Book Review
Circuito del Garda

		Foundation Negri– 2001– Brescia – Italian text - 189 pages, B/W illustrations, hardbound. Available from VelocePress, $39.95 plus shipping. To order [click here]

Circuito del Garda, Quindici volta via! Foundation Negri, Brescia, 2001.

Over a period of forty five years, from 1921 to 1966, fifteen races were held on a triangular road course between the Italian towns of Salo, Cunottone and Tormini. A significant part of the road course was next to Lake Garda, and the events were known simply as "Circuito del Garda". Little known elsewhere, these events are the subject of a relatively new book entitled Circuito del Garda, written by Giancarlo Cavallini and translated by Nicky Armstrong.

The book measures 10 x 11 inches, hardbound, with high quality paper and a woven spine. The 189 pages have ample and well reproduced black and white photos (no color), most of which have either not been published before or were done so in relatively obscure works. Photo credits include Actualfoto, Archivio Negri, Archivio Rizza Augusto, Bresciafoto, Sorlini and Zagari. Cavallini also includes the 1927 and 1950 motorcycle events; in the case of the 1927 event, no photos were provided. There is no table of contents or index.

Lake Garda, 1949. Bruno Sterzi shortly before the accident which destroyed his privately entered Ferrari.

Using contemporary newspaper and sporting magazine reports, Cavallini takes us on a tour through the ages in a charming but typically Italian manner. We learn that at the turn of the century, Lake Garda found fame as a health resort (for the wealthy), and after World War I, automobile races were established to attract tourism during the fall season.

The first event in 1921 was notable for the first race appearance of Tazio Nuvolari, who drove an Ansaldo Type 41/850 to fourth overall. Another notabe entrant was Maria Antonietta Avanzo, who placed third in class with another Ansaldo. Cavallino reminds us that Avanzo was a great friend if the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, who called her "Bittersweet in a White Hat". The events from 1921 to 1927 are all well documented with race results and entrants (sorry, no serial numbers). Racing stopped at Lake Garda until 1948, due to conflict between the Brescia Automobile Club and the Garda Committee.

After the war, the event resumed in earnest and the most significant races in its history were held in the years 1948-1950. A formula libre class was permitted in 1948, allowing the current 4.5 liter Grand Prix cars to compete, but the Committee then limited the entrants to Formula Two cars in 1949 and 1950. The mix was eclectic, and brought out everything from the big Talbot Lagos to 750cc etceterinis. Drivers included Villoresi, Farina and Stirling Moss in both 1949 and 1950. Most interesting years, and well represented with excellent photographs.

Again the track fell silent, and again it resumed in 1961, with Formula Junior events, and these events were dominated by Brabhams, Coopers and Lotus. The last races at Lake Garda were held in 1966, and won on aggregate by Jonathan Williams in a De Sanctis Ford, who provided the forward to the book.

A section at the end of the book called "Stories from Yesteryear" are interesting insights from a variety of drivers and entrants who competed at Lake Garda.

Lake Garda fell victim to the safety brigade, who demanded that barriers be erected along the Lake Garda section in the town of Salo. A costly enterprise for a small community, which no longer had to have an automobile race to attract tourists.

Worth buying? Overall, not a book with the value of the "Red Arrows", for example, but nevertheless a necessary addition to the serious library.