35 replies to this topic

[dmj]

Recent discussion about "the best sportscar driver ever" in a thread reminded me of this driver. His career was unbelievable - he drove less races in his career than Kimi Raikkonen but won Mille miglia twice and some more significant races. Then he quit racing because he had to lead family business and "no one wanted to do business with someone who can die next weekend" (his own words, if I remember them well).
For those who are able to read Italian, here is full story:
http://www.sportquot.../1000miglia.htm
My question is: was he one of the most gifted ever? His results are spectacular by any criteria. Any memories, stories...

[Don Capps]

He is certainly one of those who seems to get lost in the shuffle since he concentrated on "real" road racing and not the usual monoposto events. He was truly amazing in what he accomplished at the Mille Miglia, two wins being quite an accomplishment. I will see what I can dig up in some of my notes and other places.

[FEV]

The most funny thing I remember about the Marzotto brothers is the story about the family's company advertising billboards being placed before every diffcult turns on the road between Roma and Brescia, as an aid for Gianni, Vittorio and Paolo (wasn't there a fourth one ?). Is this a legend or was it a reality ?

[Ray Bell]

Considering all the facts, one would have to rate him very highly...

His time in the 1953 Mille Miglia was 10h 37m 19s, not all that far behind what Moss was to do with quite a bit more working for him two years later.

[FEV]

And the 1953 MM race was probably the one who had the greatest entry list ever : three 6C ALFAs for Fangio, Kling and Sanesi; four Aston-Martin DB3s for Parnell, Collins, Abecassis and Wisdom; the Jaguars of Moss, Rolt and Johnson; Lancias of Biondetti, Maglioli, Taruffi and Bonetto and of course the numerous Ferraris of Farina, Hawthorn, Villoresi, Bracco, Castellotti, Cabianca, Cole, etc... Add the 2-litre Maseratis (Musso, Mantovani, Giletti) and you have one of the greatest field ever assembled for a sportscar race !!! And Gianni beat them all at more than 140 kph, 12 minutes in front of Fangio (who had steering problems near the end). He was truly a great "stradista" !

[dmj]

I believe Umberto was fourth brother. Wasn't he involved in that spectacular accident when his Ferrari Barchetta broke in two halves during a Mille Miglia? I have pictures of this accident somewhere and seem to remember driver's name as Umberto...

[VDP]

Winner of Monaco Grand Prix in 1952
Formula 2 contender and winner of Rouen GP in 1951


Robert

[FEV]

Yes thanks dmj, Umberto was the fourth of the Marzotto racing brothers.
Robert, I think Vittorio won Monaco in 52 and Gianni won Reims in 51... I don't have much about Umberto BTW who was the least successfull of the four. Had a few MM outings, but that's almost it as far as I know.

[Mobetta]

How does this sound as a poll topic?: Vote for your favorite Marzotto brother! I'm sure it would get dozens of responses...or, at least a dozen...

Paolo, Vittorio and Giovanni each seemed to have their individual strengths and accomplishments as drivers.Vittorio definitely had a preference for the smaller displacement Ferraris while Paolo seemed to like the big ones.Paolo did some very impressive driving in the awesome 375Plus, setting the fastest lap in the epic 1954 Le Mans.Even better, at that year's Mille Miglia, Paolo got the better of his brother Giannino who may have been intimidated by his 4.9, passed Maglioli, also in a 4.9, into 2nd place and was actually closing on Ascari's Lancia when Paolo's transaxle failed.Vittorio ended up finishing second to the Lancia in a 2-liter Monza.

Which Marzotto brother won the "grey suit" Mille Miglia?

[raceannouncer2003]

At this Ebay page:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...7QQcmdZViewItem

it says:

"...deceased Ferrari race car driver 1953-55 and Mille Miglia winner..."

Did I miss something? Isn't he still with us?

Vince H.

[David M. Kane]

If there is any race I particularly miss it is this one. Sure it was madness, but of the greatest kind.
To me Italy in the 1950s is something I never got to experience; but I sure have some great day dreams!

[Bruno]

Count Gianni "Giannino " Marzotto: official driver 1953/54

it driving in costume tie.



