Sicily. Discuss. Well, it’s an island, it has, shall we say, a fearsome reputation and it was once home to probably the greatest race in the world.
After four days of covering the Eco Targa Florio, or Targa Classic, organized ably by MAC, the same people who now run the Mille Miglia, I am confident in saying that only the first and last parts of that original statement are true.
The biggest problems for the event are first, geographical, with all the communications difficulties that presents, and secondly the absolute requirement for a strong and determined organization. Yes, the island has two airports, at Catania and Palermo, but the apocryphal Irish problem of “if you wanted to go to there, you shouldn’t have started from here” tends to apply.
We arrived at Catania in the evening, needing to be in Palermo that night; no problem you think, until you realize that it is the best part of a two and a half hours autostrada drive from one to the other – Sicily is a big island.
This allows the organizers plenty of scope with the route planning. The central area is mostly mountainous, perfect for rallying, and the Piccolo Madonie circuit itself doesn’t shy away from the valleys and peaks, providing endless gasps of admiration for former pilote as you round corner after corner.
Just how did drivers haul cars like the Ferrari 512S, P3, Testa Rossa, Lola T70 Coupe, Chaparral, et al around here for ten laps – each one taking the best part of 40 minutes? Sadly, some parts of the road are now suffering from serious erosion problems but, as Alessandro Carrara, entrant of a T33, works Fulvia and works Stratos said, “This has huge potential to be one of the best retro events in the world.”
I can’t disagree, but the organizers need to decide whether it is an FIA Regularity run, or a Targa Florio tribute. Showing respect to the latter, a good number of genuine ex-Targa cars and racers, including Vaccarella, Galli and Merzario, were gathered at the still extant old pits and paddock and ran up to the famous village of Cerda before the main rally started. This was somewhat of a missed opportunity, as two runs could have been accomplished in the time available, or allow the cars to run on around the circuit, as Carrara suggested: “Why not run the whole circuit in four stages”.
Don’t let any of this put you off going next year, however. It’s early days and perhaps it was all food for thought for the future as MAC was effectively juggling three events within an event. After demonstrating the original cars, some of which continued on the three-day rally, indeed the intrepid Carrara brought his cousin along to drive his works Fulvia, while he used the famous Stratos for the whole event. These were followed by a Ferrari Tribute field of 60 Maranello bolides – mostly contemporary – before finally, the 130 or so cars started in the regularity section.
The route took in the Piccolo Madonie as far as Caltavuturo – its highest point – before heading southeast for the Enna Pergusa circuit and the coast for the first night. The second day involved a, sadly, very wet climb up the eerie black slopes of Mount Etna, after touching the original race circuit in Siracusa, before dropping down to Taormina. Then, on the last day, it was back to the north coast and eventually the old pits, for a run around the original Grande Madonie. For the record, the event was won by Giordano Mozzi and Irene Guarnieri in their grand little Fiat Millecento saloon. Cars ranged from that competent little macchina through OM Superba, Alfas of all sorts, BMWs of the ’30s, trad-Brit sportscars and many Porsches of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
It was nothing if not a comprehensive tour of the island. As a Tour of Sicily, it was extremely successful and I would recommend it. The accommodation was excellent and the driving mostly superb, but it would be good if they could develop the Targa circuit segment. – Peter Collins
