Le Mitiche Sport a Bassano, 2006

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
(except as noted), words by Staff

This image, borrowed from the Le Mitiche website (we asked, they did not respond), illustrates how the cars gather at the finish, lining up at the castle Marostica. A glorious way to end an affair.

Le Mitiche Sport a Bassano (del Grappa)…

Is a title which bears some discussion; it is not short and sweet (such as Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, LeMans, etc.), self explanatory, nor does it easily translate. Our Italian correspondent, Alessandro Gerelli, says, that it means “Mythic Sport Cars in Bassano”. Bassano is more correctly Bassano del Grappa, and Grappa is a Brandy. The abundance of this famous beverage caused a few problems for Gerelli. “If any of my pictures are out of focus,” he said, “please excuse me, but this is the effect of the prosecco wine and of the grappa: I was not able to give up such an opportunity sample the local products!”

Not that we blame him. Bassano is a place where mythic….or perhaps more precisely, legendary…. pre-1960 open sports cars gather once a year to test their mettle in the Dolomiti Alps. The entrants must be spiders, convertibles, barchettas, not coupes or tintops or even targas…and fortunately for the entrants the event is always run in mid-June, avoiding the traditional wet months of April and May. (Rain hampered the event in 2003 though!) The event therefore draws rare and wonderful sports racers from Germany, France, England and of course, Italy. And for everyone, it is a chance to see the little uns--the under 1500 cc “Etceterinis” in action. Which is why we sent Gerelli in the first place.

History
The home of the Grappa is in north-east Italy, in the Venezia-Friuli Region. It was founded as an agricultural estate a while ago, in the second century B.C.E. by a Roman called Bassianus. A variant of the name remained after becoming a town by about the first millennium. There is the mandatory castle, first mentioned in about the year 1350 AD, and a charming covered wooden bridge, rebuilt dozens of times throughout its history. “It’s also known for the ceramics or pottery production, and the Luigi Bonfanti car museum in Romano d’Ezzelino, just near by,” said Gerelli. He reminds us that the Mille Miglia storica is not the only Italian event for old cars: about every week there are many events in nice locations, that allow the very happy owners of historical cars to enjoy a pleasant weekend driving their cars in competitive and not competitive events. Bassano is typical of these types of smaller, less heralded venues.

As in most places in Italy, the food is of prime importance. The organizers emphasize that “..every year the route is rich in landscape and eating surprises. Mountain roads take the competitors in contact with a natural environment not very well known, but of great emotional impact. The welcome in these places is always enthusiastic: tables prepared with the products of our land. Different kinds of cheese and sausages, wines and local brandies...”

The event
The organizers are the Calmonte Brothers, Danilo and Renato, who established Le Mitiche in 1995 and have run it every year since. Entries grew from 36 to this year’s 110, and there are now limitations as to how many cars will be allowed to enter. The family of enthusiasts has grown, and according to their website Le Mitichesport.com the event fosters friendship “…. making people come back to Bassano, to see each other and spend an idyllic weekend, there is a show and the protagonists are the pilots and their wives, girlfriends, and families and friends.”

The event starts on a Saturday, with cars leaving Bassano at timed intervals at 8 am. The cars head toward the Dolomites in direction of the Marmolada and San Martino di Castrozza, (View map of the course) usually staying overnight in San Martino. On Sunday, they head back towards Bassano, but actually end up in the historic town of Marostica. The medieval town of Marostica in northern Italy is located in the foothills, just a half hour's drive from Vicenza and 10 minutes from Bassano del Grappa. Surrounded by the ancient walls of its castles, Marostica is best known for its square which is a giant chessboard, and every year a game of chess using live pieces is played, based on a romantic tradition started in 1454.

The cars
Oh, yes, the cars. Gerelli found that the entry list included 10 Bentleys, 9 Maseratis, 8 Fiats, 7 Alfas and Oscas along with many Etceterinis, “But,” he added, “it is always a very difficult exercise for the public to identify the cars. Of course all the cars are in perfect condition (maybe over restored, but this is my personal feeling), and the job of the technical inspectors is very simple (the lights are working ? yes ! Ok )”. (See entry list)

At the end of the two days drive, the winner was Mazzola Poggi with a Healey Silverstone, second was Aime Arcangeli with a Stanga Sport, and third was Bugatti/Bugatti with a Fortunati Sport. “Of course there were a lot of other honors, but surely the best prize for everybody is to have been there and to have enjoyed driving his small sport car in the wonderful scenario of the Italian Alps.”

If you are interested in entering, the rules state that only ASI registered cars in the following categories are permitted:
a) category sport cars open version built from 1920-1960
b)Also admitted as participants are vehicles with great historic value prior to 1965.
To be admitted the vehicles would have to show evidence of homologation certificate, identity / certificate or permit released by ASI for participation and CI (International Commission) of the FIVA. You’ll need to have your car registered with ASI, and be the actual owner. Driver and co-pilot admitted with valid drivers license.

We also found an enticing hotel in the area of Bassano, which promises much and presumably delivers (let us know if not!). True to the spirit of Le Mitiche, one can also rent a vintage sports car to drive through the nearby mountains.

Below are just a few of the cars which participated this year. The bulk of Alessandro’s photography detailed those elusive Etceterinis, and we’ll save them for our future work on that particular genre--to be seen in VeloceToday, and no where else!

Paolo Pilenga and Carlo Carminati brought this splendid 6c 1750 Alfa to the event. A perfect way to spend a weekend.

This is the underrated Alfa 6c2300 Pescara Spider, lost in the midst of the 8C2300's of the thirties. Entered by the German team of Helmut Schmid and Heiner Klimaszewski.

The 6c2300 was overshadowed by this, the Alfa 8c 2300 Monza and later variants. This one came from Great Britian to run the event, piloted by John May of Team Benjafields.

May's home for the weekend. That's Gerelli in the mirror.

Or, take an OSCA. In this case, the very rare 2000 model. Another German entry, entered by Oskar and Constanze Reiss.

Did we say rare? Ok, seven of the 2 liter 6 cylinder OSCAs were built in 1954 and 1955. This is the cockpit from which the driver could manage the 165 horsepower.

An MT4-2AD OSCA 1500, with a Morelli body. These DOHCs also featured 2 plugs per cylinder, produced around 115 hp but the new Porsche Spyders were faster.

The cockpit of the MT4-2AD. It was entered by Renato Calmonte of Italy.

At the other end of the OSCA scale, the 750 cc Tipo 187S. In Ferrari fashion, the engine designation was equal to the cc's of one cylinder, i.e., 187 x 4 = 750cc. Entered by Gian Paolo Cavagna and Franca Pasotti.

This tiny OSC was very popular in the U.S., and while Porsche increased the displacement of their race cars, OSCA reduced theirs and kept winning despite the Germans.

Two Fiat classics, the pre-war Balilla 508 Coppa D'Oro. In the background is the famous Black Diamond Coppa D'Oro, raced in Great Britain by Westwood and Sandford at Brooklands, but now owned by Antonio Gozzoli of Italy.

We are holding back on the majority of Alessandro's work. But here is a sneak preview--the Paganelli, based on the Lancia Aprilia. Entered by Mario and Alberto Marri if Italy.

The Paganelli cockpit, with what seems to be a later era steering wheel. But on these, anything goes!