2nd Gracchi Meeting - Civita Castellana, September 29, 2012

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Marking the resumption of regional activities after the summer break and the national rallies in Lazio and Campania, the Meeting dei Gracchi returns for the second consecutive year. This early autumn event, combining a guided tour of a town in the Viterbo area, a fabulous gourmet lunch at Casa Tuscia, and an increasingly comprehensive and engaging regularity race in a single day, allows us to renew our friendship with TF Spirit enthusiasts led by the highly dynamic Patrizio Dessì, a competent MGista and, in his role as director of the Nepi Water Plant, now an institutional sponsor of the Lazio Regional Center's motorsport initiatives.

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This year, the destination of the cultural visit that marked the morning of Saturday, September 29th, was Civita Castellana. Thanks to the good offices of our friend Fabio Berardi, a staunch and incorruptible Jaguar enthusiast (repeated attempts to convert him to other automotive beliefs were unsuccessful) and the masterful curator of the newly established Italian Historic Jaguar Registry, the City Council allowed us to park and display our cars in the main square, usually a pedestrian precinct. But let's proceed step by step: we'll meet early in the morning at the Centro Euclide on Via Flaminia for breakfast/coffee and depart (more or less punctually) around 10:00 a.m. after the customary greetings. The transfer to Civita Castellana takes place entirely along the Via Flaminia, following a route that offers picturesque views and is so drivable it seems to have been specifically designed for our vehicles. Even the slightly hazy, but never threatening, sky was just what was needed to provide some relief to engines and crews exhausted from the hot summer excursions. Traffic was practically nonexistent, as the Cassia bis and the A1 motorway, which run parallel to the Via Flaminia in that stretch (one to the right and the other to the left), had diverted heavy traffic from the old consular road, which thus almost magically regained the allure it must have held for motorists in the 1950s, the era of our brand's most beloved models. Passing through Rignano Flaminio and the suburbs of Riano Flaminio, Castelnuovo di Porto, and Morlupo did not at all disrupt the colorful convoy of cars, which thus reached their final destination in a compact unit. In the square in Civita Castellana, we found ourselves with 30 cars and 50 friends, an excellent response considering that many crews are returning from the Benvenuti al Sud rally, in which the Lazio Regional Center took part with 18 cars and which for many transformed into a holiday that extended well beyond the three days of the standard national rallies. The predominance of MGs was clear, with a good number of F and TF models. Among the guest cars were three Jaguars, including Paolo Bordini's unmistakable MKV, as always in perfect English gentleman's attire, with Fabio Berardi as co-driver, an Austin Healey, a Morgan, and a Porsche. Mr. Rino Miano, a very friendly and knowledgeable guide, accompanied the group on a visit to Forte Sangallo, the museum, and the Romanesque-Cosmatesque cathedral, which constitute the most splendid pearls in the necklace that embellishes Civita Castellana. However, just as many pearls remained hidden, others were only imagined through the stories of our guide, certainly not for lack of interest on the part of the visitors, but for the time that tyrannically and inflexibly dictates the movements of such a large platoon. This is a hallmark of our gatherings: by offering participants just a small taste of the beauty of the places they visit, they leave them with an unwavering desire to return to enjoy them more calmly and attentively, and make new discoveries. At 1:00 sharp, we transferred to Casa Tuscia, along Via Nepesina, to be welcomed and pampered by Patrizia and Maurizio, who once again delighted us with their delicacies, a splendid celebration of the typical local cuisine that bases its success on the quality and absolute freshness of the raw materials used (primarily spelt and olive oil). The honors of the house went to Emilio Brosio, our gracious host. Despite all the recommendations made, we rose from the table at almost 4:00, but time flies, especially when spent in good company and in front of a table laden with delicacies generously washed down with equally appreciated wines. Some, despite the program still having to offer them the highlight of the day, bent over by a laborious digestion and overcome by fatigue, preferred to leave the scene here, not without having warmly bid farewell to their friends, but the bravest, who by the way were the majority, with 20 crews reached The enclosed area where the regularity race was held, awarding the coveted Acqua di Nepi Trophy. This year, the course was set up in an even larger area than last year, within the grounds of an Acqua di Nepi depot in the Settevene industrial area (on the Cassia bis road). Thanks to the dedication and dedication of Patrizio Dessì and Orazio Galli, it features five linked time trials, including two skill trials for special bonuses and penalties. The timekeepers and the rankings were hard at work, especially considering the extremely close race. However, as dusk approached, the winners were finally announced, with Orazio (with Patrizio acting as navigator) taking first prize. Just enough time to dismantle the equipment and exchange a few last hasty goodbyes, and we're off home before it gets completely dark, with the first drops of rain beginning to wet the gleaming bodies of our beloved companions. The sun finally disappears beyond the horizon of the Roman countryside, treating the exhausted crews, on their return journey, to a spectacle of poignant beauty. It may be a little early to list the Gracchi Meeting among the institutional events of our Regional Center, but we're reasonably confident that, if the organizers' commitment and the participants' appreciation remain the same as in the first two editions, or perhaps even grow, this gathering will rightfully become a regular fixture on the local calendar.

Claudio Nacca

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