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Reading
A Weekend with Clay
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Clay Regazzoni several laps before his career-ending crash during the 1980 Long Beach Grand Prix. Photo: Bob Tronolone
Heroes

A Weekend with Clay

 Robert Newman

He was elusive. Confined to a wheelchair, but more difficult to pin down than most people with the full use of their legs. But I had heard so many good things about this Swiss gentleman that I was determined to find him and invite him to the Monterey vintage car weekend in California as Pirelli’s guest.

So, from my office in New Haven, Connecticut, I began the hunt but was thwarted at every turn, often with great charm. Like when attractive female voices answered the phone at his house in Lugano, Switzerland, rather than when it just kept ringing. Or when a silken voice at his Monte Carlo home suggested I try his office in the principality. But when I called the office, the phone just kept ringing. So I called the pretty voices back to get his office fax number, but they had both gone out. Then, after several calls to mutual friends, I eventually laid my hands on Clay Regazzoni’s office fax number and felt I was in with a chance.

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Brand (Abarth)Brand (De Tomaso)Brand (Ensign)Brand (Ferrari)Brand (Maserati)Brand (OSCA)Brand (Pirelli)Featured (Heroes)Featured (Racecar Feature)Grand PrixPeople (Clay Regazzoni)People (Dan Gurney)People (Mo Nunn)People (Patrick Depailler)Place (Long Beach)Place (Monte Carlo)Place (Monterey)

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Robert Newman
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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