4 replies to this topic

[Porsche718]

Hi all,

 

I am just doing some research into early motor racing in Uruguay.

 

I get the impression there was an annual road race in Montevideo from as early as 1919 and I have some random results from '19, '32, '35, '38 but would be interested in getting some more complete information for all the intervening years.

 

Even 1st 2nd 3rd would be wonderful.

 

Cheers

Steve W

 

 

[Vitesse2]

Some 1919 and 1921 race results here: https://acu.com.uy/historia/

 

I can also offer:

 

July 19th 1942: Autodromo Nacional. Two known local entries: Eitel Cantoni (Ford) and Jorge Montero (Bugatti-Mercury). There may have been more, but my only source was an Argentinian newspaper! Four Argentinian entries: Pablo Pesatti (Alfa Romeo), Ernesto Nanni (Ford), Mario Chiozza (Mercury) and Rodolfo Martini (Ford). Four more Argentinians were DNAs: Eric Forrest Greene (Maserati 6CM), Roque Brisco (Delahaye), Roberto Firpo (Ford) and José María Solá (Alfa Romeo).

 

The plan was probably to run two heats for Mecánica Nacional and Coches Especiales and a final, but Pesatti was the only Coches Especiales entrant to arrive, so seems to have had a walkover - I don't think he was required to run it on his own.

 

MN heat (25 laps, 35km)

1 Chiozza

2 Martini

3 Nanni

4 Cantoni

 

Final (33 laps, 46.2km)

1 Pesatti

2 Nanni

3 Chiozza

4 Martini

 

I sent this track map to Darren Galpin some years ago - found it on eBay, IIRC! Can't link the picture, as Darren's site isn't https.

 

http://www.silhouet....ks/colonia.html

[Vitesse2]

The Autodrome was apparently at 'Kilometre 27 of Route 1, 7km from Santiago Vázquez'. If you centre in on Santiago Vázquez on Google Maps (NW of Montevideo) and then go across the bridge to the west you will see there's an area actually called 'Autodromo' - as you zoom in you'll see that some of the road names are (mostly) American car makes. Lincoln, De Soto, Franklin, Hudson, Lancia, Bugatti, Studebaker, Chevrolet, Renault, Henry Ford etc.

 

https://alvolante.co...dromo-nacional/

[Vitesse2]

The first photo in the link above may actually be that 1942 race. I think that's Chiozza's Mercury Bimotor closest to the camera?

 

https://dandydriver....imotor-mercury/

 

In which case the Bugatti is presumably Montero's Mercury-powered one?

[FlyingSaucer]

The first photo in the link above may actually be that 1942 race. I think that's Chiozza's Mercury Bimotor closest to the camera?

 

https://dandydriver....imotor-mercury/

 

In which case the Bugatti is presumably Montero's Mercury-powered one?

 

Damn... those are some fine images you found there Vitesse. Especially considering that they were taken in Latin America in the 40s.

 

If you want a good suggestion for looking for some info Steve, search for a Facebook group that deals only about Uruguayan motorsport. In a quick search, I found this one: https://www.facebook...roups/cajonesuy

 

Based on my experience, members of these groups are always willing to help, as long as you are genuinely interested in the subject and don´t act like a douche. Furthermore, they have access to more specific material than what you most commonly find on the internet.