L'Emozione della Grande Corsa - 2022

di Roberto Barucco
THE NOVEL
DEDICATED TO THE
MILLE MIGLIA
TAKEN FROM “CORSA D’AUTORE”...
“So guys,” said Bruno, popping out from under the radiator, “this
is a real racing car. She’s a beautiful, lovely Alfa Romeo. Nice, isn’t
she?”
Gianni and Valerio were amazed while the shiny curves of
the body seemed to flash, reflecting the acetylene lights of the
workshop.
A car that seemed alive, so impressive, with two huge lights, on
the sides of that endless honeycomb radiator. “Well, you have
to be careful, when you’re under, not to get caught in the leaf
springs, going out. So, then you go ahead and... I’m done”. And
Bruno got up, a piece of man that the two still silently wondered
how he could get into the car’s cabin.
Big and large, in his hand a rag, a wrench sticking out of his suit
pocket.
“Mechanic stuff, huh? It’s my job, but I’ve been working since I
wore shorts like yours, son. I continued during the Great War,
in the car park, and then back here at home. In the workshop,
which is also my home. My whole life, fixing the engines, the
cars. You know - he kept smiling - this is my world. I mean, I grew
up like this. There is a connecting rod, to be balanced by ear, a
cylinder, the ignition. I don’t know what else to do, by profession.
And then I learned how to drive cars really well. They say”.
“But then, you are a pilot…”.
“Almost Gianni, almost. Let’s just say I drive fast, and I can keep a
beast like this on the road when it’s launched. And if I prepare it
well, with care, but with such care... Well, then you can get to the
end of the race. And hopefully...”.
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