Ferrari Racing in Valencia-70th Anniversary

The weather on Saturday, 20th May, 2017 could not have been better. A clear sunny day with temperatures moderated by a softly blowing breeze made the excitement all that more delightful. Ferrari were there in all its glory together with the unmistakeable beautiful sound of the Italian language as it seemed as though half of Italy had come for the event. Even over-air commentary was partly Italian.

I arrived about 11am just in time for time trials with the cars running full speed at over 300 kph. However, simply watching the cars going round and around without actually racing one another is a lot like watching traffic racing down the Gran Avenue at any time of day or night.

Entrance was free which was just that bit sweeter. That helped whole families to attend which just gave an atmosphere of wholesomeness to the event. However, we can always look to children for their honest opinion.  One little girl covered her ears to shut out that sound that her petrol head dad loved so much, and another little girl wanted her colouring book and crayons as she turned her back to the cars that were practically flying past. She was not impressed!  However, every little boy was impressed to one extent or another.

Someone needs to explain to me why we grown men seem to feel the need to have to dress ourselves in the colours of the race event, or especially , in this case in the cap and shirt of Ferrari. In past years I have done the same thing without understanding why. There were several fathers and sons dressed thusly. It was like there was some kind of hypnosis at work.

The next event following the time trials was a full-on race featuring 37 cars, although in reality only the first three were vital. It's true that back in the pack there were some exciting moments as somebody or other was overtaken, but that only seemed to matter if you knew those particular drivers. The one important car in the pack was the very last one because he was so slow that inevitably the first three caught up to him and overtook him, twice. Now, that's slow.

The first time it happened the leader was so far in front that he had no problem in passing without slowing, but when the second and third cars caught up they had to try and overtake almost together. He who was third used the moment to overtake both the last car and the second car to take second place, which he held onto until the end.

At the beginning of the race the car that started in second place promptly overtook the car in pole position which caused quite a stir. He never relinquished that position, so other than the afore-mention description of the change from third to second, there was nothing else to report. However, we can be sure that the drivers would have been pumped from start to finish.

Spectators do deny it but, as in yesterday's race there were no crashes or accidents so that was a disappointing race for many.

O.K. I admit it, there was a little excitement missing, but overall it was a good day at The Ricardo Tormo Racing Circuit at Cheste, Valencia. I'm glad I went and got to run my hand over the Ferrari Passionate, a car I dare not even dream about.

I wonder if Enzo Ferrari imagined in his wildest dreams the kind of products and thrills he was creating with the first car that rolled off the assembly line?

Probably not!

Copyright (c) 2017
Eugene Carmichael