Targa Florio

[Jamie]

I watched this short clip earlier, narrated by Vic Elfird at the Targa Florio - wonderful stuff. Look how sideways they are in the prototypes going through the narrow streets!

I would loved to have seen Nino Vaccarella race there in his pomp, he’s a big hero of mine, the racing school teacher 👍 I got him to sign my Targa Florio book when he was at Goodwood a few years back.....made my year.

[charleselan]

Jamie,

This clip comes from a truly superb film called "The Speed Merchants", believe me it is really worth getting hold of if you can. The early practice action shows a 1972 Alfa T33/3 driven by none other than Dr Helmut Marko. I don't take to him as an overbearing influence in todays Red Bull organisation, but he was a mighty fine driver in his day, before he lost his eye at Clermont Ferrand driving an F1 BRM..

JC

[René]

I have seen this video before and it is reallly fantastic. How different things were back then.

Great you have an original Vaccarella autograph by the man himself!

[Carl]

Dec 11, 2017 23:07:38 GMT Jamie said:

I watched this short clip earlier, narrated by Vic Elfird at the Targa Florio - wonderful stuff. Look how sideways they are in the prototypes going through the narrow streets!

Jamie,

Wonderful film!  Then as now, Helmut Marko possessed an eccentric singlemindedness similar to that of Niki Lauda.

Coincidentally, all day I've had on a Targa Florio t-shirt with a large image of 1970's winning Siffert / Redman Porsche 908/3.
I understand you can still see "NINO" on the sides of buildings along the route.  They are painted over at great personal risk.     
The legendary open road races are the stuff of romance, but also great danger.  The crowds of fans encroaching into the path of WRC cars scares the hell out of me.


Cheers, Carl 

[charleselan]

I viewed a really good film on Nino Vaccarella a few years ago, it was in English and I hate to say this but maybe it had something to do with (says in hushed tone) Top Gear......... 

A very interesting man in so many ways and a quality sports car driver, especially on his home ground in Sicily, an absolute legend there.

The Targa was a wonderful event, full of mystique and glamour. I used to treasure DSJ's reports each year and the accompanying "Continental Notes" that he wrote. I believe it was 1962 when they had the winning Ferrari Dino of Ricardo Rodriguez and Willy Mairesse on the cover, a picture I look at until my eyes wore it out!!

These are not the MS cover pictures but from the same event.....

[René]

That's such a beautiful little car. I love the shark nose style grill as could also be seen on the F1 car of that year.

[Jamie]

Dec 11, 2017 23:17:27 GMT charleselan said:

Jamie,

This clip comes from a truly superb film called "The Speed Merchants", believe me it is really worth getting hold of if you can. The early practice action shows a 1972 Alfa T33/3 driven by none other than Dr Helmut Marko. I don't take to him as an overbearing influence in todays Red Bull organisation, but he was a mighty fine driver in his day, before he lost his eye at Clermont Ferrand driving an F1 BRM..

JC

Hi JC,

Do you know, I thought it might have been from "the speed merchants' but wasn't sure. I used to have a VHS copy of it but its long since disappeared in one of several house moves, not that I'd have any way to play it now anyway 

I think I'll have to get myself a DVD copy from Father Christmas this year, I remember it has some wonderful footage of Andretti in the Ferrari at Sebring....

Incidentally, here's a picture of the Targa book and Nino's signature, this is one of my prized possessions.

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[Jamie]

Some great footage of Nino and the 1965 race here.....

[charleselan]

Jamie,

You have a wonderful book there and made even more so by the inscription, an absolute treasure to own.

With reference to the "Speed Merchants", I have a copy of the DVD which is truly superb. I am not certain about this but before I left the UK for France in 2008 I belonged to Tesco's DVD Rental scheme which proved to be a fantastic resource as they had a large library of motor sport films to choose from. I have no idea if this is still running but if it is it can be well worth joining.

JC

[René]

Jamie, that is truly a book to treasure with that signature. Wonderful!

[Jamie]

Oh yes chaps, I'll probably be buried with this book 

[Carl]

Dec 12, 2017 16:26:21 GMT Jamie said:

Jamie,
            Vaccarella may have taught penmanship as a teacher.  His autograph is beautifully done and legible.  Most drivers today sign a couple of fast loops.

Cheers, Carl 

[charleselan]

Dec 12, 2017 20:26:56 GMT Carl said:

Dec 12, 2017 16:26:21 GMT Jamie said:

Jamie,
            Vaccarella may have taught penmanship as a teacher.  His autograph is beautifully done and legible.  Most drivers today sign a couple of fast loops.

Cheers, Carl 

That is because it is a case of grab a fan and then run, no real interaction with the most important people, the fans.

[charleselan]

Dec 12, 2017 15:43:07 GMT René said:

That's such a beautiful little car. I love the shark nose style grill as could also be seen on the F1 car of that year.

The stylist at Ferrari at that time certainly left his mark, the "Shark Nose" or "Nostril Nose" featured on all of the cars at that time. 152 the winning car was a Ferrari 246SP featuring the amazing Dino V6 motor, and other variants also featured in the Targa that year like a 196SP or 268SP, all shooting for different classification results.

Attached is the MS cover of the winning car that my eyes wore out  , and a simply stunning shot of the Bandini/Baghetti 196SP which is almost too good to be true.

[René]

That photo is almost unreal! Frame it and hang it on the wall, beautiful.

The picture on the MS cover is also a great shot. The three Carabinieri are not having a hard day at work I guess. Speeding tickets? Or telling people to stay behind the barriers? All not relevant! Wonderful times.