Mauro Bompani did it again! For the sixth year in a row, the well-known Modenese collector, successful businessman and most charming and very knowledgeable gentleman held his Modena Cento Ore Classic meeting. This time, the four day event took place from the 7th to the 10th May 2005. This edition was again a speed and regularity race for historic sports and racing cars. Event patrons were Credit Suisse, Porsche, Motor Valley, Bisol, Jet Waterpumps and Girard-Perregaux watchmakers.

The event covered about 1000 kms through Italy, through the piazzas, towns and cities, with fresh air and delightful, vibrant colors of the spring as a backdrop. Each year takes a different route to stimulate the participants, new and old alike. Emilia, Toscana, Umbria, Le Marche and Romagna are the regions through which the event travelled this time, with special stages linking the Fiorano, Mugello, Magione and Misano race tracks, at each of which the drivers were able to unleash the power of their vehicles.

About 100 historic cars participated. The group also included 13 Ferraris. The oldest being Sally and Dudley Mason-Styrron’s cute 166 MM Barchetta Touring. The second oldest Ferrari was Mario Righini’s yellow 500 Mondial Spider Pinin Farina, which has never been restored and wears a beautiful patina. The event also attracted a number of Competition Daytonas and several 275 GTBs including an alloy-bodied 6 carb model coming from Germany and a really nice greenblue metallic 246 Dino GT. But there were also Jaguar E-Types, Ford GT40’s, Porsche 907s, Lotus 23, Chevron B8, Shelby Cobras and Ford Mustangs, Lotus Elans and a beautiful Alfa Romeo TZ1, BMW 328s, Porsche 356s, mighty Chevrolet Corvettes, Lancia Stratos and even a Volvo 122 Amazon. Not to forget a group of Alfa Romeo GTAs, a sensational sexy looking Porsche Carrera Abarth, Maserati A6 GCS and 300 S and a TVR Griffith.

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Scrutineering took place on Saturday morning at Modena’s Parco Novi Sad (back in September 1981 the first really big Italian Ferrari meeting “Raid Ferrari D’Epoca” was held at the same park). Following the technical inspection the participants drove to Panini’s farmhouse “Hombre” in the outskirts of Modena. Here, where the most exclusive Italian cheese is made and where the largest collection of Maserati cars in the world is on display, drivers and co-drivers enjoyed a typical Emilian lunch.

Thereafter the cars were driven to Fiorano, the Ferrari-owned private test track opposite the factory in Maranello. This test track was opened by Ferrari in 1971 already. After a few laps on the circuit the participants went back to Modena where the first special stage was held in the Novi Sad park. It was just spectacular to watch and some enthusiastic Porsche drivers even managed to modify their cars. At the end of the afternoon all cars were parked near the fabulous cathedral in Piazza Grande at Modena (back in 1973 the factory used the Piazza Grande as backdrop for the shooting of the press photos and sales brochure pictures of the then new Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer).

Saturday night was spent at the famous Castello di Panzano Castelfranco Emilia owned by the Italian collector Mario Righini. Here a unique collection of prestigious cars has replaced the horses in their stables. Righini owns not only the AAC 815, the sole surviving pre-Ferrari of 1940, but also a Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider, a Daytona, a 275 GTB, Alfa Romeos, Lancias, Lamborghinis, Stanguellinis and competition Fiats.

Sunday morning led all participants from Modena to Mugello, the other Ferrari-owned racetrack located near Scarperia in northern Tuscany. Overnight was spent in Arezzo and the following Monday saw a drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno with arrival at the most popular Italian race circuit at Magione. After the fifth special stage at Castel Rigone the teams were able to relax, with a long drive through the delightful spring countryside of the Umbria and Le Marche hills before the race at Misano Adriatico.

Tuesday saw four special stages and then finally followed the finish at Modena’s Palazzina Viparani, with the announcement of the final results. But first came a gala dinner at the historic Military Academy of Modena (where on the 17th September 1983 Enzo Ferrari himself presented the new Mondial Quattrovalvole Cabriolet).

Modena really is the land of motors (Terra di Motori) and organizer Mauro Bompani, his family and his entire team must be congratulated and thanked for another wonderful event - four different race tracks, a lot of driving, beautiful and sunny Italy, great food, fabulous people and sensational cars. It’s all over now and it was time to go home but a year isn’t so long and everyone can already feel the excitement of the upcoming 2006 event.

Click here for a list of Ferraris participating

© Marcel Massini 14/05/05

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