9 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

....Alessandro Gaboardi ?

 

This gentleman actually drove a works Alfa Romeo in the Italian Grand Prix of 1947 and finished 4th.

 

Googling brings me very little information while Winklepedia (other inaccurate sources of information are available) brings me no more than the above.

 

So, who he?

[Roger Clark]

Born Mantua 10-05-06, lived in Milan. won the Litoanea Libica, Tripoli, 12-12-37 with Ercole Boratto in a 2.3 Alfa, was third in the 1100cc class of the Circuitto di Luino 04-08-46

[Barry Boor]

Unlikely still to be with us, then.

[David McKinney]

Litorranea Libica?

[Tim Murray]

The search engine shows quite a few mentions of him, including this interesting post from Alessandro Silva explaining why Alfa sometimes gave their test drivers works drives:

 

http://forums.autosp...ol/#entry597745

[Roger Clark]

Here's another thread with some information: http://forums.autosp...eb#entry5281397

 

Gaboardi also rode with Birkin in the 1931 Irish GP (or Eireann Cup) having driven the new 8C 2300 from Milan with Clive Gallop.

[raceannouncer2003]

Some results here:

 

http://www.racingspo...Gaboardi-I.html

 

Vince H.

[Nanni Dietrich]

According to the Italian newspaper la Stampa of Turin, issue of Monday, 08 September 1947:

 

"Sanesi ha fatto una bella gara, e onesta è stata la prova di Gaboardi, fino a ieri collaudatore e oggi assurto improvvisamente all'onore del corridore. Ha un po' del misterioso questa decisione della Casa costruttrice, che aveva sottomano il francese Wimille, il quale per contratto avrebbe dovuto disputare un'altra gara. Evidentemente, l'Alfa, sicura del fatto suo, ha voluto sperimentare un nuovo elemento per avere un corridore in più a sua disposizione."

Transl.:

Sanesi made a good race and honest was Gaboardi's race, until yesterday a test-driver and today suddenly risen to the honor of the works driver. It was just a little mysterious this decision of the Company, that was holding the Frenchman Wimille, who by contract would have taken part in another race. Evidently, sure of itself, Alfa Romeo wanted to estimate a new element to have another race driver at his disposal.

 

[Vitesse2]

From my very poor understanding of Italian, Corriere dello Sport seems equally baffled!

 

http://www.emeroteca...page/1/mode/1up

[D-Type]

I think Allesandro Silva nailed the reason in the post that Tim linked to earlier when he said the Alfa Romeo unions wanted to see a 'worker' in the team cars - and in this case there were two: Sanesi and Gaboardi.  The Italian sporting papers could not mention a reason of that nature and therefore questioned the driver selection purely in sporting terms.