Castell´Arquato-Vernasca, 15^th - 17^th of June, 2012

After the major international classic car events in May and with Goodwood FoS and Le Mans Classic just around the corner last weekend gave the opportunity to visit one of the smaller and less known events, the Vernasca Silver Flag in the Emilia-Romagna in Italy.


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When talking to owners and enthusiasts on the various events one could quit often hear them relate on this hill climb as one of their favourite events and so we headed to Castell´Arquato about 30 km south of Piacenza to get an idea of what they are talking about. Many have heard of the Grand Prix of Piacenza as this was the venue of the first appearance of Enzo Ferrari own race car, the Ferrari 125 in 1947 but the nearby hill climb to Vernasca is less known being part of the Italian Hill Climb Championship in the 1950s and 60s before it disappeared after a crash in the early 1970s, a fate it shares with many other historic races. In the mid-nineties the event reappeared as a historic event and become popular over the years resulting in its 17^th edition in 2012.

When entering Castell´Arquato on Friday afternoon one can see what people mean with “familiar” as this is refreshing different from the big organized events one does know these days. The paddocks are the parking lot aside the main street and a small Piazza in front of the church, the scrutineering and inscription takes place in a small tent in a small avenue and many volunteers guide the entrants and they cars to their spot in the beloved Italian way. But not many of them need a guidance as most of them come here every year as one could see when greeting each other just as old friends, the bar over the road is the first place to drink an espresso and talk about what happened during year since the last edition.

So far it sounds very much like a normal local car event but what makes the difference is the quality of the cars. This year no less than 177 car were entered in different classes including single seaters, pre war cars, Gran Turismo, Sport and Prototypes. Every year has its own theme and after Abarth and Ferrari in the last two years this editions slogan was “Best of British” introducing machinery from the isle to the Italian public. Hill Climbs are popular anyway in the United Kingdom and so it was not a big surprise that several British drivers took the long journey to Italy but certainly not all British cars had to travel that far.

A few big Cricklewood-Bentley´s were lined up aside Frazer Nash, Talbot, Lagonda and a Sunbeam plus a duo of Aston Martin. As the small 1 ½ litre cars are very reliable and front runners in today´s Mille Miglia the cars of the Bertelli era became very popular in Italy in recent years and both the Ulster and the Le Mans team car at the hill had Italian drivers.

Jaguar was represented by an original C- and D-Type, other British cars included several Cooper sports cars and single seater and a couple of Lotus.

On the Italian side again several Abarth were lined up in the paddock, not as many as in the feature year but still more than one usually does see on one spot plus a few Ferrari and Maserati from the early 1950s. The four cylinder Ferrari were represented by a 500 Mondial and a 500 TR, 12 cylinder cars included the only 166 MM bodied by Scaglietti and a 250 Europa GT and a 250 GT Boano. Late entries were a 250 GT SWB California Spider and the lovely Dino 206 S Prototype in just its second outing with its new owner. Being prepared for track racing with its previous owner the small Dino was quite a challenge to get up the hill as the event is not a race but a demonstration run without timing. In three un-timed runs the groups run up the hill in rather comfortable speed separated by a few pace cars to avoid any touch of competition between the drivers minimizing the risks. But unlike other events with this concept the speed was still quick enough to guaranty some fun both for drivers and spectators.

Saturday morning the cars were lined up at the Start in Castell´Aquato were most of the spectators took the chance to have a closer look at them. In intervals of about half a minute the cars were flagged off to take the long straight to Lugagnano before they took a turn left toward the actual hill climb. After leaving the small village the street become narrower and winds up to the old town of Vernasca, the name giving finish. Whereas both start and Lugagnano were crowded just a few spectators climbed the hill to look at the cars in the bends and so the drivers could enjoy the roads almost by themselves. After about two hours all cars have taken the drive up and were escorted back to the paddocks for the lunch break and the second run in the afternoon.

