More on him, but in Italiano.
http://www.malegnobo...it/Prot-Pam.htm
Now after almost 20 years since the untimely death of Marsilio Pasotti, his name (actually, his nickname derived from the contraction of his name) is still well remembered by fans of motorracing who where there as well as the new generation fans, who have learned about him from their uncles, parents, old newspaper articles or publications devoted to the most famous hill climbs, where "Pam" put his stamp in the list of winners.
Pasotti was born in Lumezzane, a town located in the area of Brescia (Valgobbia), in 1939. As a boy he started to experiment with the charm of a car, allowing himself a few innocent "escapes" with Faustino's (his father) car, borrowed in secret. But his father was not exactly in favor of the ambitions of his son, so when he grew up Marsilio resorted to a pseudonym (a small but important solution adopted by many pilots at the time to act ... incognito) and started to run around without his family being aware. The "truchetto" (trick) did not last long: Father Faustino finds out soon (it seems by reading some newspaper sports articles) and the consequences can be imagined. But his father soon realizes that Marsilio has a strong head on his shoulders and his top priority is a main job, while racing plays a marginal role only. "Pam" wins his first race with a Fiat 600 Abarth. The CSAI used to assign awards to the winners with great value: good fuel, tires or even spare parts for their car. "Pam" continues his racing career relentlessly, resulting in the early 60s with many class wins with the Fiat 850 Abarth, the car that will allow him to win the Italian Touring Car Championship. After winning the European title in 1 litre class in 1965 (as always with Abarth) "Pam" also begins to race on the track, in Italy and abroad. He could and would do more, but as he also was passionate about his work (a business specializing in construction of copper pipes) so he pushed racing to the background.
However, in 1966, he has a beautiful 2000 Ferrari Dino at his disposal. With this car he starts to win overall wins in prestigious races. Since that moment he races happy seasons, always with powerful and admired cars (respectively with the "Brescia Corse" later the "Mirabella Mille Miglia" two prestigious teams from Brescia who are still active) like the 'Alfa Romeo 33, the Abarth 2000, the Ferrari 512, more than often leading to victory and shattering record after record, everywhere. He also starred on track and hill climbs up to the mid '70s. "Pam" however did not like other sports car disciplines like rally: his daughter Maria Vittoria explains in the book "Malegno-Ossimo-Borno" (The Mille Miglia of hill climbs). He did not understand the position of the navigator and he did not like the idea that someone else was there to tell him how to steer and when to brake. He wanted it to be him and only him, sure of what he did (also to blame him?).
He was close with many colleagues and characters inside motorsports and he was particularly shaken by the tragic death of "Noris" which he was directly witnessing at Malegno-Borno in 1972, as he was right behind the unfortunate Malegno champion.
At Malegno-Borno he particpated numerous times, winning 4: a record that remained unbeaten for 10 years until the arrival of Mauro Nesti, who began to win at Borno in 1975: almost a handover by the Brescian who that year, with a third place overall, stepped down from the top level of racing. His decision probably followed the Targa Florio of that same year, when racing began to become too dangerous for him and that edition was marred by too many serious accidents. In a particularly dramatic one "Pam" stopped to rescue his wounded colleagues, and when asked to continue his race he responded by: "No, not in this way I do not like to race anymore, you continue in but I like to run in a humane way!"
His popularity remains unchanged, even with the passing of the years, which it is often seen at the start of the Mille Miglia historic. His life, however, stopped way too early, an incurable disease attacked him suddenly. Then undergoing surgery in London where he returned periodically for therapy, but without hope. Although a hemorrhage had struck shortly before, it could not take away his last time in the "Mille Miglia" a few weeks before his death, he drives a Bentley. The intention is to complete the historic race, but it will not be possible. Its the most important race, that of his life, that stopped on August 2nd 1989, just 50 years.
Edited by Arjan de Roos, 09 June 2011 - 16:30.
