7 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

I'm searching about the Bolzano-Mendola hillclimb, one of the most important hillclimbs in Italian and European Championship, until the late 80s (the last edition of the race was held in 1988). Now the course from Bolzano to Mendola pass is a large road, similar to an highway in Alto Adige region... nothing to do with the previous, dangerous, historic hillclimb.

The first edition of the race was held in 1930.
Does someone of you know the correct venue? The lenght of the race is uncertain: according to some source it was a 12 kms track, according to other, 14,5 kms.

I know in the early 80s the official name of the race was "Appiano-Mendola" instead of "Bolzano-Mendola". Appiano is a small village in the vicinities of Bolzano, in the way to Mendola Pass. Did the race start ALWAYS from Appiano or (and this could be the difference of kms I've found) at the beginning until the end of the 70s, started from Bolzano and then from Appiano? When did the changing happen?

[Hugo Boecker]

I've noticed a track lenght of 25 KM in 50 - 54 and then 24.5km but I have no exact source besides the book La Lancia by Wim Oude Weernink.

[David McKinney]

Carli's Settant'Anni di Gare Automobilistiche in Italia gives 26km for the course from Bolzano to the Passo della Mendola from 1930-1954, then 24.5km in 1955, then from 1956-64 14.5km from Appialo to the Passo and finally 14.4km in 1965 and 1966 (the last years covered)

[Hugo Boecker]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Carli's Settant'Anni di Gare Automobilistiche in Italia gives 26km for the course from Bolzano to the Passo della Mendola from 1930-1954, then 24.5km in 1955, then from 1956-64 14.5km from Appialo to the Passo and finally 14.4km in 1965 and 1966 (the last years covered)

http://www.kolumbus....ellman/hca1.htm
The distance from 1930 to 1947 is given with 26 KM then for 1948 and 1949 it is 25 km which is the same distance given in the Lancia book for 1950 to 54

so I think we haye
26,0 Km 1930 - 1947
25,0 Km 1948 - 1954
24,5 Km 1955
14,5 KM 1956 - 1964
14,4 KM 1965 - ???? (1970 is last one I have)

So in 1956 was a major change may be a new road was built and the old one abandond or it was shortened

Is there anywhere a winner's list ?

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Hugo Boecker
Is there anywhere a winner's list ?

Carli's Settant'Anni di Gare Automobilistiche in Italia

[chrischilcott]

I raced there in a special invitation class set up between the organisers & the Frazer Nash section of the VSCC in 1979. It started on the exit of Appiano and was a fabulous hill climb, the crowds swarmed onto the course in places & they parted as we drove through. Even in my 1926 Frazer Nash it was very hairy. somewhere I have the programme and also I have a marshals arm band as souvenirs of a GREAT Day in my motoring career!

[Nanni Dietrich]

After 1970 the race was scheduled every year until 1981 (same venue). An accident happened in the 1981 Mendola hillclimb, when a Fiat Ritmo crashed into a wall and a photographer was killed. After this tragedy the race was stopped until 1985, and then in 1988 was held the last edition.

An other fatlity happened in 1955, when a spectator was killed by an Alfa Romeo 1900.

I have a winner's list from the 23rd edition:

23 - 1964
DEMETZ HERBERT
ABARTH SIMCA 2000
10' 54" 9

24 - 1965
DEMETZ HERBERT
SIMCA ABARTH 2000
11' 01" 2

25 - 1966
" NORIS "
PORSCHE CARRERA 6
9' 41" 3

26 - 1967
TARAMAZZO LUIGI
PORSCHE CARRERA 6
10' 38" 2

27 - 1968
SCHETTY PETER
ABARTH 2000 SP 68
8' 27" 0

28 - 1969
MERZARIO ARTURO
ABARTH 2000 SP 68
10' 10" 5

29 - 1970
" PAM "
ABARTH 2000 SP
8' 26" 9

30 - 1971
" SHANGRY - LA' "
RAYMOND 1000 SP
9' 10" 0

31 - 1972
PICA PINO
BRABHAM BT 38 F3
8' 19" 2

32 - 1973
NESTI MAURO
MARCH 73S-BMW 2000
8' 13" 2

33 - 1974
MANDER HELMUT
OPEL KADETT 2000 Gr. 2
9' 19" 75

34 - 1975
NESTI MAURO
LOLA BMW
8' 02" 55

35 - 1976
MARZI ACHILLE
OSELLA FORD
8' 11" 37

36 - 1977
NESTI MAURO
LOLA BMW
7' 50" 5

1978
no race

37 - 1979
NESTI MAURO
LOLA BMW
7' 21" 61

38 - 1980
NESTI MAURO
LOLA BMW
8' 06" 8

39 - 1981
NESTI MAURO
OSELLA PA 9 BMW
7' 49" 92


1982-1983-1984
no race

40 - 1985
NESTI MAURO
OSELLA PA 9 BMW
7' 02" 26

41 - 1986
NESTI MAURO
OSELLA PA 8/9 BMW
7' 05" 28

42 - 1987
BARIBBI EZIO
OSELLA PA 9 BMW
7' 03" 72

43 - 1988
TAMBONE GIUSEPPE
OSELLA PA 9 BMW
7' 09" 73

[Hugo Boecker]

The years upto 1949 you can fond in Hans's list
http://www.kolumbus....ellman/hca1.htm

This is what I can add

xx.xx.1950 Bolzano-Mendola 25,000KM

08.07.1951 Bolzano-Mendola 25,000KM Stagnoli,Antonio		Ferrari 166	

06.07.1952 Bolzano-Mendola 25,000KM 

05.07.1953 Bolzano-Mendola 25,000KM

04.07.1954 Bolzano-Mendola 25,000KM Castellotti,Eugenio	 Lancia D24		   14:44,6 101,74	

03.07.1955 Bolzano-Mendola 24,500KM Castellotti,Eugenio	 Ferrari 500 Mondial				

01.07.1956 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM Cabianca,Giulio		 OSCA MT4 1500

xx.xx.1957 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM 

06.07.1958 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM

05.07.1959 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM Cabianca,Giulio		 OSCA F2/S1500

xx.xx.1960 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM

xx.xx.1961 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM

xx.xx.1962 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM

xx.xx.1963 Bolzano-Mendola 14,500KM