Bassano del Grappa, 22nd - 24th of June
Regularity trials for Classic Cars with old fashioned pressure tubes
have a long history in Italy and even in the 21th century with all the
technical possibilities of light barriers and transponders they are still
seen on many events. Many of these rallies are based on old road
races that were prohibited after fatal accidents like the 1957 disaster
of the Mille Miglia and when resurrected for classic cars the
organizers had to create a new sort of competition other than speed
trials to get permission to use the public roads. This concept proved
to be very clever as it gives the entrants the possibility to compete with
each other on one side and to reward them to keep their speed at a
desired level on the other. The best known and most popular is
certainly still the Mille Miglia but in the last 20 years several smaller
events established themselves in its slipstream to become an
inherent part of the classic car calendar. With the MM becoming
bigger and bigger year by year, with oversubscribed entry lists and all
the hype many car owners found a new home at these events and
whereas the MM is still a “once in a lifetime” event for many these
events have regular entrants coming back every year. Some of them
use the same roads like the Gran Premio Nuvolari that is even based
on parts of the same history, some others are located in the
Dolomites like the Coppa d´Oro delle Dolomiti and the Mitiche Sport a
Bassano, the event we visited last weekend.
Le Mitiche Sport a Bassano was founded in 1995 by the brothers
Danilo and Renato Calmonte as a regularity trial for open sports cars
built before 1960. As it is an annual event the “Sports Myth of
Bassano” was already in its 18th edition in 2012 but for the first time it
had to get along without its mastermind as Danilo Calmonte
unfortunately passed away earlier this year. Now the next generation
had to proof that they can take over the organisation for the years to
come and consolidate the success for the following editions. Being a
very familiar event it helped a lot that many of the regular entrants
trusted them and came back in large numbers to support the event.
So on Friday morning again almost 100 cars parked in the
scrutineering area on the historic grounds of the care home San Pio X
in Romano d´Ezzelino, one of the most beautiful locations for a
technical inspection one could imagine. The cars ranged from
several pre war examples like Amilcars, Bugattis, Alfa Romeo and a
sole Supercharged Bentley to several small Etceterini, OSCA,
Maserati and Ferrari. Not less than 4 Ferrari 750 Monza, a 500 TR, a
340 MM and the only Scaglietti bodied 166 MM were standing in line in
front of the arcade, other cars were hiding in the shadow on this very
hot morning.
After being welcomed by the organizers and a light buffet lunch under
the trees the first car was sent on its journey at 13:30 for the first leg of
about 140 km. As the start is south of the central Dolomites the first
part of the route is going north with the first 2 timed trial including a
loop on a parking lot and a coffee break before the first climb up the
Passo Croce d´Aune. The longer the cars are on their way the more
impressive becomes the scenery of the Dolomites being part of the
UNESCO World Heritage culture site. With further special stages and
control point in the town center of Agordo the cars finally reach the
finish of the first day at the promenade at the lake of Alleghe just as in
previous years. After parking the cars in the public underground
parking lot the drivers enjoyed a beer at the lake after a very hot day.
Not unusual for the mountains the weather changed overnight and
the next morning saw some dark clouds over the surrounding
mountaintops announcing the thunderstorms to follow on the main
stage of the rally. As most of the cars do not even have a spartan top
the drivers had to put on their rain suites and helmets to brave the
rain that set in just minutes after the start, but sorrow shared is a
sorrow halved so even those with top drove open (as it seems to be
un-British to raise the top on a pre-war Bentley). The first climb of the
day is one of the most impressive of the Dolomites with the brick-
built road and the tunnels to the Passo Falzerago and a timed stage
on top of the mountain. When descending the cars pass a small
tunnel in the rock that is famous for being on many old pictures from
the Coppa d´Oro delle Dolomiti before entering Cortina d´Ampezzo
and a check point on the Piazza Venezia that is start and finish of the
Coppa d´Oro in September. After passing the Lago Misurina this
year's highlight of the tour was on the program when entering the
national park “Tre Croce” (= three pinacles) over the toll road from
Misurina. Unfortunately the characteristic rock formation was cloaked
by clouds but the way up the serpentines was still very exciting. On the
way down to Dobbiaco and Brunico the weather improved with every
mile and on the Passo Furcia before the lunch stop the sun was out
again so the rest of the day the roads could be enjoyed in the dry.
When driving in Italy the local specialities are always part of the fun
and with a moderate daily stint of 250 km there was enough time to
enjoy an extended lunch stop. After the lunch the entrants had to be
hold back by the volunteers as some of them were already sitting in
their car for the second half of the trip long before the intended restart.
