A Weekend of Challenges Concludes Under the Shadow of the Dolomite Passes at the 2024 Italian Championship of Major Events by ACI Storico

The 2024 Coppa D’Oro delle Dolomiti, organized by ACI Belluno, delivered a spectacular and emotional three-day event from July 18 to 21, featuring over 90 teams from 10 countries. All the top specialists and collectors from abroad were present, including the president of Automobile Club Italia, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, driving a Lancia Aurelia B24.

The victory went to the team of Mario Passanante and Alessandro Molgora in a Fiat 508C, who have inscribed their names in the competition’s hall of fame and repeated their success from 2023.

“I am happy with this result, for the colors of the team,” said Passanante, “and because winning the Coppa d’Oro is a great source of pride that I share with my supporters and MA-FRA who constantly support me. It was a hard-fought, challenging, but fun race, and we congratulate the organizers.”

Second place went to Giovanni Moceri and Valeria Dicembre in a Lancia Ardea, who “battled” from the first to the last test, securing a well-deserved second place in the General Classification and the 2nd Group, finishing with an infinitesimal difference of 19.70 penalties compared to Passanante, foreshadowing a Sicilian derby at the next Targa Florio.

Especially towards the end, the comeback of the Moceri and Dicembre couple in the Lancia Ardea became more pressing: “We are happy with this result, the fruit of great effort, to have competed with very strong teams, and to have challenged Passanante and Molgora, to whom we extend our best wishes for this well-deserved result.”

Third place went to Alberto Diana and Alberto Carrotta from Turin, also in a Fiat 508C of Promotor Classic, completing the 2nd Group podium, stopping the clocks at just 31.79 penalties. After the exit of Luca Patron and “Steve Clark” due to an electrical problem with their Bentley 3 Litre, the fifth place went to the Bolognese Alessandro Gamberini and Guido Ceccardi in the much-admired Fiat 514 MM of Promotor Classic, who took the lead in Group RC1.

Michel Decremer and Marie Claire Martens won first place among foreign teams and 19th place overall in the standings, debuting with the Ford Cortina Lotus

Entertainment and emotions at the second stage of the Italian Major Events Championship by ACI Storico. Podium for Passanante – Molgora and Crugnola and Mentasti on Fiat 508.

The Brescian crew composed of Alberto and Federico Riboldi, conquered the victory of the 2024 Mugello Road Circuit, the second round of the Italian Major Events Championship, a regularity race for historic and modern cars on the ACI Sport calendar, which took place this weekend. The renowned event held under the Giglio banner was organized by the Automobile Club of Italy, the Automobile Club Firenze and the ACI Storico Club, thanks also to the precious collaboration of the Scuderia Automobilistica Clemente Biondetti. 

The Brescians, father and son of Franciacorta Motori, signed the lead in the second part of the first stage, the one that unfolded among the splendid Chianti hills and started from Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, at the foot of Michelangelo’s David, between two rows of onlookers. 

“It was a beautiful race, challenging but very well organized – said Federico Riboldi -. It is a great satisfaction for us to have achieved this result with the presence of very strong crews.” 

Third place overall and podium completed for RC2, for Roberto Crugnola and Annalisa Mentasti from Varese who, again on the Fiat 508, stopped the time with just 30.14 penalties compared to the leader Riboldi who closed the weekend with just 347.98 penalties. 

A weekend to remember not only for the over 60 crews from all over the world, but also for the public who witnessed the passage of the extraordinary cars in highly evocative places. Sixth in the general classification but first in the RC1 category, the one reserved for the oldest cars in the lot, Gianmario Fontanella navigated Annamaria Covelli on a Fiat 514S of the Scuderia Promotor Classic.

The podium of the Media Tests saw Magnoni and Vanoni first in the Fiat 508C; Moceri and December on Lancia Ardea and Crugnola and Mentasti on Fiat 508. The Gentleman Cup was awarded to Massimo and Lapo Ermini on Lancia Lambda while Franciacorta Motori of president Alessandro Molgora and his numerous standard-bearers stood out among the stables.   

