The man from Galiate

Rosario is a beautiful city situated in the Mediterranean province of Santa Fe, well known in the motor racing world, because it was Carlos Reutemann`s home.

As we said in the first chapter, the Argentinean Automovil Club had organized a series of three races, the last being Rosario, at the “Parque de la Independencia”. The track was a street circuit, in the middle of the city, and the course was set around a beautiful forest.

Friday was a very hot day, those days in which anything you touch virtually melted--so many of the “troupe” arrived at the circuit late in the afternoon. But it was a terrible day for motor sport, as two young drivers lost their lives while testing. Emilio Meneghetti crashed his Hudson into a tree, dying instantly. Later, Edison Hortal also had a fatal accident while testing his Plymouth and died three days later. Both drivers were to compete in the “fuerza libre” race.

Retiro, second race: Italian stars. Varzi and Villoresi after practicing for the second race.

Twenty thousand brave souls paid the 20 cents fee to watch the practice on Friday! A record, especially considering the tremendous heat. As soon as the track was opened, all the cars went out for testing together with either the Grand Prix or the Mecanica Nacional class. After a few laps, Villoresi and Varzi were showing their class to the crowds, and their driving talent could not be mistaken.

Saturday afternoon and the classification was on. “Gigi” Villoresi was again the fastest driver. The man & machine were in total harmony, and that no matter what the scenery and rivals, the communion would work. “Gigi” had a time of 1’ 46 at 95.974 Km/h average, a new record, and faster than his friend Achille Varzi. Pessatti in a great drive, was third, followed by Oscar Galvez, “Chico” Landi, Italo Bizio, George Raph, Giacomo Palmieri and Pedro Llano.

Retiro: Carlo Pintacuda, the Italian pre war hero. He did a few laps previous to the first race in a Cisitalia D 46, here he is seen in his Maserati.

But it seemed this time that the luck was not with “Gigi”, as on Sunday his Maserati had cooling troubles, and his mechanics started the car when all the rest of the cars were ready to roll. This meant “Gigi” had to start from the back of the grid.

When the checkered flag went down Pessatti rushed to the lead, but Varzi put his Alfa in first place before the end of the first lap. On the second lap, in an extraordinary drive, Villoresi was already in 6th place!

On lap 5 Pessatti was out of the race with no clutch, and Villoresi was in third, behind Varzi and Galvez . On lap seven Villoresi passed Galvez, and again, the Italian pair was in the lead. Their work was so outstanding, that two laps before the end, they both lapped Galvez.

This time the ghosts of a “previous agreement” between the Italians appeared again, as they alternated the first place for a couple of laps before Varzi took the lead at end of the race.

With a slim smile, a cigarette always present, the man of Galiate showed the Argentineans that his pre and post-war titles were not coincidence. Achille Varzi planned, to stay to live in Argentina and open a Motor Racing School. Unluckily a year later his life was extinguished during practice at the Bern Grand Prix in Switzerland, while driving an Alfetta 158. The world of motor racing lost one of the best examples of a complete and exquisite driver.

Achille Varzi, winner of the last of the three Temporada races, graces the cover of the magazine “El Graphico”.

Varzi later told “El Grafico”, that “If I have to choose a race from the three, I will take Rosario. Not for being the winner, but because of the opposition we found from the Argentineans. With the experience gained from the two previous races, they were much faster. The race was so fast that I didn’t even have time to clean my goggles!”.

Villoresi also made statements to “El Grafico”-loquacious but honest. “If we return, now we know the people locally involved in mortor racing, and we should visit each garage and workshop to transmit all our experiences and knowledge. They really deserve this. They have been respectful and loyal rivals. We take with us from Argentina affectionate remembrances. As for myself, next summer I have some appointments to race in Cape Town, but if I can cancel them, I no doubt will be returning here. I would like to let you now that we are really thankful with the way we have been received and attended by all: the Automovil Club, the press, the drivers and the thousands of people that attended the races.”

The race record

1	28	Achille Varzi	Alfa Romeo 308C (3.0 sc)	1h 33’ 03’’	50
2	16	Luigi Villoresi	Maserati 4CL (1.5 sc)	1h 33’ 04’’	50
3	20	Oscar A. Galvez	Alfa Romeo 308C (3.8 sc)	1h 33’ 16’’	49
4	24	Francisco Landi	Alfa Romeo 308C (3.0 sc)	1h 34’ 17’’	48
5	8	Juan Galvez	Alfa Romeo P3 (3.2 sc)	1h 34’ 41’’	47

Race average (winner): 90,150 Km/h

The first edition of the Temporada Argentina was over, and one of the most popular series in the motor racing world had begun. Through the efforts of the Automovil Club, its directors and with the help of the government, Argentina slowly introduced this fascinating world of motor racing to an eager public. The effort was worthwhile, as some years later a timid Argentinean would make headlines for many years, becoming the F1 World Champion five times.