The third run is on Sunday morning before the event finishes in Vernasca with a lunch and the prize giving at the Ancient Abbey Park overlooking the cars parked on the market place and the hilly scenery of the Piacenza area. Now one might ask why there is a prize giving at an event without timing. A jury selects some cars in every group they think are worth getting a prize for the way the are presented at the event, be it the history of the car, the way they are driven or restored. Others might say that the organizers give away a souvenir to some of the entrants to thank them for bringing their cars and supporting the event and no one is jealous because they are all friends of the event. Most of them will be back in 2013 to meet again and taking again a fun drive up the hill. 

Report & images ... Peter Singhof www.ClassicCarPhotography.de


Vernasca Silver Flag (2012-06-20)
 002 AUSTIN MINI COOPER S (1962) MONTENEGRI
 003 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MKI (1965) WISE
 004 FORD MUSTANG GT350 (1965) BRAGOLI
 005 FIAT ABARTH 1000TC (1966) VAN LING
 006 ABARTH 1000 OTS (1967) BRAMBILLA
 007 ALFA ROMEO GTA 1300 JUNIOR (1968) DE BONIS RICASOLI
 008 ALFA ROMEO GTAm 2000 (1971) VALERIO
 009 FIAT RITMO GR 2 (1979) SFULCINI
 010 ASTON MARTIN DB2 (1952) HIPEL
 011 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 BN1 (1954)
 012 AC ACE (1955) ROBERTSON
 013 AC ACECA BRISTOL (1956) MITCHELL
 014 JAGUAR D-TYPE s/n XKD402 (1954) BAXTER
 016 ASTON MARTIN DB MARK 3 (1957) FERRARI
 017 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 LE MANS (1956) DEL FANTE
 019 AUSTIN HEALEY 100M LE MANS (1956) BALBI
 021 ASTON MARTIN PROJET 214 (1963) BREWER
 022 JAGUAR E-TYPE LW (1961) GROSS
 023 MARCOS MINI GT (1965) BORTESI
 024 LOTUS ELAN S3 (1967) GIANNI
 025 LOTUS EUROPA S2 (1969) ZUND
 026 MG BGT COUPE' (1970) SINGLETON
 027 FIAT 1100 STANHUELI BERTONE (1948) NARDIELLO
 028 FERRARI 250 EUROPA GT s/n 0399GT (1955) MASTROENI
 029 ALFA ROMEO 1900 SSZ (1955) MARX
 030 FERRARI 250 GT BOANO s/n 0697GT (1957) MAYER
 031 ABARTH 750 ZAGATO RECORD MONZA (1958) KURZENBERGER
 032 KELLISON J4R (1958) COSCHIERI
 033 FIAT ABARTH RECORD MONZA 1000 (1960) DE CHIRICO
 034 ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA SZ (1960) PERIN
 035 FIAT ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO ZAGATO (1960) CENTENARI
 036 FIAT ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO (1962) INCERTI
 037 OSCA 1600 GT ZAGATO (1962) PAUSER
 038 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA TZ 1 (1964) SPRINGETT
 039 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY (1964) RUPOLO
