September 20, 2002
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
During the heroic years of car racing before and immediately after the second world war, in Italy there were many competitions on open roads: the most famous were the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio.
But another important road race took place from 1947 until 1959: 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: of course the road conditions were rather poor and dust was terrible. Also the weather was adding difficulties: scarce visibility and even snow were possible.
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Paolo Marzotto was on hand to tell stories about the real Coppa delle Dolomiti.
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Ferrari had brilliant results in this race and in particular 50 years ago, when in 1952, Paolo Marzotto, an Italian pilot, belonging to a well known family of gentlemen drivers, won with his Ferrari 225 Sport Vignale (chassis number 0172ET), with his brother second on another Ferrari.
Since 1972, a new competition has been organized as a revival of the Coppa d’Oro: it is a vintage rally, with a very low imposed speed and reserved to Sport and GT cars of year 40s to year 60s.
In 2002 therefore there were two significant celebrations: 30 years of the Revival and 50 years since the Ferrari’s victory. Unfortunately due the combination of other events, the participation of car in qualitative terms has been rather poor: the Ferrari 225 of Paolo Marzotto was in the entry list, but did not participate and the level of the other entrants was inferior than in the event which took place in the late 1980s.
Nevertheless few exceptional cars were present among the 100 entries: a wonderful Lancia Aurelia B52 by Vignale of 1952 (only two were built and the second should be in the USA), an Alfa Romeo 2300 Pescara of 1934, an Alfa Romeo 1900 SS, a barchetta Osca Maserati MT4 1100 of 1951, a barchetta Ermini sport 1100 of 1952, a Cisitalia 303 DF and a stunning Ferrari 250 TdF of 1957.
Other Ferraris were present: a 250 cabriolet Pininfarina, few Dinos and a group of more recent cars just to celebrate Ferrari’s victories.
Other entrants were Alfa Giulietta, Lancia Aurelia and many British cars (Jaguar, MG, Austin, Triumph), including an Healey Silverstone Sport of 1949.
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Our own Phil Hill was there to chat it up with eager spectators.
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But the biggest surprise was the presence of Phil Hill, the unforgettable Formula 1 world champion in 1961 with Ferrari. Hill paid a lot of attention to all the participants and told a few interesting anecdotes about his career.
Also on hand were 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.
The weather during the weekend had been rather good with only a few drops of rain; an official classification based on the ability of the drivers to respect the time log, has been published and the winner was the Ferrari 250 Cabriolet of Galassi-Dal Pont, second was the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce of Barvas-Grossi and third the Osca Maserati MT4 of Marchesi-Stringhini.
As usual in this kind of competition what is important is to participate and to enjoy the pleasure to drive wonderful car of the past in complete freedom.
The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti revival deserves to be better known from the collectors and drivers, and to have a bigger success due to the good organization and to the wonderful and unique scenario of Italian Dolomiti.
-- PHOTO GALLERY--
Click on images to view larger images.
The rare and outstanding 1952 Lancia Aurelia B52 Vignale Coupe entered by CAPRIOGLIO/POGGI.
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A 1953 Cisitalia 303 DF entered by LENTINI/CIMA.
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Equally rare 1952 Ermini Sport 1100 driven by TENCONI/TENCONI.
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1941 Fiat 1100 S, VIDOLI/RINALDI.
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MARCHESI STRINGHINI entered this Osca Maserati 1100 MT4.
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First and last OSCAs—the 1963 Osca GT 1600 Zagato of REISS/REISS.
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Ferrari 250 TdF entered by CRIVELLARI/CHINELLATO.
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Very nice 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS driven by CECCON/SESSI.
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It would be hard to miss this magnificent 1934 Alfa Romeo 2300 Pescara entered by FONTANA/FONTANA.
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Lancia Aurelia B20 driven by CASTELPIETRA/MIGLIORATI.
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All OSCAs need work occasionally, particularly ones a half century old.
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1957 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce driven by BARVAS/GROSSI.
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