16/10/49 criterium di Roma, Vermicino-Rocca di Papa Conte Giannino Marzotto 166 MM Barchetta T 0022M

23/4/50 Mille Miglia G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 166 MM/195 S 0026M

10/6/50 3 Ore notturna di Roma G. Marzotto 166 MM/195 S 0026M

11/6/50 3 h di Roma G. Marzotto 195 S 0026M

16/7/50 coppa delle Dolomiti G. Marzotto 166 MM Barchetta T 0026M

29/4/51 Mille Miglia P. Marzotto/Marino Marini 166 MM Barchetta T 0034M

3/6/51 coppa della Toscana Firenze - Firenze G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 166 MM "Uovo" 024MB

8/7/51 Gp Rouen G. Marzotto 166 MM "Uovo" 024MB

8/7/51 Gp de Rouen-les-Essarts G. Marzotto 166 F2

26/4/53 Mille Miglia G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 340 MM 0280AM

[Bruno]

Count Vittorio Marzotto

1/10/50 Treponti-Castelnuovo Conte Vittorio Marzotto 166

1/4/51 Giro di Sicilia V. Marzotto/L.Fontana 212 Export Spider Fontana 0086E

3/6/51 coppa della Toscana Firenze - Firenze V. Marzotto/Zanuso 275 S America Berlinetta T 0030MT

2/6/52 GP de Monaco (Sport) V. Marzotto 225 S Spider V 0154ED

[Bruno]

Count Paolo Marzotto: officiel driver 53/54



29/4/51 Mille Miglia Paolo Marzotto/Marino Marini 166 MM Barchetta T 0034M

12/4/52 Giro di Sicilia P. Marzotto/M. Marini 166 MM Barchetta T 0034M

13/7/52 coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti P. Marzotto/M. Marini 225 S 0172ET

3/8/52 Giro della Calabria P. Marzotto 225 S Spider 0172ET

10/8/52 Circuito di Senigallia P. Marzotto 225 S Spider 0172ET

16/8/52 12 Ore di Pescara P. Marzotto/G. Bracco 250 S Berlinetta V 0156ET

12/7/53 coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti P. Marzotto 250 MM 02832MM

9/8/53 circuito di Senigallia P. Marzotto 375 MM 0322AM

28/3/54 corsa sulle Torricelle P. Marzotto 625 TF Belinetta V 0302TF

[Bruno]

count Umberto Marzotto:

23/9/51 Trieste-Opicina Conte Umberto Marzotto 212 Export Spider V
0090E


all win's Ferrari

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by raceannouncer2003
"...deceased Ferrari race car driver 1953-55 and Mille Miglia winner..."

Did I miss something? Isn't he still with us?

Vince H.

As the above posts seem to ignore the question completely, Vince, I'm happy to confirm, yep, Giannino is still with us, and will be 79 later this year.

[Graham Gauld]

Took this pic of him two years ago and he was very much alive and well

[Scuderia SSS]

3 of the 4 brothers here, and i have a glorious photo of Vittorio driving a 166MM.



I certainly would love to communicate with Giannino. Have some questions about a certain race i would love to ask him, alas i dont see that happening.

[David M. Kane]

Are there any books in English on this great family?

[bradbury west]

Yes there was one a while back. I recall Simon Taylor reviewing it in C&SC, will look through files. Apparently the Marzotto family were well known for special bodied Ferraris, inter alia, one a sort of estate car and the other called Uovo, the egg, IIRC.

Roger Lund

[Scuderia SSS]

Try "La saga dei Marzotto" of Cesare de Agostini (Giorgio Nada Editore 2003).

[fuzzi]

Giannino Mazotto is alive and well and was interviewed by Anthony Pritchard for his forthcoming book on the Mille Miglia. He is at pains to refute the story that the family used advertising hoardings to mark braking points and stated that he never practised the route as he found he remembered things wrongly - he had great faith in his own judgement.

His book on the family's racing experiences is "Red Arrows, Ferraris in the Mille Miglia" editted by Giorgio Nada.

[bradbury west]

I always understood that the Red Arrows book was an account of every Ferrari which competed in the Mille Miglia, according to the review to hand. It was written by Giannino Marzotto and Sergio Cassano, published by Georgio Nada, so a top quality work. There is a schedule of each car's times over each section , plus in depth profiles of some of the leading drivers. plus Ascari's pace notes for '53 etc etc. 306 pages with English text.

