We recently received an email from a familiar name, but the circumstances were not favorable. "I note that you have misspelled Giaur. Please try to spell Italian names correctly."
Indeed, we had. Realizing who wrote the email, we apologized profusely, reciting our knowledge of the name (Giaur is a composite from the names Giannini and Urania, hence Gia-ur) to sound like we knew what we were doing.
The astute reader who offered this gentle criticism was none other than Marcello Minerbi, the celebrated and experienced Italian journalist, and author of "Alfa Romeo Zagato SZ and TZ". (Click here for book review)
The Lancia
B12 has been in the Minerbi family since 1955.
|
Born in Milan in 1939, he studied Latin, Greek and Literature before deciding to become a journalist. His interest in cars was natural--his family had always owned fine automobiles and today Minerbi still has the Lancia B12 purchased by his father in 1955. By 1956, still in school, he was already taking photos for Road & Track, Das Auto und Sport, as well as Motor Italia magazines. In 1958 he obtained work with a new publication called Quattroruote, staying with the very successful magazine until 1971. Branching out, Minerbi then went to Oggi, Italy's leading family magazine. Minerbi traveled all over the world, and became famous for his excellent reporting on the 1973 Yom Kipper War.
But he was still drawn to cars, and at the same time began to collaborate with Automobil Revue, a relationship that was to last until 1995.
For the next 20 years, in addition to his work as an automotive correspondent, Minerbi worked as an editor for a wide variety of magazines at the Rizzoli Group, expanding his experience and authority.
Still, cars and racing beckoned. Minerbi was quick to join the growing vintage car racing movement, racing an Alfa SZ for the Scuderia del Portello, and on some occasions drove a TZ1 and a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. It was during this time period, in the mid 1980s, that Minerbi decided to write an authoritative book about the Alfa SZs and TZs he was currently racing.
"I heard many things being said about Alfas which were incorrect or absurd. Having known Giuseppe Busso for many years, I asked him to help me write a book about the cars, and get the record straight."
Busso of course agreed, and together they not only corrected the record but created a masterpiece of automobile literature.
In 1995, Minerbi left the Rizzoli Group to return to Quarttroruote, this time as head of the Multimedia Division. "We published some important CD-ROMs, such as the Favolose Ferrari (a complete story and catalog of all the cars from Modena and Maranello)." It was a step into the future.
This was followed by a stint at Rusconi-Hachette as editor in chief of Gente Motori, where he remained until his retirement a few years ago.
Quite a career. Along the way, Minerbi managed to own, and race, a number of interesting cars. His taste isn't limited to just Italian cars--which include Ferraris, Lancias, Alfas, and Fiats, but in his garage have been BMWs, several Porsches, Jaguars, Sprites, Minis, and a Lotus Europa. He is also a past president of the Italian Lancia Club.
Minerbi's taste
in cars is not limited. Here he poses with a 300SL Mercedes Benz gullwing.
|
Today, Minerbi is working on an updated version of the Alfa Zagato book (we will review it when it is released!), and enjoys reading, driving, and listening to Classical, Jazz and American Folk music.
And maybe if we are very lucky and don't make any more spelling mistakes, we might talk Mr. Minerbi into doing a few more articles for VeloceToday.
Ps For those who like to Google or have particularly sharp memories, Minerbi is not the same Marcello Minerbi who made the song "Zorba's Dance" (1965) popular. However, according to Minerbi the journalist, "We both came from the same family, but a different branch".
