by Tom Letourneau
European and Racing Correspondent
It’s been a lot of fun over the past few years plagiarizing Alfa Racing News from Europe and South America and, like many of you, I wish I had something to report to you on a more frequent basis with regard to Alfa’s racing efforts here on the home front. There still is a very enthusiastic and vociferous crowd out there following our beloved marque, especially (of course) in Italy but also in England, and I know we could also have one here in America, should Alfa ever decide to return to our soil. (Hello, General Motors, any one there listening to me?)
But anyway, here in the US we are pretty much left to root for our local favorites who are out there plugging away in local vintage events and/or regional and national SCCA events. However, to me, Racing News is always Racing News and that also includes "Old Racing News," especially if it involves Alfa, and especially if it includes the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and especially LeMans. Anything that involves racing in days of olde on the "Open Road"!
Rejoice! Such racing news happens to be available today and it deals with one of Alfa’s greatest moments in its long history of success: its victory with the supercharged Alfa 8C in the 1933 LeMans.
I don’t want to give away everything here in this newsletter, because this car is now running around with New Hampshire plate # 876 377 on it in the hands of one Peter Sachs, and you can read and learn all about it with what I’m about to share with you.
The entire history of this car, leading up to and including Peter’s acquisition and restoration of it, is covered in a delightful article in this month’s issue (June 2001) of Motorsport from Jolly Olde England.
Did you know that after "The Flying Mantuan," Tazio Nuvolari, won LeMans in the 8C, he eventually retained possession of this car from Alfa to use as his personal transportation? When he came to the United States in 1936 to race the Alfa 12C 36 in the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup Races (don’t you wish they were still going on?) he brought his 8C with him.
However, when he returned to Italy, he left the 8C behind in the hands of new owner Barron Collier, Jr. who (are you ready for this?) entered it in the Mt. Washington Rallye in July of 1937. After driving the 8C from New York to New Hampshire overnight, he then proceeded to win "The Climb to the Clouds", setting fastest time of day.
Well, that’s about all I’m going to tell y’all about it for now! You see, I wanted to whet your appetite just a wee bit in the hopes that you will want to drive down to your local Borders or Barnes & Noble (only places I know of where Motorsport can be gotten), pick up a copy, go to the cafe, order a double cappuccino (lots of frothing milk), and spend a few moments relaxing and reading one of the most enjoyable pieces of Alfa Racing News and History that I have come across of late.
Keep your eyes open to my Racing News column over the next couple of
issues, as I will be writing an article (a short overview) on the history of the Mt.
Washington "Climb to the Clouds." While I haven’t participated in it now
for a few years (two 2nd-places, one course record in class), I’ve got to tell you
that hillclimbing, one of the last ways left to actually race on "The Last Open
Road", is the ultimate high! And while Mt. Washington may not be an event that most
Alfa Club members can run their cars in, because of many safety-related issues, there are
a number of hillclimbs held throughout New England that may be of interest to our more
daring membership, and I would strongly suggest to those of you that are interested, DO
IT!! 