Poster for the 2005 Event.
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Cortina d'Ampezzo plays host to an on-again off-again series of classic car
trials which commemorate the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti races, originally were held from 1947 to 1956. Not a main event on the calendar, the retro event nevertheless attracts a good number of seldom-seen Italian cars, and again this year Alessandro Gerelli made the 430 kilometer trip from Milan to take a look at the offerings.
Cortina is a world famous ski and health resort, with hiking trails and outdoor activities, and has been the background of many familiar movies including "The Pink Panther, Von Ryan's Express" and most recently, "Cliffhanger". Most car enthusiasts relate the name to the Ford and Lotus Ford Cortina, which was introduced in there way back in 1963. Previous to that, the Brits also named the Alfa-cloned Triumph Dolomite after the same region.
Cortina itself, also known as the "Regina delle Dolomiti" (Queen of the Dolomit) is located near the Austrian border and has about 7000 inhabitants, with a history dating back 1000 years. A variety of events are scheduled throughout the year to keep the well-booted clients entertained.
Like any region with a rich, ancient history, the Dolomites have their legends, and the favorite is that of King Laurino. There are many versions of the story, but suffice to say that when his kingdom was in bloom, there was a huge rose garden which cast a beautiful crimson light on the kingdom. But in a state of depression and rage, Laurino turned the fantastic garden into stone, and thereby created the Pallidi mountains we see today. The only thing left of the garden was the light surrounding the mountains, which during sunrise and sunset takes on the hues of the roses which once covered the kingdom.
Tazio Nuvolari meets a young Teresa De Filippis at Cortina in 1949. Photo from "Polvere e Gloria". (read book review.)
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Gerelli reported on the 2002 event for VeloceToday
and noted, "The Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti that is noted for the typology of the roads, that run up and down across the wonderful scenario of the Dolomiti near the worldwide famous village of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The race was particularly difficult with high gradient climbs and breathtaking downhill sections."
That year was a special one for the retro event as Phil Hill, Paolo Marzotto and Maria Teresa De Filippis, (who was the first woman to drive a formula 1 car in 1958, gaining a 10th place in Spa Gran Prix on a Maserati 250F) were in attendance, much to the delight of both entrants and spectators.
Gerelli comments on this year's event:
The most recent event, held on September 2-4, was not at the same level of the first commemorative events of the 1980's, but the entrants included many cars from the 50's and 60's and the quality was satisfactory.
In addition, three cars were entered from the Alfa Romeo museum (as for the Mille Miglia), and additional cars came from the BMW and Skoda collections. Skoda was the sponsor of the race, celebrating 100 years of car production.
The weather was rather good and only few thunderstorms created minor problems to the drivers of open cars.
Like the original events, the drivers were mainly Italians with only few exceptions (Japan, Germany, Netherlands and Montecarlo).
The event winner, Mr. Canè together with Mrs. Galliani, drove a stunning BMW 328 of 1938; Canè is a well known Italian driver who has won all what can be won in the historic car races including the Mille Miglia.
The start of the Retro Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti is exactly where it has always started from, the town of Cortina. Only the strange looking arch is new.
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Not as strict as the organizers of the Mille Miglia, the more open Coppa Retro allows cars to run which were not in production during the years of the event. This allows nice collectables like this Lancia Appia Zagato to get some road time.
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Ferrari Monzas first took part in the Coppa series in 1954. Gerino Gerini placed third with his Monza 250 with a time of three hours twenty minutes and thirty seconds. Here, a Monza waits to recreate the past for its owner.
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1750 Alfas were far too early for the event, although the precursor to the later Coppa series took place in the 1920s, and was called the Coppa delle Alpi.
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1948 Fiat with a special body. The entrant called it a Fiat 1100 "Stella Alpina", or Star of the Alps.
We are not sure of the coachbuilder, but Farina is a good guess.
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The Maserati A6GCS 2 liter was well represented at the Coppa series. Sergio Mantovani won outright in 1954 with his, while in 1955 six were entered but only one finished.
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The Ferrari Monza, the car built for aspiring factory teams drivers, was popular with both professional and amateur drivers in both Italy and the United States, but few
entered the Coppa events. Notably Olivier Gendebien came in second in the last race in 1957, driving a 250 MM.
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The elegant Lancia Flaminia, Pininfarina's favorite car. The world has not yet recognized how far advanced the real Lancia's were, nor the genius of Vincenzo Lancia.
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From 1953 on, Alfa 1900s such as this superb Touring Sprint, filled the grids in the Coppa's Grand Touring catagory, competing with the Lancia Aurelias. However, with four wheel independent suspension and a V6, the Lancias proved more raceworthy.
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If the Alfa 1900s were heavy and underpowered, the 2600 solved the problem of the power. But not the weight or handling. But still beautiful in the evening light, the design seems everlasting.
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The Zagato brothers did much better with the Flaminia than the Appia, due to better proportions. A few were raced, but in general the Flaminia Zagato was a great GT car.
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Culled from the Alfa Museum, this is a prototype sports racer based on the Giulietta. The official name was the Competition 750, and had a 1300 Giulietta engine increased to 1500cc. Only two were built and neither was ever raced.
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The genius of Vittoria Jano is obvious here. Form follows function but in an artistic manner.
Bugatti and Jano were among the first to think of the engine as art.
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All we are going to say is that the owner himself stands next to his Ferrari.
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