For the Scuderia Promotor Classic, best placing for the Fontanella-Covelli crew on board the Fiat 514S, followed by tenth place for the Diana-Bellante crew on board the Fiat 508 and sixteenth place for the Pighi-Colla crew on the Morris Mini Cooper S .

316 km to travel among the enchanting Tuscan landscapes. Two days of exciting racing, to relive the history of vintage motoring

There is very little left until the second round of the 2024 Italian Major Events Championship by ACI Storico. After the debut race of the 2024 season with the Historical Reenactment of Milano San Remo from 14 to 17 March, it will be the turn of the Mugello Road Circuit, scheduled for 12 to 14 April.

An event of great importance considering the parterre of competitors who do not want to miss the Tuscan event which, as per the regulations, provides for a coefficient of 1.5, very useful for the crews who want to make the lead in the championship in their respective categories. 

Returning to the participants, there will be Mario Passanante and Alessandro Molgora, the reigning CIGE champion crew on a Fiat 508 C, the Sicilians Francesco and Giuseppe Di Pietra, father and son on a 1938 Fiat 508 C – CIGE champions in 2018 and 2022 – Giovanni Moceri , two-time Grandi Eventi champion, in 2017 and 2019, which will be navigated by Valeria Dicembre on a 1941 Lancia Ardea, the winners of the 2022 Mugello Road Circuit Alberto Aliverti and Stefano Valente, Alberto Diana and Annalisa Bellante on a Lancia Lambda V series who currently lead the Media Test Trophy ranking ahead of Mario Passanante and Carlo Beccalossi.

Other contenders for victory will also be present, long-time regular drivers who compete with cars with a coefficient that could allow them an exploit. All eyes therefore on Federico Riboldi navigated by Alberto Riboldi on a Fiat Balilla 508C of FM Motori, Sergio Sisti navigated by Anna Gualandi on a Lancia Lambda Spider Casaro of the Classic Team, Roberto Crugnola navigated by Annalisa Mentasti on a Fiat 508C, Massimo Zanasi navigated by Corrado Corneliani again on Fiat 508C, Gianmario Fontanella navigated Annamaria Covelli on Lancia Lambda Casaro of Scuderia Promotor Classic.

Among the new features of the 2024 calendar is the establishment of a “Gentleman Trophy”, reserved for drivers not present in the priority list at the beginning of the season or who have been present in the five previous seasons.

The 2024 Mugello Road Circuit also includes the challenge between the teams. The crews of the reigning champion team – the Classic Team – will have to defend themselves from Promotor Classic and Scuderia Franciacorta Motori who will field their top standard-bearers at the 2024 Mugello Road Circuit.

For the Scuderia Promotor Classic at the start of the race, in addition to the aforementioned Gianmario Fontanella-Anna Maria Covelli on Lancia Lambda Casaro and Alberto Diana-Annalisa Bellante on Lancia Lambda V Serie, Maurizio Chiarini and Roberto Vancini on Austin Healey 100/4 BN2 and Giovanni Pighi and Anita Colla on Morris Mini Cooper S

The fleet of cars competing is therefore first-rate: the 2024 edition includes prestigious models such as five Lancia Lambdas (1925, 1927, two from 1928 and 1929) of which three with CASARO bodies, a Bugatti 37 from 1929, an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS from 1929, a BMW 328 from 1939 and a FIAT 514 Sport from 1930.

The program of the Mugello Road Circuit includes – Friday 12 April 2024 – the arrival of the participants and the usual sporting and technical checks of the crews and cars in the race. The headquarters, also for this edition, will be on the Lungarno in Florence (Grand Hotel Mediterraneo).

During the first stage, scheduled for Saturday 13 April, the competition will start from Piazzale Michelangelo, in the historic center of Florence and will wind through the suggestive Chianti hills. The route will pass through the towns of San Polo in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, and then go as far as Monteriggioni, where the crews will stop for lunch. In the afternoon the route will touch Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, and then end in Strada in Chianti allowing the crews to return freely to Florence.

Along the route of the second stage – Sunday 14 April – the crews will be called to compete on the historic route of the Mugello road Grand Prix, passing through San Piero a Sieve, Scarperia, Passo del Giogo, Firenzuola, Passo della Futa and Barberino di Mugello, to end at the Mugello Circuit with the awards ceremony.