After passing Badia the Mitiche entered the Sella Group with the
Passo Pordoi, unfortunately the road up the hill was very crowded with
bikes, cyclists and tourist buses slowing down the storm up the hill
and the stop and go in the serpentines was not to the taste of the
race Ferrari and Maserati.
We have already suggested the familiar character of this event and
the following miles proved that in a very special way. When the
forerunning Buick lost a front wheel due to a loose wheel nut all the
participants coming by stopped immediately to help and with pooled
forces and several jacks the car was back on the road a few
moments later. Presumable this costed the Buick driver a few beer at
the hotel bar in return in the evening while talking about the day.
The last pass of the day is one of the oldest in the Dolomites, the
Passo Rolle leading to the final destination of the day, San Martino di
Castrozza.
Sunday is more a roll out on the way down back to Bassano del
Grappa with a few more timed stages before entering the town centre
of Bassano where the cars were parked on the Piazza Liberta. Many
spectators and tourists came to see the cars and the drivers spent
the time in one of the surrounding café before leaving to the Castello
Superiore. This restaurant in the ruins of the castle overlooking the
Bassano region is traditionally the finish of the Mitiche Sport a
Bassano with the final lunch and the prize giving.
Last week we mentioned in our report on the Vernasca Silver Flag
that the pre war Aston Martin 1 ½ litre are very popular in Italy being
reliable cars suited for regularity trials and especially a with good
coefficient in the Mille Miglia. Just to prove that the Mitiche was won by
the father and son team Redaelli in their Aston Le Mans Special 4-
seater. But also those who were not that competitive surely enjoyed
the tour through the Dolomites, both entrants and organisation could
be pleased with this year's edition showing that the rally will be
continued in the spirit of its founders. Many of them will be back next
year for the 19th edition, for those who cannot wait that long we
recommend the Coppa d´Oro delle Dolomiti on the first weekend of
September.
Text & images Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
Le Mitiche Sport a Bassano Entries (2012-06-26)
01 BUICK SPEEDSTER 1924 STROLZ/GASSNER
02 RILEY
03 AMILCAR CGSS COMPRESSORE 1926 JOLLY
04 AMILCAR CG SS. 1927 JOLLY/RAUTER
06 DE COUCY COMPETITION 1927 BERINGER
07 BUGATTI T 37 A 1927 PIANTELLI/MONTALDI
08 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 SS s/n 6C0312902 1929 PILENGA
09 OM 665 SS MM 1929 LISMAN/DOYLE
10 ALFA ROMEO 6C2500/8C2900 BOTICELLA
11 BENTLEY 4,5 L SUPERCHARGED 1930 McGUIRE/McGUIRE
12 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 GS 1930 PIARDI/PIARDI
14 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 GS ZAGATO 1931 SAN GIORGI/VAN
HECKE
15 WOLSELEY HORNET DAYTONA 1932 BURRI/BURRI
16 FIAT 508 SPORT 1933 ATTI/GOZZI
17 ALVIS
18 ASTON MARTIN LE MANS 1933 SUTER/SUTER
19 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 GS TOURING s/n 6C121215043 1933
FONTE
20 ASTON MARTIN LE MANS SPECIAL s/n J3/317/L 1933
