We the Italians October 5, 2015 - 69 | Page 49

th # 69 •OCTOBER 5 , 2015 The whole world considers Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari one of the greatest racers of all time, an extraordinary sports champion, who marked three decades of racing, loved and admired not only for his sporting skills, but also for its deep human qualities. Tazio Nuvolari was born in Castel d'Ario 16 November 1892. Since the early years he is introduced to the world of motor sports, especially by his uncle, who has a great passion for motorcycles. After the call to arms during the First World War, when he will be part of the Army Automotive Service, in 1920, at age 27 he gets the license of pilot of racing motorbikes. The decision to devote himself to the two wheels was due to lower costs than the world of racing cars. Thanks to his friendship with Deo Chiribiri, pilot and co-owner of Chiribiri, Tazio quicly gets a place in the automotive world. In 1924, on the circuit of Tigullio, he is protagonist of a daring victory, with a race that gives him a big fame: Nuvolari leads a very tight race, often going out of the track and stopping, in some cases, overlooking the sea. A few kilometers from the goal, the detachment of a wheel of his Bianchi Type 18 makes him overturn in a ditch. The mechanic who was with him on board remains stunned and cannot even try to repair the car, so Nuvolari asks for help to the public. After having someway repaired the car, Nuvolari restarts and wins the race! At the arri- val, the public attends to an unexpected epilogue: Nuvolari wins the race in a car practically on the rims and driving without a seat or a steering wheel, replaced by Nuvolari with a wrench, an Bv