A  serious loss  has hit the  Pininfarina Group . The president,  Paolo Pininfarina,  passed away today in Turin, at the age of 65. A great loss for the style signature of the most famous Italian car in the world. Paolo was the son of the senator for life, Sergio Pininfarina, and nephew of the founder of the brand, the legendary Battista “Pinin”. We remember that in August 2008 Paolo’s older brother, Andrea, died in a car accident.  The entire automotive world rallies behind the Pininfarina family , in memory of the professional and human figure of Paolo Pininfarina, who led the company from 2008 to today. Thanks to the great dedication shown by the president to his work, the Group began a diversification process in the 1980s which led it to become a point of reference in design fields other than automotive.

Turin doc.  Paolo Pininfarina was  born in Turin on 28 August 1958 . Having graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic of the Piedmontese capital, after a series of educational and professional experiences abroad, including those at Cadillac, Honda and General Motors,  in 1982 he began his professional career  in the family business ,  and in 1987 he assumed the role of President and CEO of Pininfarina Extra srl, a Group company specializing in industrial design, furniture, architecture, nautical and aeronautics. From 1988 he became  a member of the Board of Directors  and from 2002, member of the Management Committee of the Parent Company Pininfarina SpA

In 2006, he was appointed Vice President of Pininfarina Spa and, since 2008, following the sudden death of his brother Andrea, he assumed the role of President. Among the masterpieces that he personally inaugurates, two are particularly dear to him:  the Sergio concept car , a two-seater boat based on Ferrari mechanics, which Paolo decided to build in 2013 in memory of his father, Senator for life Sergio Pininfarina, and the  Automobili Pininfarina Battista ,  an electric hypercar  that bears the name of his grandfather and which he himself unveils at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Ruoteclassiche editorial team joins the automotive world in mourning the passing of such an illustrious figure.

The third edition  of the  Sorrento Roads by 1000 Miglia has ended  . Alfonso Facchini and Luigia Olivetti won again  with their 1938 BMW 328 , thus achieving their third consecutive success in Sorrento and one of the two guarantees of  acceptance  up for grabs for the  2025 Alpine Cup .

“We really enjoyed these days of holiday and competition, the victory is just an added joy ,” comments Facchini.

The other pass for the next edition of the Alpine Cup is taken  by Riccardo Fiorentini and Giovanna Ceci  with their  1972 Porsche 911 T Targa , winners of the  City of Sorrento Trophy  which took place in the afternoon.

Two splendid Porsche 356s completed the podium of the general classification  . In second place was the  1955 1500 Speedster  of  Tarcisio Bonomi and Patrizia Codini ; bronze medal instead for  Alessandro Girardi and Simonetta Mastellini , who equaled last year’s result on their  1500 Coupè , also from  1955 .

The morning opened with the display of the cars competing at Villa Fiorentino. In addition to being admired by the curious, the cars were evaluated by a Popular Jury appointed for the occasion who voted for the cars with the best design and style: the  1959 Mercedes Benz 300 S Roadster  of De Sanctis-Desanctis Morbiducci triumphed in both categories among the historic ones (built before 1980). Among the post-1980 models,   Ficca-Caruso’s  2006 Lamborghini Gallardo  was elected for best design while the highest number of votes for style went to  Wagner-Wagner’s 2008 Ferrari California  .

The competitors, meanwhile, set sail for  Capri , where they enjoyed a moment of relaxation before the last sporting act of the event.

In the afternoon the cars were lined up on Corso Italia, from where the 1 vs 1 direct elimination Trophy  dedicated to the City of Sorrento began  . The participation of the public was warm, after which the competitors thought about making the challenge even more exciting and fun. After an exceptionally balanced best-of-three final, Riccardo Fiorentini and Giovanna Ceci with their  1972 Porsche 911 T Targa  got the better of Tarcisio Bonomi and Patrizia Codini, who took second place with their  Porsche 356 1500 Speedster of 1955 , just like in yesterday’s race.

