Bassano del Grappa, October 3-5, 2003
Since 2001, the Ferrari Club Deutschland (FCD) has been organising an annual
meeting dedicated to classic examples of the marque only. In 2003, organiser
Matthias Ficht (the club’s vice-president and official for the classic car section)
moved this event outside Germany for the first time: Bassano del Grappe in the
Dolomites in Northern Italy had been chosen as the site of the reunion.
Furthermore, for the 2003 classic car reunion the FCD joined forces with the
Deutscher Maserati Club (DMC)! The date of the meeting was October 3 (a
holiday in Germany) to October 5, and it was named ”1st Incontro
Ferrari-Maserati”.
The number of participants had been limited to 20 cars per club; both clubs
made use of almost the entire contingent as 19 cars from each club signed in for
the event. As far as Ferrari was concerned, the participation was restricted to
models designed not later than 1974, meaning that the 512 BBi was the
youngest type allowed to take part in the event since its original version, the 365
GT4 BB, had been launched in 1974.
Looking at Maserati, the limitation was set to the model year 1980, thus allowing
basically all ”pre-Biturbo” cars to participate. The restriction to classic cars was
strictly upheld during the meeting, the only exceptions were made for members
who had already enrolled their historic Ferrari or Maserati for the event, but
suffered a mechanical breakdown shortly before the meeting. So, in the end a
Mondial t, a Mondial t Cabriolet, a 348 tb and a modern Jaguar substituted one or
the other classic Ferrari or Maserati.
The Hotel ”Belvedere” was chosen as the ”base” in Bassano del Grappa,
especially thanks to its secured underground carpark that is even suitable for
sportscars. The majority of the participants arrived already on Thursday, October
2. Many did travel rather long distances in their classic cars, but some had
packed their car on a train from Germany to Verona and were thus much more
relaxed than others after their arrival. Friday was officially the first day of the
three-day event that was started off at the ”Luigi Bonfanti” motor museum in
Ermanno di Ezzelino near Bassano. There, the participants could admire an
impressive exposition dedicated to Tazio Nuvolari and could also indulge in a
buffet served in the museum. In the evening, all participants had arrived and one
moved back to the hotel where dinner was served.
After the official welcome speech by Matthias Ficht and DMC co-organiser Walter
Bäumer, two guests of honor joined the event: Paul Frère and Countess Maria
Teresa di Filippis. Belgian Paul Frère, aged 86 and a well-known motoring
journalist and racer, had won the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Olivier
Gendebien in a Ferrari 250 TR60 Spider Fantuzzi. Earlier in 2003, he had been
offered to test the Audi R8 Le Mans car on the famous Sarthe racetrack — and
would have qualified for the actual race! Maria Teresa di Filippis was the only
woman ever to pilot a Maserati 250F in Formula 1 back in 1958, and she did also
take part in various sportscar races at the wheel of several Maserati.
After the weather had been dull but at least dry on Friday, the Italian sky did greet
the participants on Saturday in its deepest blue and completely unclouded. On
the mark at 8.00 AM, the first cars started for a rallye into the sunny morning,
facing a more than 300 kilometres long route across the Dolomites’ beautiful
mountain scenery, guided by a roadbook. Among the highlights of the Ferrari
cars were Karl-Gustav Diederich’s 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (s/n 3639GT) and the
rare 250 GT Coupé Boano (s/n 0591GT) of Dr. Hermann Diehl. The latter had
also loaned his 330 America (s/n 5023GT) to a friend for the event. This was
particularly remarkable since Wolfang Techel did take part in another example of
this rare Ferrari model that had been produced in 49 units only in 1963.
Wolfgang Techel’s perfectly restored, dark blue 330 America is s/n 5103GT.
Event organiser Matthias Ficht drove his marvellous dark blue 250 GT Lusso (s/n
5147GT), and the Dinos were out in force as well, lead by Matthias Bartz, the
FCD’s Dino expert. The Maserati highlights were a very original 3500 GT Vignale
Spyder and a genuine Ghibli SS Spyder, plus various Ghibli, Sebring and
Kyalami.
The picturesque and demanding route lead the enthusiasts from Bassano to the
Monte Grappa (1.775 m), known for an extremely bloody battle in WW1. Via curvy
mountain roads and through rough gorges, the Ferraristi and Maseratisti
eventually reached the famous ski resort Moena, where lunch was served in the
Hotel Foresta. Later the journey continued via the Passo San Pellegrino, the
Passo Valles and the Passo Rolle back to Bassano. After some hours of
relaxing, one met for dinner in the excellent Ristorante Trevisiani that is virtually
”contained” in the medieval town wall of Bassano.
Sunday’s weather could be described by one word: wet! In pooring rain, the
participants left Bassano at 9.00 AM for a small rallye across the Brenta valley
and up the mountains to Asiago. Paul Frère was ehind the wheel of Matthias
Ficht’s 250 GT Lusso and steered the 40 years old Ferrari through the rain with
the greatest of ease. Having reached Asiago, rain stopped and so the
enthusiasts could easily descend via even more curvy roads to Maróstica, a
medieval neighboring town of Bassano. There, one finally reached the Castello
Superiore, an ancient fortress that oversees Maróstica and the surrounding
Brenta plain. A superb farewell lunch was served in the Castello’s restaurant.
DMC president Rolf Deichmann encouraged Matthias Ficht and Walter Bäumer
to organise a joined event for both clubs again in 2004 — one may look forward
to it!
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