Nino Vaccarella, at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, during the 1968 Targa Florio. Though he did not finish in ’68, he won the Targa in ’65, ’71 and ’75. Photo:McDonough Collection
Racecar Interviews

Interview: Nino Vaccarella

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Nino Vaccarella won the Targa Florio three times, and for this alone he remains a Sicilian national hero. His name became virtually synonymous with that great road race throughout the 1960s and 1970s, as evidenced by the large painted messages appearing on the roads and walls on the eve of the event proclaiming, “Viva Nino.”

In addition to his Targa Florio wins, Vaccarella also scored a famous victory at Le Mans in 1964, sharing a works Ferrari 275P with Frenchman Jean Guichet. Additionally, he won at Sebring in 1970 in a 512S codriving with Ignazio Giunti and Mario Andretti in that narrow victory over Steve McQueen’s Porsche 908. Vaccarella amassed a very high rate of finishes in long distance races. Though known primarily for these superb sports car drives, he also took part in a number of nonchampionship F1 races, as well as four Grand Prix events.

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Ed McDonough, a UK-based American has eleven motorsport history books to his credit; he has been European Editor for Vintage Racecar magazine for 15 years and has contributed to other journals. He is probably best known for track testing some of the world's best historic race cars. He started racing in the early 1960s and has competed in most categories. His recent books include "Peter Collins - All About the Boy", "Marquis De Portago - The Legend", and a history of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 (with Brit Peter Collins....the other one!).
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