUAR D-TYPE s/n XKD402 (1954) BAXTER
016 ASTON MARTIN DB MARK 3 (1957) FERRARI
017 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 LE MANS (1956) DEL FANTE
019 AUSTIN HEALEY 100M LE MANS (1956) BALBI
021 ASTON MARTIN PROJET 214 (1963) BREWER
022 JAGUAR E-TYPE LW (1961) GROSS
023 MARCOS MINI GT (1965) BORTESI
024 LOTUS ELAN S3 (1967) GIANNI
025 LOTUS EUROPA S2 (1969) ZUND
026 MG BGT COUPE' (1970) SINGLETON
027 FIAT 1100 STANHUELI BERTONE (1948) NARDIELLO
028 FERRARI 250 EUROPA GT s/n 0399GT (1955)
MASTROENI
029 ALFA ROMEO 1900 SSZ (1955) MARX
030 FERRARI 250 GT BOANO s/n 0697GT (1957) MAYER
031 ABARTH 750 ZAGATO RECORD MONZA (1958)
KURZENBERGER
032 KELLISON J4R (1958) COSCHIERI
033 FIAT ABARTH RECORD MONZA 1000 (1960) DE CHIRICO
034 ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA SZ (1960) PERIN
035 FIAT ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO ZAGATO (1960)
CENTENARI
036 FIAT ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO (1962) INCERTI
037 OSCA 1600 GT ZAGATO (1962) PAUSER
038 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA TZ 1 (1964) SPRINGETT
039 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY (1964) RUPOLO
040 PORSCHE 904 GTS (1964) KRITON
041 FIAT ABARTH 1000 OTS COUPE' (1965) HAGEN
042 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA TZ 1 (1965) PAS
043 ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO (1965) MARINO
044 ABARTH 1300 OT (1966) VAN LOOY
045 FERRARI 275 GTB/C s/n 08249 (1966) JOEL
046 LANCIA FLAVIA ZAGATO (1966) REPETTO
048 PORSCHE 908/2 FLUNDER EX S. MCQUEEN (1969)
DEUTSCH
049 LANCIA FULVIA ZAGATO COMPETIZIONE (1968)
FORTUNA
050 PORSCHE 914-6 GT COUPE' GR.4 (1970) GUYOT
052 PORSCHE 911 2.7 (1975) OLIVIERI
053 LANCIA STRATOS GR.4 (1978) PASQUALE
054 JAGUAR C-TYPE s/n XKC043 (1953) FINBURGH
055 FRAZER NASH COMPETITION MODEL LEMANS (1948)
DA MOSTO
056 HEALEY SILVERSTONE (1950) HUERLIMANN
057 JAGUAR C TYPE (1953) MORIGI
058 KIEFT BRISTOL 2 LITRE SPORT (1953) ERLICH
059 ALLARD J2XX (1952) BETTATI
060 FRAZER NASH SEBRING (1954) PILKINGTON
061 COOPER JAGUAR T33 (1954) MARCAIS FINBURGH
064 COOPER MONACO T49 (1959) HOFER
065 TOJERO-MG SPORTS/RACING (1955) GARDNER
066 LOTUS ELEVEN LE MANS (1956) PERSICO FROVA
067 LOTUS SEVEN S1 (1958) BISCONCINI
068 LOTUS 11 SPECIAL WESTFIELD (1961) DE RIZ
069 HAMBLIN SUPER TWO (1965) FABBRI
070 BANDINI 1100 SILURO (1947) CHERSEVANI
072 FERRARI 166MM SCAGLIETTI SPYDER s/n 0050 (1953)
DE FRANCE
073 PORSCHE 550 RS s/n 550-021? (1955) FALCHETTI
074 MASERATI A6 GCS SPORT (1955) GOLFIERI
075 ERMINI 1100 SPORT (1955) (1955) LOTTERI
077 FERRARI 500 TR s/n 0638MDTR (1956) PELIZZIARI
078 MASERATI 150 S s/n 1659 (1956) BONI
079 FERRARI 500 MONDIAL s/n 0580MD (1957) SASSI
080 MASERATI 200 SI s/n 2421 (1957) SORDI
081 OSCA 187S (1957) ADAMOLI
082 MASERATI 200S s/n 2402 (1956) SCULCO
083 250 TR REPLICA SCHOUWENBURG
085 OSCA SF 392 (1960) BARBIERI
086 GINETTA G 4 R PROTOTYPE (1963) SCHLAGER
087 LOTUS BMW 23 (1963) STAHLMANN
088 MC LAREN MC1 (1965) REBMANN
089 LOTUS 23 (1966) LASSER
090 CROSSLI C9S (1966) MESSMER
092 MC LAREN M8F CAN AM (1972) TULLIO
094 LOLA T292 (1976) BRESCHI
095 FIAT ABARTH 1000 SPORT (1963) SCHUPBACH
097 ABARTH 1300 SP (1966) RAMASCO