I have seen the other book, but cannot find details, but appears to be an account of the 4 brothers' exploits. The estate car Ferrari was for the 55 Carrera, which was canelled, and was designed to carry much extra fuel. . It was called the Ferrari Weekend, and its fate is unknown
The Uovo still exists.

The cars were modified by Paduan coachbuilder Paolo Fontana.

Must buy the books.

RL

[Graham Gauld]

This is the Uovo when it was new prepared for the Mille Miglia

[David M. Kane]

I would have loved to have seen the interaction between these guys and Enzo!

[raceannouncer2003]

Thanks...glad to hear Giannino is still with us. I was worried when I saw "deceased" on that Ebay site.

Have you seen this site?

http://www.millemigliastory.com/

It has another neat diorama section, plus this account of the 1950 Mille Miglia, written by Giannino himself! Probably even better if you can read Italian!

http://www.millemigl..... Marzotto.htm

Vince H.

[Bjorn Kjer]

The Marzotto Brothers logo was to my knowledge a steering wheel . Does any of you have a picture or drawing of it , and was there anything else in the wheel ?

[Jean L]

About the"the best sportscar driver ever",we have to consider Umberto Maglioli,
in brief:
1953 Targa Florio,12H di Pescara.
1954 1000Km Buenos Aires,GP d'Imola,Supercortemaggiore,Senigalia,Carrera Panamericana.
1956 Targa Florio (with a Porsche 550A against Ferrari and Maserati armada !)
1964 12H of Sebring
1968 Targa Florio

[Jan Holmskov]

Bjoern,

I have the book La Saga dei Marzotto by Cesare de Agostini. It that book there is no indication that the Marzotto brothers had a steering wheel as logo

Regards,

Jan

[Bjorn Kjer]

Excuse me JeanL , I think you get this mixed up a bit , this thread is about Marzotto , not "the best sports car driver ever" , but of course if you have the logo I was looking for...............

[David McKinney]

There's nothing in Giannino Marzotto's La Ferrari alla Mille Miglia to show any logo (apart from a Scuderia Ferrari escutcheon on appropriate occasions)

[dretceterini]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
The Marzotto Brothers logo was to my knowledge a steering wheel . Does any of you have a picture or drawing of it , and was there anything else in the wheel ?

You are probably thinking of the steering wheel logo of Scuderia Ambrosiana

[Bjorn Kjer]

Sorry , I should have told you that from the start , but in book The Marzotto saga by Agostini is a side view of their big transporter . "SCUDERIA MARZOTTO ITALIA" with a 3 spoked steering wheel . In the wheel is a figure or some small text I have been told . Does that help ?

[Igor_E]

3 of the 4 brothers here, and i have a glorious photo of Vittorio driving a 166MM.



I certainly would love to communicate with Giannino. Have some questions about a certain race i would love to ask him, alas i dont see that happening.

Here is the photo that I have received from Giannino Marzotto - 1951 Formula 2, I Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts - winner in Ferrari 166F2/50:

[Igor_E]

Count Gianni "Giannino " Marzotto: official driver 1953/54

it driving in costume tie.



16/10/49 criterium di Roma, Vermicino-Rocca di Papa Conte Giannino Marzotto 166 MM Barchetta T 0022M

23/4/50 Mille Miglia G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 166 MM/195 S 0026M

10/6/50 3 Ore notturna di Roma G. Marzotto 166 MM/195 S 0026M

11/6/50 3 h di Roma G. Marzotto 195 S 0026M

16/7/50 coppa delle Dolomiti G. Marzotto 166 MM Barchetta T 0026M

29/4/51 Mille Miglia P. Marzotto/Marino Marini 166 MM Barchetta T 0034M

3/6/51 coppa della Toscana Firenze - Firenze G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 166 MM "Uovo" 024MB

8/7/51 Gp Rouen G. Marzotto 166 MM "Uovo" 024MB

8/7/51 Gp de Rouen-les-Essarts G. Marzotto 166 F2

26/4/53 Mille Miglia G. Marzotto/M. Crosara 340 MM 0280AM

some nice photos I received from Giannino Marzotto

[Bruno]

sorry break link.
new link

Gianni "Giannino"


Paolo:


Vittorio