The 9th edition of the Silver Flag Hillclimb in early July was the largest and best yet of the historic event revived by Club Piacentino in Piacenza, Italy, organized by the enthusiastic Claudio Casale and his committee which spends an entire year getting many of the best historic cars in Europe to the 8-kilometer hill near Piacenza.
The event is an un-timed run on public roads from the ancient village of Castell ‘Arquato for four kilometers of high speed straights with the occasional chicane, a sharp left turn at the town of Lugagnano, crowded with locals and visiting tourists, downhill and out of town into the steep uphill section for another four kilometers to the finish at Vernasca, a mountain top village with its own unique castle. Competitors can take a passenger, do an easy touring run, or drive flat out, thus insuring an exciting event for all.
Best of Show awards this year went to the brutal Ferrari 340MM of Maurizio Piantelli, the Turismo class to the 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA of Andrea Bagnoli, and the Sport class to the OSCA 750 Sport Barchetta of Franco Adamoli. The award for the best Sport Prototype went to Egon Hofer’s beautifully original Maserati Tipo 63 rear-engine Birdcage, a car raced successfully by Nino Vaccarella.
Entries came from all over Europe, the UK, Ireland and even Australia, for what has become one of the most evocative events of the Italian historic season.
By Ed McDonough
