Italian Job - September 21-30, 2007

International Gathering

The non-competitive international rally reserved exclusively for MG vehicles, which started in Turin on September 21st and concluded inland in Gabicce Mare after 1,900 km on September 30th, was organized by the MG CAR CLUB of Italy - Registro Italiano MG. It was an opportunity to experience what, for our more than thirty-year-old club, was a different way to experience a rally. It was originally conceived for only the most modern MG vehicles, from the 1996 F model to the latest TFs, sold up to 2005, to demonstrate once again that these are highly enjoyable vehicles, capable of long distances in good comfort and without mechanical problems.

But, having learned of the various itineraries, owners of earlier models also asked to participate. It was clear, however, that these had to be cars that would allow for daily stages over the eight days, often ranging from 320 km to 380 km, many of them on mountain roads. The maximum number of cars was set at around 20 (but we later increased it to 24) to simplify the complexity of the organization, given the large number of activities that would take place during the rally. Thus, in addition to the numerous Fs and TFs, the oldest model was a '57 MGA, followed by the MGC (6-cylinder), MGB/GTV8, and MGRV8. The most represented country was the United Kingdom with 13 cars. The rally's philosophy was a journey to discover some of the beauties of the "bel paese," with the following rules: the first car would depart at 8:30 a.m., following a recommended itinerary to arrive at its destination by 7:30 p.m. each day. This allowed for free stops in various locations, with lunch available at each participant's discretion. Dinner and overnight stays were always at the hotel selected by the organizers, allowing for a chance to exchange travel impressions at the end of each day. Several local members joined the caravan for a day or two along the route. The first day was dedicated to discovering the new post-Olympic Turin. It began with access to the famous Lingotto test track on the roof of the FIAT factory, built in 1916, where the cars were tested before being delivered to the various dealerships. After a few laps and plenty of photographs, a police escort allowed us to head into the hills and then drive through the city's most important streets. After parking the cars in one of the city's most beautiful squares, we spent the day on a guided walking tour. The first leg departed from Turin and headed toward Lake Maggiore, crossing Switzerland to Lugano, and, after the northern edge of Lake Como, we traveled through Valtellina to Bormio. The second leg saw us climb the hairpin bends of the legendary Stelvio Pass and then descend to Merano. After a tasting at a famous winery, we continued up the Palade Pass and then toward Riva del Garda, passing by Lake Molveno. In Salò, the municipal authorities offered refreshments under the porticoes of the Town Hall, and then we immediately arrived at our hotel near Brescia. The third leg began with a tour of Brescia under a police escort, followed by a visit to the nearby Franciacorta Racetrack, where we could let the horses locked in our engines gallop. In the afternoon, after a wine tasting at a winery near Lake Iseo, we arrived near Verona. The fourth leg took us, after visiting Verona and the Nicolis car museum in Villafranca, to Gabicce Mare, where we spent the next day relaxing on the beach or simply recharging our batteries for the following legs. The fifth leg was dedicated to the transfer and visit to Ferrara and its Estense Castle, while the following one took us to medieval Gubbio, passing through Urbino and the Furlo Gorge. The gala evening took place at the Hostaria del Castello in Gradara, featuring fine cuisine and plenty of music. The sixth and final leg took us to Montegridolfo Castle for a snack and aperitif, before concluding with a farewell lunch and awards ceremony at a sulfur mine converted into an agritourism and cultural center. The car that came from furthest away came from northern England with 1,795 km, while the one immediately behind came from northern Denmark with 1,680 km. It's worth mentioning with immense pleasure that the service and spare parts network established for the F and TF did not have to intervene, while only two older cars, both powered by the legendary V8 engines, needed clutch control rubbers in one case and the coil in the other. We can therefore say that all the cars performed admirably. Furthermore, given the success achieved, another rally in MG has been requested in the near future, which will allow us to discover other beautiful areas of our Italy.

Fabio Filippello