“I don’t know what to say, we are newbies so this victory gives us even more joy –  declared Riccardo Fiorentini and Giovanna Ceci at the end of the match, after exchanging a gesture of fair play with their opponents  – Do you think that just last night in the hotel it was Tarcisio to give us some advice! Thanks to everyone, it was really fantastic.”

History on four wheels. From the Castle to the sea, the ‘Valli e nebbie’ parade

The 34th edition of “Valli e Nebbie”, the flagship event of the Club Officina Ferrarese, inaugurated the fourth season of ASI Circuito Tricolore, an initiative of the Automotoclub Storico Italiano sponsored by the Ministries of Culture and Transport, ANCI, Città dei Motori, Stati Generali del Patrimonio Italiano and FIVA which develops in a calendar of 18 events aimed at the knowledge and valorisation of the territories through dynamic historical motoring.

The colors of passion – and of a spring that suddenly blossomed – combined with the roar of the history of motoring returned among the most evocative glimpses of Ferrara in the event which took place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th April. The program, as usual, combined passion for motoring, valorisation of Ferrara’s typical features and culture in the strict sense. So much so that, after the technical checks on Friday afternoon in Piazza Castello, the almost one hundred crews present were accompanied on a guided tour of the Escher exhibition at Palazzo dei Diamanti.

The next day, the route of the first stage took the long caravan of historic cars to Masi Torelli and Migliarino, to then enter the itinerary of the Comacchio Valleys and reach the Lido degli Estensi and Comacchio, the “little Venice”. 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 7 April saw the passage through the fascinating Piazza Ariostea, with the dispute of some precision tests set up on the oval which hosts the traditional Palio di Ferrara. Then head towards Bondeno to visit the Pilastresi water pump. Delizia Estense della Diamantina for the stamp control and finally the car parade in Ferrara in Piazza Trento Trieste between two wings of crowd and under a warm and bright sun.

The array of cars at the start did not disappoint expectations, with examples built between 1925 and the 1970s, confirming the “Valli e Nebbie” among the most important events of the Ferrara spring, attracting enthusiasts and the public. At the end of the 17 skill tests undertaken over the two days, Andrea Camosci and Alice Casellato on the 1959 Austin Healey Sprite, Alessandro Virzì and Valentino Poddi on the 1960 Austin Healey Sprite and Christian Roncolato and Ines Hustik on the 1965 Lancia Fulvia Coupé took to the podium. Best “lady” behind the wheel Federica Ameglio on a 1959 Triumph TR3 and best “young driver” Manuel Roncolato on a 1965 Austin Healey MK III.

FROM THE VIEWS OF THE AMALFI COAST TO THE RUINS OF PAESTUM, A JOURNEY BETWEEN TIMED TRIALS AND DISCOVERY OF THE TERRITORY

For the third consecutive year the Freccia Rossa returns to Sorrento with the  Roads by 1000 Miglia format , designed to bring a taste of 1000 Miglia outside the classic routes of the  most beautiful race in the world . This is  Sorrento Roads , a journey to discover the  Sorrento Peninsula  and the  Amalfi Coast , which this year will be enriched with the new features of the race passages from  Salerno  and  Paestum  and the landing (strictly car-free) in  Capri.

After the technical and sporting checks scheduled for this afternoon, tomorrow the cars will compete in the regularity challenge which, from  Piazza Andrea Veniero  in Sorrento, will go up towards  Sant’Agata sui due Golfi  and reach the Nastro Verde for the first time trials ; the passage from Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Minori and the second block of Time Trials in the port of Maiori will offer the beauty of the Amalfi Coast  and then continue along the coast on the slopes of the Irno Valley towards Salerno and  Cilento . After stopping for lunch in Capaccio, the competitors will be able to visit the  Archaeological Park of  Paestum,  leaving the competing cars on display in the splendid setting in front of the excavations.

The restart for the second sector of the race will include Time Trials in  Marina di Arechi , the island port designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava and, before leaving the southern gulf of the Sorrento peninsula, the cars will animate the central streets of  Salerno , with a Stamp control in  Corso Garibaldi  and the last sports tests along the Strada Statale Sorrentina.

