Halfway home, somewhere south of Kiev. Photo: Ufficio Stampa Presidenza Provincia di Milano
An adventure that marks the passing of the Expo from China to Italy, and the end of the Alfa Romeo Centenary celebration.
By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ufficio Stampa Presidenza Provincia di Milano
Milano, December 18, 2010
Four Alfa Romeo Giulias arrived in Milano after a grueling 35 days and 25,000 kilometers of travel. The team drove through China, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia and finally into Italy.
Starting from Shanghai and ending in Milano, the “Raid automobilistico della fratellanza e della pace” (Automotive Rally of brotherhood and peace) was sponsored by Scuderia del Portello, Alfa Romeo and the Rotary International. The event was under the patronage of the Provincia di Milano, Comune di Milano and Regione Lombardia and was the result of the efforts of twenty Alfa Romeo enthusiasts, led by Claudio Quarantani.
The charity rally was officially presented on October 29th by President of the Province of Milano, Giudo Podestà, and started on November 18th from Shanghai, the industrial capital of the Republic of China after the closing ceremony of Expo 2010.
One of the four Alfas after arriving in Milano. Note the map of the route on the door.
The “Raid automobilistico della fratellanza e della pace” ended its adventure on December 18th in the Honour Courtyard of ‘Palazzo Isimbardi’. One of the four cars, the 1972 Giulia Super, was driven in by President Podestà who had as a passenger Formula One driver Arturo Merzario.
The rally not only served to build a bridge between two cities but also the symbolic handover of the Expo in Shanghai the the new location of Milano.
President Podesta said “Unlike the 2010 edition, which celebrated the magnificence of China, a country that is growing, the 2015 Expo will be a showcase of Italian excellence. For this reason, I am proud that the Expo passed from Shanghai to Milano, and I am proud that the Alfa Romeo brand, a historical name appreciated by the citizens in Milano, in Italy and throughout the world, has participated in this adventure.”
President Giudo Podesta, center, hosts a meeting of Chinese and Italian representatives.
The 2010 Raid was in fact a revival of an event which took place in 1968, carried out under the aegis of “Quattroruote” magazine; an Alfa Romeo Giulia traveled 27,000 miles from Milan to Pekin to deliver a message of peace from Pope Paul VI to the Chinese government. The message was prompted due to the fact that the People’s Republic of China had closed the very few Catholic churches that remained open even under the “Cultural Revolution” started in 1966 by Mao Tse-tung.
The four Alfa Romeo “Satta” sedans used in the 2010 edition were two 1967 Supers, one 1970 TI Super Sport (1970) and one 1972 Super. The support cars consisted of a new Giulietta and one Giulia Station wagon.
In addition to building international peace and serving as the handoff of the Expo series, the rally was a fund raising event for Polio, a disease largely eradicated in the West but remains endemic in four countries; Afganistan, Nigeria, India, and Pakistan. About 874 new cases were reported in 2010. Rotary International is raising funds in order to complete the project “End Polio Now”, the plan to provide for the vaccination of thousands of children.
The caravan of Alfas on the Russian Autostrada near Moscow.
Snow and mess in Bucharest. The Alfa demisters are a two speed one horse affair.
Roads along the way were not always modern autostradas.
Alfa underway along a stretch of Russian road.
Mayor of Kiev, in black coat, center, welcomes Alfa travelers.
Colorful pit stop for Alfas proceeding through Russia.
Alfa team arrives in Trieste. Just a short hop and a jump now to Milano.
Home at last. The Alfa station wagon used as a support vehicle can be seen in the center.
well gee my milano would not have had enough ground clearance under the chassis to complete such a trip.
> jack
What a grand adventure! And one of the support cars was a colli wagon. How wonderful is that?
Was there a daily blog? More pictures? Fascinating trip but too few details here–like, how reliable were the cars?
Roberto will get a chance to interview one of the participants after the holiday season and he will request more photos and details. The cars had just arrived back in Miilano when we received the story.
