Moreschi Wins Coppa dell’Oltranza in Speedboat Race Founded by D’Annunzio
The Coppa dell’Oltranza, the motorboat race invented by Gabriele D’Annunzio, has taken on a pink hue. It was won, in fact, by the Milanese Marzia Moreschi, an 18-year-old student, reaching a speed of 178 kilometers per hour. “We are all happy,” exclaims Paolo Elena, the mayor of Toscolano Maderno.
Female Participation and Trials
The fact that the only woman competing lines up all the contenders is a pleasant surprise. Especially because this is a sport practiced almost exclusively by men. Sunshine and spectators, yesterday, at the meeting in the Gulf of Maderno. The trials took place in the morning, with the races starting at noon.
In the 1000 class, Erwin Zimmermann traveled at 80 km/h, over a minute ahead of Cremonese Leo Bonelli, who, with this placement, secured the Italian title. Previous trials had been held in Marta, Boretto, San Nazzaro, Auronzo, and Como.
The only one who could challenge him, Gianluca Canetti, was clearly outpaced. At the end, Bonelli announced that this morning he would depart for the United Arab Emirates. On Friday, in Abu Dhabi, he will compete in the final race of the Formula 1 world championship, along with Guido Cappellini (heading towards his sixth world title), Francesco Cantando, and others.
Results and Classifications
In the 3000, a race held in two heats, Gianni Manici (Motonautica Lario) had no rivals, finishing ahead of his teammate Stefano Malavasi. Gian Franco Campolucci, from Chiavari, who led the overall standings by a large margin, settled for sixth place (he even withdrew in the other heat). His score was sufficient for him to earn his… diploma. Yesterday, with the engine sputtering, he couldn’t have done better.
In the formula 3, Ettore Soldi (A.M. Ligure) won ahead of Massimiliano Moreschi (Pavia) and Fabio Vasini (Motor’s Simpaty), securing the Italian title. Pasquale Pagano (Lario), the only one who could threaten him, was excluded from the competition.
In the F.2, victory went to Roberto Carezzo (Lario), at a speed of 97.661 km/h, ahead of Paolo Zantelli (Mot. Parmense) and Ivan Brigada (Cremona). The “championship” was awarded to Zantelli, who entered the Toscolano Maderno event with a lead over Brigada. To enter the roll of honor, all he had to do was keep his rival behind him: mission accomplished.
The Coppa dell’Oltranza and Historical Stages
In the late afternoon, about fifteen pilots participated in the Coppa dell’Oltranza. Moreschi, with a 2000 engine, defeated William Colombelli and Giorgio Lucchini. In the 3000 category, Claudio Possamani, at a speed of 155 km/h, prevailed over Mario Fumagalli and Marco Loi.
In the racers, victories went to Parmense Romanello Balocchi (at 142 km/h), ahead of Vanni Bertoni from Moniga and Paolo Ferrari. The event was conceived by Gabriele D’Annunzio to honor Sir Henry Segrave, who died in June 1930 on Lake Windermere during an attempt at a world record (the steering wheel is kept at the Vittoriale, in the relic hall).
The regulations required surpassing certain speeds. The first race took place in May ’31, at Gardone Riviera, but it was not until ’49 that the trophy was awarded to Achille Castoldi, who reached 101.5 km/h. After a long interruption of 28 years, the race resumed in ’96, in Salò, organized by Remigio Telasio and his wife Anna.
Having emigrated to Manerba, the competition later found its base in Maderno. Guido Cappellini, in ’96, improved the record, soaring to 166.9 km/h. In ’98, he bettered it, with an impressive leap to 176.2 km/h. But yesterday, Moreschi soared to 178 km/h, relentless and unstoppable.
