L'Emozione della Grande Corsa - 2022

di Simone Mor
THE VICTORY
OF THE LAST ONES
“Giuseppe, don’t you think the engine is starting to make a
strange noise”.
“I don’t know, I can’t hear it well. The road here is particularly
difficult and full of potholes. We’re fine if the suspension holds
up “
It’s late at night on that 27 March 1927. At last the rain, which
had followed them for much of the route, had become clement,
relieving the riders of one of the many difficulties they had faced
during the race.
The darkness was impenetrable, and even though their car
had been fitted with new headlights, the light emitted was just
enough to catch a glimpse of the curves only a few metres before
turning.
In addition to the rain, in the dry sections, the dust raised on the
road was sometimes so dense that one had to cover one’s entire
face to avoid filling one’s lungs to the point of almost suffocation.
However, Cazzulani and Monferroni were skilful drivers. Nothing
and no one could stop them. It was said that they were invincible,
they were certainly fearless daredevils, as were all the pilots who
were taking part in this race.
Participating in the first edition of the MILLE MIGLIA meant
entering history, the myth of the automobile. Not a normal race,
a real show of strength by the crews and the cars prepared for the
race.
The best car manufacturers of the time participated in the race:
Alfa Romeo, OM (playing at home, being from Brescia), Lancia,
Fiat, Isotta Fraschini, Ansaldo, Bugatti, and other prestigious
brands, including three Peugeots, one of which was driven by
Cazzulani and Monferroni.
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