On the morning of Saturday 6 April, while the cars will be exhibited in the gardens of the Sorrento Foundation and Piazza Andrea Veniero for evaluation by the Popular Jury who will elect the car with the best design and the one that best represents the style, the participants will reach sea ​​the island of  Capri  to have lunch in one of the most famous and dreamed of scenarios in the world. At the end of the day, the competitors will give life to the  City of Sorrento Trophy ,  a 1 vs 1 direct elimination regularity  challenge   that will liven up the city centre.

The list of cars admitted to the next edition of the Mille Miglia 2024 has been published, over 394 cars including Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Fiat, Bugatti, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Lancia and Aston Martin.

The 2024 edition of the Freccia Rossa will start from Brescia  on Tuesday 11 June  and will pass through  Bergamo ,  Novara  and  Vercelli  before arriving in  Turin  for the first stage finish line.

On the second day, the convoy will begin the descent southwards over the Langhe and through the center of  Alba  before heading to  Genoa , an absolute novelty of the  1000 Miglia 2024 , where the crews will stop for lunch. Continuing on the Tyrrhenian coast, the race will reach the finish line in  Viareggio .

The third stage will see the descent towards the capital: initially the race will veer towards the hinterland passing through  Lucca , then returning to the coast at  Livorno  until the lunch break in  Castiglione della Pescaia . In the afternoon the passage from  Grosseto , the entry into Lazio,  Lake Bolsena  and the conclusion in  Rome  in via Veneto.

With the fourth stage the crews will go up to  Orvieto  and then  Solomeo , location of the lunch. After the break it will be the turn of  Siena  and  Prato  and the  Futa and Raticosa passes,  which will precede the arrival in  Bologna . On the final day of  Saturday 15 June  the route will touch  Ferrara  and  Mantua , then  Lake Garda  with  Valtenesi  and  Salò  to finish with the classic walkway in Viale Venezia.

Ferrara. Once again this year, Promotor Classic will take to the field for the 2024 season to assist participants in some of the most prestigious events of the ASI Tricolore Circuit, the calendar of events organized by ASI (Italian Historic Automobile Club), dedicated to vintage car enthusiasts from across the country. These events offer a unique opportunity to admire historically valuable and beautiful cars, engaged in races and rallies that celebrate Italy’s rich automotive heritage. Promotor Classic will play a crucial role in providing technical assistance to event participants, with its own vehicles and qualified staff ready to intervene to get crews back on the road should they encounter technical issues. In particular, starting from the 34th edition of Valli e Nebbie, a historic event organized by the Officina Ferrarese Club, which will take place on April 6th and 7th between the city of Ferrara and the Adriatic Sea, crossing the picturesque flower-filled countryside of the Po Delta. In May, it will be the turn of the Coppa della Perugina, scheduled from the 9th to the 12th, followed by the Leggenda di Bassano, scheduled from June 27th to June 30th, and finally the Circuito di Avezzano & Abruzzo Gran Tour, an adventure taking place from July 2nd to July 7th amidst the magnificent landscapes of Abruzzo. The role played by Promotor Classic in these special events of the ASI Tricolore Circuit not only demonstrates their technical expertise and passion for vintage cars but also contributes to preserving Italy’s automotive heritage and promoting love for vintage cars throughout the country.

Press Office – N.M. Promotor Classic

The Trofeo Foresti, a Bresciana classic in memory of Elda and Guido Foresti, late Bugatti friends and enthusiasts of our world of historic cars, starts from Pralboino (BS). There will be over 120 cars at the start and among these the Scuderia Promotor will field its leading drivers among the Top drivers with Diana – Bellante on a 1925 Lancia Lambda V Serie, Patron – Patron on a 1929 Alfa 1750 SS, Gamberini – Falciroli on a FIAT 514 of 1930 and Chiarini – Vancini on the younger Austin Healey 100/4 of 1956. There will be 69 classification tests, 6 time checks to make the classification on a route of over 260 km. It is difficult to make a prediction as the best regular drivers of the moment will be at the start but we are sure that after the fantastic podium of the Winter Race in Cortina d’Ampezzo, our drivers will certainly be able to express themselves at their best here too.

BB for Promotorclassic Magazine Press Office.