Valli e Nebbie – Historic Rallying at its Finest

Despite its rather evocative name, literally meaning “Valleys and Mists”, the 34th edition of Valli e Nebbie actually took place last weekend under a fabulously warm sun that accentuated the already stunning surrounding areas of Ferrara and the amazing beauty of the romantic Italian town itself.

But what is Valli e Nebbie? Well, this historic international rally is part of the Italian ASI Circuit Tricolour, the prestigious series of annual events run by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano, which this year is sponsored by Car & Classic. Conceived in 1990 by the Club Officina Ferreraese with the idea of creating a classic car gathering linked to historical motoring, knowledge of the territory (the Po river Delta), gastronomy and culture the rally remains unchanged to this day and the event continues to garner much acclaim.

Offering a continually revolving fleet of vehicles and with unmatched elegance and hospitality, Valli e Nebbie combines the pleasure of driving your own historic vehicle with that of being able to visit places rich in history and culture, a spirit that has driven the Ferrara organisers of Valli e Nebbie since its inception.

As the flagship annual classic car event of the local Club Officina Ferrarese del Motorismo Storico, Valli e Nebbie has many aficionados taking part every year and demand remains high due to the popularity of the event and the high quality of its organization, along with the convivial atmosphere and truly stunning backdrop. The name itself evokes the taste and culture of “La Bassa”, the so called region of Padana plains which lies from the East of Bologna to the sea, near where the Po river ends.

As you can imagine then, the 90 crews were raring to go but first they were treated to a guided tour of the Escher exhibition at Palazzo dei Diamanti after the technical checks had been completed on Friday afternoon in front of the Este Castle, in the heart of Ferrara.

The next day, the route of the first stage took the long and distinguished caravan of historic cars through the gorgeous villages of Masi Torelli and Migliarino and then on to reach Lido degli Estensi and Comacchio, the small and charming town nicknamed “little Venice” for its many water channels.

The return to Ferrara, after approximately 130 kilometers between land and water, took place crossing Lagosanto, Fiscaglia and the metaphysical Tresigallo. The second stage on Sunday the 7th saw the convoy of classics pass through the fascinating Piazza Ariostea in Ferrara, with the running of some precision ability tests set up on the big oval square which hosts the traditional Palio di Ferrara.

With the cars thoroughly demonstrated the group then headed towards Bondeno to visit the historical water pump that it still in service, known as Pilastresi, which is absolutely fundamental to the area, using its huge engine to keep the water levels in check to avoid flooding. The last stop before the final lunch and prize giving ceremony was the parade in the centre of Ferrara, with the cars passing between the crowd in piazza Trento e Trieste.

The collection of cars taking part certainly did not disappoint, with examples built between 1925 and the ’70s, confirming Valli e Nebbie’s place among the most important appointments of the ASI Circuito Tricolore, the series of 18 events run by Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) that take place all over the year across Italy, attracting enthusiasts and the public alike.

Car & Classic is proud to be a partner of the series this year and we’re happy to provide our support, recognizing particularly significant cars along the way. At Valli e Nebbie the first Car & Classic prize was awarded to a superb 1931 Lancia Lambda Tourer 9th series, which belonged new to the Kuala Lumpur Maharajah. Who will be the next lucky winners at the three events coming up at the end of April? There’s the Coppa Toscana in Tuscany, a re-enactment of the Gran Premio di Bari in Puglia in the south and the Il Primavera di Augusto Farneti, reserved for motorbikes and held in Rimini, all taking place between the 26th and 28th, so stay tuned!