 040 PORSCHE 904 GTS (1964) KRITON
 041 FIAT ABARTH 1000 OTS COUPE' (1965) HAGEN
 042 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA TZ 1 (1965) PAS
 043 ABARTH 1000 BIALBERO (1965) MARINO
 044 ABARTH 1300 OT (1966) VAN LOOY
 045 FERRARI 275 GTB/C s/n 08249 (1966) JOEL
 046 LANCIA FLAVIA ZAGATO (1966) REPETTO
 048 PORSCHE 908/2 FLUNDER EX S. MCQUEEN (1969) DEUTSCH
 049 LANCIA FULVIA ZAGATO COMPETIZIONE (1968) FORTUNA
 050 PORSCHE 914-6 GT COUPE' GR.4 (1970) GUYOT
 052 PORSCHE 911 2.7 (1975) OLIVIERI
 053 LANCIA STRATOS GR.4 (1978) PASQUALE
 054 JAGUAR C-TYPE s/n XKC043 (1953) FINBURGH
 055 FRAZER NASH COMPETITION MODEL LEMANS (1948) DA MOSTO
 056 HEALEY SILVERSTONE (1950) HUERLIMANN
 057 JAGUAR C TYPE (1953) MORIGI
 058 KIEFT BRISTOL 2 LITRE SPORT (1953) ERLICH
 059 ALLARD J2XX (1952) BETTATI
 060 FRAZER NASH SEBRING (1954) PILKINGTON
 061 COOPER JAGUAR T33 (1954) MARCAIS FINBURGH
 064 COOPER MONACO T49 (1959) HOFER
 065 TOJERO-MG SPORTS/RACING (1955) GARDNER
 066 LOTUS ELEVEN LE MANS (1956) PERSICO FROVA
 067 LOTUS SEVEN S1 (1958) BISCONCINI
 068 LOTUS 11 SPECIAL WESTFIELD (1961) DE RIZ
 069 HAMBLIN SUPER TWO (1965) FABBRI
 070 BANDINI 1100 SILURO (1947) CHERSEVANI
 072 FERRARI 166MM SCAGLIETTI SPYDER s/n 0050 (1953) DE FRANCE
 073 PORSCHE 550 RS s/n 550-021? (1955) FALCHETTI
 074 MASERATI A6 GCS SPORT (1955) GOLFIERI
 075 ERMINI 1100 SPORT (1955) (1955) LOTTERI
 077 FERRARI 500 TR s/n 0638MDTR (1956) PELIZZIARI
 078 MASERATI 150 S s/n 1659 (1956) BONI
 079 FERRARI 500 MONDIAL s/n 0580MD (1957) SASSI
 080 MASERATI 200 SI s/n 2421 (1957) SORDI
 081 OSCA 187S (1957) ADAMOLI
 082 MASERATI 200S s/n 2402 (1956) SCULCO
 083 250 TR REPLICA SCHOUWENBURG
 085 OSCA SF 392 (1960) BARBIERI
 086 GINETTA G 4 R PROTOTYPE (1963) SCHLAGER
 087 LOTUS BMW 23 (1963) STAHLMANN
 088 MC LAREN MC1 (1965) REBMANN
 089 LOTUS 23 (1966) LASSER
 090 CROSSLI C9S (1966) MESSMER
 092 MC LAREN M8F CAN AM (1972) TULLIO
 094 LOLA T292 (1976) BRESCHI
 095 FIAT ABARTH 1000 SPORT (1963) SCHUPBACH
 097 ABARTH 1300 SP (1966) RAMASCO
 098 BIZZARRINI SPORT BARCHETTA (1966) RICCI
 099 ABARTH 1000 SP (1968) WINTOCH
 100 MASERATI BARCHETTA (1992) DRUMMOND
 102 ABARTH SE/020 3000 V8 (1970) PONT
 104 CHEVRON B16 (1970) FARNETI
 105 CHEVRON B23 (1973) GIRIBALDI
 106 GRD 2000 S/74 (1974) BOTTARETTO
 107 CHEVRON B23/36 (1973) SBRILLI
 108 LOLA T298 BMW (1976) SILVA
 109 CHEVRON B8 - B19 AB RACING (1978) EHRBAR
 110 FERRARI DINO 166P/206P s/n 0834 (1965) MOHRINGER
 111 PORSCHE 910 (1967) BECKER
 112 ALFA ROMEO 33/2 SPYDER (1968) CARRARA
 113 PORSCHE 906 (1966) MASCARI
 114 FIAT ABARTH 2000 SPORT SE 010 (1968) STEVAN
 116 FIAT ABARTH 2000 PROTO SE021 (1971) SCHAR