Editor
Mio padre nel 1972 (io avevo 7 anni) acquistò una bellissima alfa romeo giulia 1.600 di colore bianco. Il motore bialbero in lega leggera, le valvole al sodio, i freni a disco su tutte e quattro le ruote la facevano la MIGLIORE e più tecnologica auto esistente sul mercato nel 1972 (ovviamente in una fascia di prezzo media). Io di quella macchina ero innamorato… non vedevo l’ora di uscire con mio padre a bordo della Giulia, la ripresa era spettacolare il rumore di quel motore lo sogno ancora adesso,
mio padre la tanne ben 15 anni poi la cambiò ed acquistò una alfa romeo “75” 2000 twin spark (1988) di colore azzurro metallizzato anche quella auto eccezionale…
Here’s a translation of Paolo’s message:
My father in 1972 (I was 7 years old) bought a beautiful 1600 Alfa Romeo Giulia, white. The DOHC engine light alloy sodium valves, disc brakes on all four wheels were the best and the technological drive on the market in 1972 (obviously in a medium price range). I was in love with that car … I could not wait to go out with my father on board the Giulia, the shot was spectacular the sound of that engine I dream even now,
My father had it for 15 years then changed and bought an Alfa Romeo “75” 2000 twin spark (1988) in light blue metallic car .
Sad to see that Alfa missed yet another chance to get free publicity. They did miss the chance with the Centenial which aligniated many Alfisti and now they are not supporting this raid.
Sad, sad, sad
Bart
Well……..I drove mine from No. Hollywood to Carmel once. How bout them apples!
Simply fantastic. You never fail to bring up fantastic stories like these. Now if ever they need a driver for next year…
HELLO FRIENDS
I was the lucky one that did this trip from moscow to milano. Mr . Marco Cajani from Scuderia del Portello invited me and so I did all the long driving in a Giulia super and in Italy I was the lucy one to drive the familiar or Promiscua.
If you people go to the forum on my site on the section GERAL you will find a lot more pictures of this fantastic adventure
will never forget and cannot find words to describe it and to thnak mr Cajani
I was one of the lucky people to drive the giulia super from moscow to milano
Mr Marco Cajani came to portugal in octibre to buy a old Giulietta sprint from me
and invited me to to this raid.
it was simply fantastic. The only problem it to pass on the borders with the police always telling you BIG PROBLEM, and asking you for money.
Apart from tha the giulia they run just like a Italian watch. Only problem. A blow exhaust, the wipers were no god and some oil comsumation on the Giulia Super
The Giulia is the most fantastic FAMILIAR car EVER made. It was made in Italy
It takes you every were without problems, but should the problems arise it still takes you there as well. FANTASTIC
fernando vaz pinto
Supers rock on. This presents them in a much more favorable light than the original Italian Job movie!
After a few kilometers on so many diferente countrys driveing the Giulia Super
once again I say. For me this is the most fantastic car ever made on the 60/70.
You can drive it as a day car, with the family, and when you need it for a Raid you
just change the oil and it is ready for it
Very nice to drive it on snow, on ice on mudd on asfalt. I really love this car.
It was very nice to see the way the people from Russia and Ucrania looked at us with envy. What sort of Lada , so nice is this. It is an ALFA ROMEO.
All the team where fantastic and believe it or not the Giulia they run very nice
even the one that need one litre of oil for every 150kms. Only a very good car is
able to keep going on and on and on.
For me it was the trip of my life
Thank you Alfa Romeo for making such a fantastic car.
ps . ( as a every day car in lisbon I use a Giulia 1300 ti, or a Sprint gt or a Spider or a Alfetta berlina) That noise makes smile
What fun!
In ~ 1975 I owned a ’65 Guilia TI , and due to its excellent drag coefficient could pass many cars coasting while they were using their engines. I once got 35 milles per gallon, but the carb (Orletto?) could not hold the setting. Once I crammed in 5 large adults for a joy ride. When the starter refused to work on a trip, I got angry and traded it for a Gremlin! Stupid! If only I still had it.
Bravo !Bravo ! What an achievement …for Alfa Romeo and hard core Alfisti community …..25,000 km within 35 days driving the Giulia are a great achievement …AROC Malaysia together with AROC Singapore & Alfa Club Thai will also embark on its own historic journey to Kunming ,China this coming March ….
It is great to see what these wonderful Giulias can still achieve today!
As a former owner of a 1970 Giulia 1300 Super, I am still very much impressed by its looks, styling and performance which was really extraordinary for its day.
Alas its reliability was not keeping in with this! (I had a major engine failure, pistons burnt, you name it…, not to mention the rust problems).
Nevertheless I still admire this design, and if there would be any car that I would like to reappear (like the Mini or the Fiat 500) it is this one!
Wouter van Lingen ,Lommel, Belgium