19 replies to this topic

[Maldwyn]

I've been told that that this photo shows Riccardo Patrese leading Jody Scheckter's sister car at Monza during the 1978 Giro d'Italia.
http://www.riccardop...e.com/CF Giro d

It's impossible to tell from the photo so the question is - is it indeed Jody

[baggish]

Though this is not conclusive evidence, it looks very possible (sequential race numbers could help argue the case).

http://www.autoieri....ta/vetrina.shtm

Jon

[MattFoster]

Always liked the look of the Ritmo.

That evidence baggish gave is making it more likely that it is Jody in the second car.

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by baggish
Though this is not conclusive evidence, it looks very possible (sequential race numbers could help argue the case).

Looks fairly convincing to me Thanks very much baggish

[xjohnnyjaguarx]

why not
gilles villeneuve drove the 1979 giro with a lancia beta mc gr5 so it seems likely

[Henri Greuter]

xjohnnyjaguarx wrote:

gilles villeneuve drove the 1979 giro with a lancia beta mc gr5 so it seems likely


It's off topic I know, nevertheless....

The Villeneuve books I rood fail to mention exacty with whom Gilles drove that event.
To add to the confusion; Many years ago a kit company released a model of the 1979 Giro Beta MonteCarlo turbo but it had enshortened bodywork (nose and tail) copared with the track version of which a kit was released as well. (those sponsorless curved lines designs)
And now you can find a Best 1:43 model of the car but then it features the regular longtail longnosed bodywork again.

So: Was the car used with two types of bodywork?
Who were Gilles' partners in that event?


Henri Greuter

[Maldwyn]

I think Gilles's co-driver in the 1979 event might have been Walter Rohl - http://membres.lycos...scc/gi79576.jpg
Patrese's car from the same event - http://membres.lycos...scc/gi79577.jpg
I believe both cars were disqualified for using the autostrada

[BRG]

Originally posted by Maldwyn
I've been told that that this photo shows Riccardo Patrese leading Jody Scheckter's sister car at Monza during the 1978 Giro d'Italia.

That's Monza? It doesn't look like any bit of Monza that I recognise (although there have been changes since 1978). There are real road-type kerbs and the barriers and trees look awfully close. But that does look like a marshal's post behind the barriers.

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by BRG
That's Monza?

It is Monza's junior circuit

[BRG]

Thanks Maldwyn, I didn't know that there was such a thing as a MOnza Junior Circuit.

And since seeing the map, I am not much impressed - that's a circuit design crying out for some Herman Tilke type "improvements"!

So where is that shot taken? As they rejoin the main track by the Variante Ascari presumably? I can't see where else it could be. Although it still doesn't look right - but that may just be because it is an unfamiliar camera angle

[Roland Wasscher]

Maybe Zolder.

Roland

[xjohnnyjaguarx]

zolder highly unlikely
my bet is on monza
or it could be other circuits in italie like vallelunga misano mugello vagione

[Maldwyn]

I don't think there is any doubt that the picture is taken at Monza. The circuit is not particularly recognisable because it shows the piece of track that cuts through between the Variante Retifilo and Variante Ascari.

The Giro d'Italia was a multi-discipline event run over a week (I believe) and driving was shared between circuit racing specialists such as Patrese & Scheckter, and rally stages run by the rally aces such as Alen & Biasion

[BANZI]

I have just dug out the relevant copy of Autosprint,and can confirm that it is indeed Jody following Patrese on the Giro.

They were both driving a group 2 Fiat Ritmos in the 1600 cc class.

Co drivers with Jody were Verini and Mannucci, they evetually finished 27 th.

Patrese-Sodano-Pozzetto finishing 5th.

The event was won by Marku Alen in a Stratos.

[BRG]

Damn, that was an ugly car, the Ritmo (or Strada as it was called in the UK). And that colour scheme really brings out the ugliness to perfection.

Fortunately, the car was made of papier-mache and all the examples sold in Britain fell to bits years ago. FIAT sales have never really recovered over here from the effects of the reputation gained by this dire piece of garbage. Yes, I know that the Abarth 130 version was very fast etc etc, but the ordinary models

As for the Monza question, I would be interested if anyone has any other pictures of the Junior Circuit, purely for my elucidation.

[Vilcornell]

I've raced several time on the "junior" circuit, with formula monza 1000cc.; that pic is taked at the exit of the junior junction, were the track reconnect the gp course after variante Ascari.

Naturally Ritmos were very popular in Italy, I never owned one, but I think the lasts models, especially the turbodiesel, were quite reliable cars, cheaper and faster than VW GTD (that I owned).

But....I agree, ugly, it was ugly.....;)

[BRG]

Thanks, Vilcornell, there is nothing better than first-hand knowledge to resolve a question!

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by BRG
As for the Monza question, I would be interested if anyone has any other pictures of the Junior Circuit, purely for my elucidation.

I have recently been sent another photo of what I assume to be the Monza junior circuit. This one was taken of Patrese leading the pack during the 1980 event:

Click here for larger photo

[BRG]

Thanks, Maldwyn, but now I am puzzled again! Looking at the circuit map that you kindly posted, I can't place where this new photo was taken, unless it is where the Junior track turns off the GP circuit? It does look like the end of the pitlane on the left hand side. Is that track map maybe a bit inaccurate, do you think?

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by BRG
Thanks, Maldwyn, but now I am puzzled again!

Sorry about that!! I think they are taking the right hander off the start/finish straight but I'm sure that Vilcornell would be able to tell us.