Grand Prix of Bari – Turn Left at the Lighthouse

No one was exactly thrilled when word reached Maranello, Modena, Arese and points north that the automobile club of an Italian seaside town called Bari was organizing a new Grand Prix. “Their own Grand Prix? The audacity of it all,” some said. “Who are these people? Where and what is Bari, anyway?” others shrilled.

It was rather like Palmdale, California, preparing to host the Olympic Games. Little town, big ambitions.

But the top teams of the day – and the not so top – began to sit up and take notice when they heard the starting money on offer; that’s what made Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati et.al. take their cars and stars to what seemed like the end of the earth – well, Italy, anyway – and race.