Soaking up the Scenery in Piedmont and Puglia

Pietro Bordino was a heroic racing figure in Italy in the 1910s and 1920s whose name is closely associated with victories for Fiat, including the 1922 Italian Grand Prix. In his home town of Alessandria the ‘Veteran Car Club P. Bordino’ is named after him and every year it organizes the Grand Prix Bordino to celebrate his life, that all important victory and above all to commemorate his death which sadly occurred in 1928 during the Gran Premio di Alessandria.

Every year the Grand Prix Bordino is set in a completely different place, but always among the beautifully bucolic scenery of northern Italy between Piedmont and Liguria. This year the action took place from the 7th to the 9th of June on the shores of Lake Maggiore and since the event is part of the ASI Circuito Tricolore – the series of 18 classic rallies organized across Italy by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano throughout the year – Car & Classic, which is partner of the series, was there to join in the celebrations and award our coveted Circuito Tricolore Prize to a car of particular historical importance, which in this case was the fabulous Maserati 150 S – an official Masarati car.

Winner of the 10 Ore di Messina race (10 Hours of Messina) in 1956 and then, after an accident, forgotten in Maserati’s warehouses until 1999, this legendary racer was bought by a famous collector, together with a lot of other historic treasures, and was subsequently bought by current owners, Massimiliano Bitrot and Monica Grazzi, who carried out a full restoration.

The funny thing is that after various searches attempting to locate the four-cylinder 200 S engine that the car ran with at the time (despite its name) the elusive motor was actually part of Monica’s father’s collection! A Trident enthusiast and collector for over 40 years he was happy to hand over the missing engine. When it comes to family, these enthusiasts are in fact also a racing team.

Land of rice paddies, mountains and enchanting landscapes dotted with lakes, the eastern part of the Piedmont region saw the 72 stunning cars of the event parade along a route of approximately 300km over the weekend. The rain, typical of this uncertain and at often times spiteful spring season throughout the Peninsula, graced all the three days of the event but despite the inclement weather spirits remained high and the stunning collection of classics continued to shine.

With the majority of vehicles in attendance built between the 1920s and 1960s, and the elegance of the chosen base – the Regina Palace Hotel in Stresa facing the wonder of the Borromean islands – the atmosphere of the event was one of charming sophistication and much loved by the crews visiting from the rest of Europe.

Without a doubt it can be truthfully attested that the Grand Prix Bordino offers one of the poshest weekends of the entire Circuito Tricolore series. Not only that but much like the Goodwood Revival, all the crews at the start on Friday were in period costume and there was even a spirited performance by burlesque group the Sweet Dolls in front of the start line in the centre of Alessandria before the race at 4pm.

The route on Saturday took the crews to Villa Taranto, Lake Mergozzo and Lake Orta. The rice fields of the Casale area, however, were the backdrop for Sunday’s return with the arrival of the crews at the historic site of Spinetta Marengo. Many of the historic cars were able to use Sustain Classic bio-fuel made available by our friends at Coryton who are also partnering with ASI for continued testing of its sustainable fuel.

In the meantime, the roar of old engines could be heard echoing throughout the small picturesque villages of the Gargano, in Puglia, although this time it was the turn of our two-wheeled friends taking part in the Sulle Strade della Pugliesità Doc, the first edition of the event organized by the club federated ASI Aste e Bilancieri of Bitonto. Starting in the fascinating Museum of the Fire Brigade and Italian Red Cross in Manfredonia, the throng of 30 historic motorcycles arrived in Vieste for the exhibition overlooking the city beach.

The stops on the second day were the characteristic Umbra Forest, in the heart of the Gargano National Park in Puglia, and the equally enchanting village of Peschici, from where the parade of motorbikes started the Sunday tour along the coastal road of Trabucchi, lined with the ancient fishing machines typical of the area.

The classic motorcycle fleet was particularly large and varied, including many fascinating centenarians such as a 1912 Indian 22 HP, a 1933 Ganna Sport, a 1930 BSA Sloper and a 1932 Royal Enfield, flanked by other exciting two-wheeled icons, all built up to the ’80s. Skill tests were also held here, while the Car & Classic Trophy went to the spectacular Itala Super 500 from 1934 ridden by a Mr. Dante Petrucci.

Next weekend the Tricolore Circuit continues with two other well-organised and engaging events, which as always will combine the beautiful landscapes, excellent food and magnificent wine of the Italian territories with the passion for historic motors. At “Autogirovagando”, on the Adriatic Riviera, you will only see pre-war cars, all built up until the ’30s, therefore it will be a truly exceptional event. Even the oldest motorcycles will run wild again but this time in Siena, Tuscany, at “Motociclettando”, where we will return once more to the early days of motorized marvels.