 117 OSELLA ABARTH PA1 (1972) CALVEL
 118 COOPER BRISTOL T20 F2 (1952) MARCHI
 119 LOTUS 16 (1958) MC GUIRE
 120 CONNAUGHT TYPE C (1959) STEELE
 121 FERGUSON P99 4 WHEEL DRIVE (1961) ROLT
 122 SIMCA DEHO 1100 MONOPLACE GP 018 (1947) WALTER
 123 STANGUELLINI FORMULA JUNIOR (1958) ROSETO
 124 GARAGE DE LA ROSE (1959) BALDASSARRE
 125 AB PANHARD MONOMILL AGS (1951) CODIFERRO
 126 COOPER MK VIII (1954) WALTER
 128 COOPER T53 EX SURTEES (1961) PERRIN
 130 LOTUS TYPE 21 F1 EX CLARK (1961) BURATTI
 131 LOTUS TYPE 20/22 FORMULA JUNIOR (1961) TACCONI
 132 COOPER T65 FORMULA JUNIOR (1963) WISHART
 133 LOTUS 22 FORMULA JUNIOR (1963) GALEAZZI
 134 COOPER T75 EX STEWART/SURTESS (1965) PETERSEN
 135 BRABHAM BT 23 - 1 F2 EX RINDT (1967) REBMANN
 136 LOTUS BRM 41 F2 MONO (1967) STOITZNER
 137 BRABHAM BT 21 EX RONNIE PETERSON (1967) WALTER
 138 LOTUS 61 MX FORMULA FORD (1969) CARR
 139 LOTUS 61 MXFE F.FORD (1970) BOSCO
 140 MARCH 703 F2 (1970) MOSER
 142 MARCH PEUGEOT F3 (1977) BUSSANDRI
 143 M.R.E. FORMULA FORD (1976) PARECCINI
 144 TECNO F1 (1973) BIANCHINI
 145 B.W.A. F3 (1965) TOMASONI
 146 RACE CRAFT ENGINEERING FORMULA VEE (1967) FERRARI
 147 B.W.A 403 FORMULA 850 (1969) LUGLI
 148 FIAT ABARTH FORMULA ITALIA (1971) SMITH
 149 FIAT ABARTH FORMULA ITALIA (1971) MIGLIAVACCA PIGHI
 150 SUNBEAM 3 LT TWIN CAM (1927) LUISONI
 151 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE (1927) STEELE
 152 BENTLEY SPEED SIX (1929) VAN SON
 153 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE (1930) STORANDT
 154 BENTLEY 4 1/2 BLOWER (1930) MCGUIRE
 155 RILEY BROOKLANDS 9HP Sports (1929) TOMAS DE VARGAS
 156 MG MONTLHERY (1931) FOSTER
 157 ALVIS GRAND SPORT EX TRINTIGNANT (1935) BILLEREY
 158 LAGONDA LG45 1937 WILLSON
 159 TALBOT 105 ALPINE (1961) CURTIS
 160 ASTON MARTIN LM7 WORKS TEAM CAR (1931) PiANTELLI
 161 FRAZER NASH SUPERSPORTS (1927) DI LAURO
 162 ASTON MARTIN ULSTER (1935) STABIUNI
 163 JAGUAR SS 100 (1936) AUTOMOTOCLUB STORICO ITALIANO
 164 COOPER T 75 f1/F2 (1965) BODINI
 165 BUGATTI 35A (1926) BERCELLESI
 166 McLAREN
 167 MASERATI 26M (1928) HOFER
 168 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 GS ZAGATO (1930) BUXTON
 169 LANCIA LAMBDA VII S TORPEDO (1927) BARDELLI
 170 FIAT BALILLA COPPA D'ORO (1933) CHIESA
 171 FIAT 501 S (1922) CORNO
 172 NAZZARO TIPO 3 CORSA (1913) BIGGINS
 173 VOLVO PV544 (1963)
 174 MORGAN THREEWHEELER
 175 JAGUAR XKSS
 176 PORSCHE 911 2.7 RS
 177 FERRARI 250 GT SWB CALIFORNIA SPIDER
 D FERRARI 330 GTS (1965) MELLI ROBERTO
 F LANCIA FLAMINIA (1964) MATHEW ISABELLE
 K FIAT 1100 (1955) POLIZIA DI STATO
 T FIAT ABARTH 131 RALLY GR4 (1977) GEMENTI FABIO