MG in line on the Gothic Line - September 16, 2007

Hi drivers!

MG in Linea sulla Gotica was a great rally! Yes, that's how I want to start my report of Sunday, September 16th. The clues?
A clear sunny day, Riccione, a mayor wearing a tricolor sash, a small town in Romagna that witnessed the changing fortunes of Europe, an automobile museum, and last but not least, a beautiful restaurant overlooking the sea within a nature reserve.
You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the ingredients had been carefully chosen.

Supported by the enthusiasm of MGCCI Secretary PierPaolo Parma, the idea of organizing a rally between the Marche and Romagna regions had been on my mind since May.
I forgot....let me introduce myself, I'm Giovanni Occhialini, recently appointed Director of the Marche Regional Center.
Unfortunately, the summer season prevented me from closely following all the organizational stages, so the baton was passed into the expert hands of our Secretary and the Rimini members, who, after a few site inspections, put together a beautiful itinerary.
Riccione
9:00 a.m.: Visit to the recently opened Museum of Locomotion... meanwhile, 36 cars are scheduled for the event: quite a number!!!
OK Let's Go!!!
MG zigzagging along the roads of the Valconca: Coriano, San Clemente..., Gemmano, in short the "British" had arranged themselves IN LINE ON THE GOTICA following an imaginary space-time demarcation path between the Allied forces and the German troops.
The drivers' arrival in the square was triumphant, warmly welcomed by the mayor with Sangiovese, Spianata, and Ciambella!
Long live Romagna! Long live Sangiovese!
After the cheerful hairpin bends...off we go!...towards the Marche!
The passage of the Boncio is suggestive in true English style... the Siligata Pass and up as in a time trial on the Panoramica roads... the Natural Reserve of
S. Bartolo (PU).
1:00 PM Parking and Lunch
At the Rifugio del Gabbiano, a convivial atmosphere was created among the members, accomplices, the excellent seafood dishes, the location, the good wine and the splendid natural setting in which the MGs parked overlooking the sea were perfectly integrated.
Thirtysix MG on the Road again!
Curves, panoramic hairpin bends, maritime pines, a road......no time-no place, brooms, glimpses of the sea, ravines....... yeah!...... we still drive our Cars.....Gabicce Monte...now.....we come back to Riccione
and again Viale Dante... the applause....Viale Ceccarini, someone is lost, someone without fuel.....
Thirtysix MG across The Gothic Line.
Enjoy the free way
John Occhialini
Report by PP Parma
Rimini, Saturday 15 September, sitting in that café... I was waiting for the MGs that arrived punctually, from Umbria, Tuscany and Emilia to participate in the MG IN LINEA SULLA GOTICA rally that would take place the next day between Romagna and Marche.
After freeing the old ladies from their encumbered suitcases, at 6 pm, following the cars participating in the GRAN PREMIO NUVOLARI, we "introduced" ourselves with our MGs into the central Piazza Cavour to watch them pass by and stop for the time check.
Time to enjoy this spectacle, second only to the MILLE MIGLIA, and then off we go, certainly not to the multi-starred GRAND HOTEL in Rimini like the NUVOLARI crews, but to a place certainly less noble but also reminiscent of Fellini in pure "GRADISCA" style.
We arrive at a large pavilion set up for this purpose in the middle of a park where some members from Rimini are already there waiting for us while they tinker around a huge smoking brazier with grills ready to roast crates of red mullet, sardines, mackerel, cuttlefish and prawns.
Some are stirring in a pot whose steam gives off the inviting aroma of clams, parsley, and garlic, while others are busy filling carafes of Sangiovese DOC directly from the demijohn.
And while a small orchestra that appeared out of nowhere is setting up its few instruments, the appetizers of marinated anchovies and boiled corks are already seriously engaging our 50 suddenly silenced guests.
The Rimini group, fully employed, has its hands full cooking, serving, mixing, slicing, and seasoning.
Eventually the bones and shells will take over and when the conversation becomes lively and cheerful again, it will be the inevitable donut and sweet albana that will silence the room again.
Time flies, and tomorrow we're looking forward to a beautiful, sunny day to enjoy with our MGs on the hills of Romagna and the Marche.
The music is over, the friends leave... the Rimini residents stay to... clean and some even to eat... the crumbs.
P. Paolo Parma