098 BIZZARRINI SPORT BARCHETTA (1966) RICCI
099 ABARTH 1000 SP (1968) WINTOCH
100 MASERATI BARCHETTA (1992) DRUMMOND
102 ABARTH SE/020 3000 V8 (1970) PONT
104 CHEVRON B16 (1970) FARNETI
105 CHEVRON B23 (1973) GIRIBALDI
106 GRD 2000 S/74 (1974) BOTTARETTO
107 CHEVRON B23/36 (1973) SBRILLI
108 LOLA T298 BMW (1976) SILVA
109 CHEVRON B8 - B19 AB RACING (1978) EHRBAR
110 FERRARI DINO 166P/206P s/n 0834 (1965) MOHRINGER
111 PORSCHE 910 (1967) BECKER
112 ALFA ROMEO 33/2 SPYDER (1968) CARRARA
113 PORSCHE 906 (1966) MASCARI
114 FIAT ABARTH 2000 SPORT SE 010 (1968) STEVAN
116 FIAT ABARTH 2000 PROTO SE021 (1971) SCHAR
117 OSELLA ABARTH PA1 (1972) CALVEL
118 COOPER BRISTOL T20 F2 (1952) MARCHI
119 LOTUS 16 (1958) MC GUIRE
120 CONNAUGHT TYPE C (1959) STEELE
121 FERGUSON P99 4 WHEEL DRIVE (1961) ROLT
122 SIMCA DEHO 1100 MONOPLACE GP 018 (1947) WALTER
123 STANGUELLINI FORMULA JUNIOR (1958) ROSETO
124 GARAGE DE LA ROSE (1959) BALDASSARRE
125 AB PANHARD MONOMILL AGS (1951) CODIFERRO
126 COOPER MK VIII (1954) WALTER
128 COOPER T53 EX SURTEES (1961) PERRIN
130 LOTUS TYPE 21 F1 EX CLARK (1961) BURATTI
131 LOTUS TYPE 20/22 FORMULA JUNIOR (1961) TACCONI
132 COOPER T65 FORMULA JUNIOR (1963) WISHART
133 LOTUS 22 FORMULA JUNIOR (1963) GALEAZZI
134 COOPER T75 EX STEWART/SURTESS (1965) PETERSEN
135 BRABHAM BT 23 - 1 F2 EX RINDT (1967) REBMANN
136 LOTUS BRM 41 F2 MONO (1967) STOITZNER
137 BRABHAM BT 21 EX RONNIE PETERSON (1967) WALTER
138 LOTUS 61 MX FORMULA FORD (1969) CARR
139 LOTUS 61 MXFE F.FORD (1970) BOSCO
140 MARCH 703 F2 (1970) MOSER
142 MARCH PEUGEOT F3 (1977) BUSSANDRI
143 M.R.E. FORMULA FORD (1976) PARECCINI
144 TECNO F1 (1973) BIANCHINI
145 B.W.A. F3 (1965) TOMASONI
146 RACE CRAFT ENGINEERING FORMULA VEE (1967)
FERRARI
147 B.W.A 403 FORMULA 850 (1969) LUGLI
148 FIAT ABARTH FORMULA ITALIA (1971) SMITH
149 FIAT ABARTH FORMULA ITALIA (1971) MIGLIAVACCA
PIGHI
150 SUNBEAM 3 LT TWIN CAM (1927) LUISONI
151 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE (1927) STEELE
152 BENTLEY SPEED SIX (1929) VAN SON
153 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE (1930) STORANDT
154 BENTLEY 4 1/2 BLOWER (1930) MCGUIRE
155 RILEY BROOKLANDS 9HP Sports (1929) TOMAS DE
VARGAS
156 MG MONTLHERY (1931) FOSTER
157 ALVIS GRAND SPORT EX TRINTIGNANT (1935) BILLEREY
158 LAGONDA LG45 1937 WILLSON
159 TALBOT 105 ALPINE (1961) CURTIS
160 ASTON MARTIN LM7 WORKS TEAM CAR (1931)
PiANTELLI
161 FRAZER NASH SUPERSPORTS (1927) DI LAURO
162 ASTON MARTIN ULSTER (1935) STABIUNI
163 JAGUAR SS 100 (1936) AUTOMOTOCLUB STORICO
ITALIANO
164 COOPER T 75 f1/F2 (1965) BODINI
165 BUGATTI 35A (1926) BERCELLESI
166 McLAREN
167 MASERATI 26M (1928) HOFER
168 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 GS ZAGATO (1930) BUXTON
169 LANCIA LAMBDA VII S TORPEDO (1927) BARDELLI
170 FIAT BALILLA COPPA D'ORO (1933) CHIESA
171 FIAT 501 S (1922) CORNO
172 NAZZARO TIPO 3 CORSA (1913) BIGGINS
173 VOLVO PV544 (1963)
174 MORGAN THREEWHEELER
175 JAGUAR XKSS
176 PORSCHE 911 2.7 RS
177 FERRARI 250 GT SWB CALIFORNIA SPIDER
D FERRARI 330 GTS (1965) MELLI ROBERTO
F LANCIA FLAMINIA (1964) MATHEW ISABELLE
K FIAT 1100 (1955) POLIZIA DI STATO
T FIAT ABARTH 131 RALLY GR4 (1977) GEMENTI FABIO
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