REDAELLI/REDAELLI
21 MG J 4 1933 HÄRING/BURCKHARDT
22 MG L - TYPE SUPERC. 1934 PATRON/BALBO
23 ALFA ROMEO ALFA ROMEO 6C 2300 PESCARA 1934 van
STOKROM/van STOKROM
24 FIAT 500 S COPPA ORO 1934 PELI/PELI
25 ASTON MARTIN MK II 2/4 s/n E4/438/S 1934
JOHANKNEGT/VEHMEYER
26 RILEY 9 HP IMP SPORT 1935 IDER/ROMA
27 BENTLEY 3,5 LITRE 1935 LA TERZA/DI PAOLO
28 DIATTO 20 S MOUCHE 1925 LOPREST/MAGGIORE
29 FIAT 508 S 1935 BACCANELLI/GACHE
30 MORETTINI 508 S 1936 RIBOLDI/RIBOLDI
31 GIANNINI SPORT 1937 GOBBI/PIARDI
32 LANCIA APRILIA SPORT 1937 MARIN/MARIN
33 BMW 328 1937 MERCADANTI PIER/BASTONI
34 JAGUAR SS 100 1938 MÜLLER/MULLER
35 FIAT 500 A SPORT VENDRAME 1938 SALA/BONOMI
36 BMW 328 1938 CAVALIERI/CANALE
37 ATLANTA SPORT TOURER 1938 HENNE/KLEMM
38 ALFA ROMEO ALFA ROMEO 6C 2500 SUPER SP. 1939
TAUSCHER/SCHMID
39 FIAT ZANUSSI 500 SPORT 1947
DANNENMAIER/DANNENMAIER
40 BANDINI SILURO SPORT 1947 CHERSEVANI/ZANATTA
41 PAGANELLI LANCIA SPORT 1948 MENZA/VALENTI
42 FIAT SPORT ZANUSSI FONTEBASSO 1948 MINUSSI/SENINI
43 HEALEY SILVERSTONE 1949 MAZZOLA/OGGI
44 FIAT GILCO 1100 S 1949 BALBI/STRATA
45 CAMEN FIORDEL. SPORT 1949 NONAKA/OKUBO
46 LANCIA PASQUALIN - PARIS. 1950 BANDINI/GIOVANNINI
47 ALLARD J2X 1952 BETTATI/ROSSI
48 HEALEY SILVERSTONE 1950 MARCHI/CORONIN
49 COLLI SPORT 1951 BRICCHETTI
50 O.S.C.A. MT 4 1952 GRASSELLI/TARTAGLIONE
51 SIATA 300 BC 1952 WIESSMATH
52 SIATA DAINA SUPERSPORT 1400 1952
GANDOLFI/BRUNORI
53 ALLARD J2X 1952 FERNANDEZ/FERNANDEZ
54 BANDINI MASERATI SPORT 1952 STRADA/GENTILE
56 FERRARI 166 MM s/n 0050 1953 DE FRANCE/DE FRANCE
57 FERRARI 340 MM s/n 0294AM 1953 CRIPPA
58 JAGUAR XK120 C BAROU 1953 TECHEL/TECHEL
59 SIATA 300 BC 1953 LAMMEREE/Van BEYSTERVELDT
60 MASERATI A6 GCS Scaglietti 1953 CALMONTE/STELLA
62 O.S.C.A. 2000 S 1954 REISS
63 AUSTIN HEALEY 100 M 1954 DOLCETTA/DOLCETTA
64 FERRARI 750 MONZA s/n 0470MD 1954 BREVINI/TAZZIOLI
65 MORETTI 750 TDM SPORT 1954 TINTORI
66 HEALEY SILVERSTONE 1949
67 ARNOLT BRISTOL BOLIDE 1954 OLIVINI/BETTONI
68 ABARTH 207 A 1955 SHRAGA/SHRAGA
70 FERRARI 750 MONZA s/n 0496M 1955
FERNANDEZ/ANDRADE
71 FERRARI 750 MONZA s/n 0530M 1955 SCALVENZI/GIRELLI
72 LESTER RILEY SPORT 1955 MARABINI
73 MASERATI A6 GCS 1956 BERTON/GARZARO
74 LOTUS 11 ELEVEN 1956
75 FERRARI 500 TR s/n 0638MDTR 1956 PELIZZIARI
76 STANGA SPORT 1956 AIME/AIME
77 AC ACE 1956 MONTALBETTI/RUSSO
78 MASERATI 200 S s/n 2406 1956 ALBERONI/ZUANON
79 O.S.C.A. MT4 - 2AD 1956 CALMONTE/BENETAZZO
80 AC ACE BRISTOL 1957 VORENKAMP/VORENKAMP
81 FERRARI 750 MONZA s/n 0534MD 1957 OCHIAI/KAJIMA
82 BANDINI SPORT INTERNAZ. 1957 BANDINI/BANDINI
84 AC BRISTOL 1957 MARTEGANI/MACCACARO
86 O.S.C.A. 187 S 1957 ADAMOLI/ADAMOLI
87 DEVIN MGA TYPE MONZA 1957 OSTINET/DA ROS
88 CRAME ELVA MK II BOBTAIL 1957 FAGGIOLI/MINGOZZI
89 LOTUS ELEVEN MK11 1957 FLENGHI/FERRARO
90 AC ACE BRISTOL 1958 CHILDE-FREEMAN/CHILDE-
FREEMAN
91 BUCKLER DD2 - CLIMAX 1959 JOCHER/JOCHER
A PORSCHE 356A SPEEDSTER 1955 LEMBO/HUBSCH
B PORSCHE 356A SPEEDSTER 1956 VOREMKAMP/TENNANT
C AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE 1960 NALLI/NALLI
D PORSCHE 356 ROADSTER 1961 Van DER
WEIDEN/VANDEN DUNGEN
E REALM JAGUAR D-TYPE 1977 VIGNOLA/SPREAFICO
|
