6 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

We are searching about an accident that happened at the old Circuito del Mugello, involving a mother and his child in the baby-carriage.

We have only these few things:

1 - the accident happened during practice or free practice in preparation of the race. You know, the race was a circuit about 66 km in open roads, so it's difficult to think to private tests in normal traffic area.
2 - year: 1966 or 1967 or 1968 or 1969. During practice in 1967 happened the fatal crash of Gunther Klass in the Ferrari, I don't remember other accidents in that year.
3 - it seems the car was an Alfa Romeo (33 sport-prototype? or a GTA?) and some fonts told about Spartaco Dini as driver, but the name is not sure. Dini at the time was an Alfa Romeo official driver.
4 - the mother involved in the accident was seriously injured but the child unfortunately died at the scene. So, if it's true I think he (or she) is the youngest spectator even killed during a race.

We are not sure if that is a legend or a real fact.

Can someone of you help us? Do you remember something about this sad story?

Thanks.

[Paul Taylor]

I have the Motorsport magazine with a review of the 1968 or 1969 race, I believe. I'll check it out, see if I can find anything.

[dbw]

hey! maybe we could get 43 pages of people killed BY racing cars/drivers......i'm sure it's a large number over the years [if you start back with the city-to-city races just after the turn of the century]..unfortunately i'm sure their names were not recorded in the motoring press as they were just "civilians".....

[humphries]

The sad fact is that far more spectators have died in accidents than racing drivers. Any detailed research into this situation would be too depressing but it is these accidents involving the public that have changed the development of motor-racing as much as anything else.

With regard to the Targa Mugello, it was in 1969 that a child was killed. Spartaco Dini, accompanied by his girlfriend were doing a "recce" in his GTA when the roads were still open to the public. Dini ploughed into a group of holidaymakers. The parents of the child were badly injured. Dini was arrested and imprisoned on remand until his case was heard. He was charged with "homicide". He was found guilty and apparently received a sentence, but I don't know how long. He lost his licence and had to use a foreign one in order to carry on racing thereafter.

Although a shortened race was held in 1970 ( but by far the fastest! ), those opposed to racing on public roads eventually got their way and the race passed on into the history books.

This information is recorded in "Il Mugello. Un autodromo Targato Ferrari" published in 1991 by Giorgio Nada Editore and edited by Daniele Antonietti.

[Nanni Dietrich]

After 1970 Spartaco Dini was again in motorsports, for years and years. I don't know if he ran with italian or foreign licence, but I think italian. I remember him driving Alfa Romeo touring and sport cars, Ferrari 512BB and Bmw at le Mans, until the end of the 80s.

Perhaps he was declared guilty for the death of the child, but his sentence was suspended: in Italy there is "sospensione condizionale della pena" (I think is the same of "suspended sentence").

John the name of the race was Circuito del Mugello, not Targa Mugello.

[humphries]

Nanni

Whilst we are on the subject perhaps you can clear up a few anomalies.

Indeed the series of races held at Mugello have all been described using the Circuito title but was that always the main title at the time?

In 1928 it was called the Targa Masetti in honour of the driver of that name. Was this the main title or just a subsidiary one. The following year, 1929, I have seen this race in Auto Italiano described as the IX Circuito yet there had only been seven previous races at Mugello. In 1926 a race was held in a park in Florence, Cascine, and the AC Florence, Firenza (?) apparently decided to include this race in the Mugello series!

The race was revived in 1955 and was titled the X Circuito de Mugello.

However, with the second revival in 1964 the name Targa Mugello, I believe, first appeared. Was this just a complementary title or the shield awarded to the winner? In later years there are references to a Targa.

Certainly the events were called the Circuito in 1965-1967 although there were two Coppas, Piero Frescobaldi and Emilio Materassi, up for grabs as well in 66 and 67. Afterwards the Mugello races were officially titled Gran Premios until 1970, at least in Autosprint and the FIA lists.

This is all very confusing and academic ( or anorakic ).

When I went to the Biscaretti some issues of Auto Italiano for 1926 were missing. On a second visit I forgot to check other publications. Have you any detailed information on this obscure race at Cascine. Materassi won in his famous Itala but two Salmsons were next up which may mean the race was poorly supported or there were a lot of retirements.

John

[pyrytus]

Originally posted by humphries


With regard to the Targa Mugello, it was in 1969 that a child was killed. Spartaco Dini, accompanied by his girlfriend were doing a "recce" in his GTA when the roads were still open to the public. Dini ploughed into a group of holidaymakers. The parents of the child were badly injured. Dini was arrested and imprisoned on remand until his case was heard. He was charged with "homicide". He was found guilty and apparently received a sentence, but I don't know how long. He lost his licence and had to use a foreign one in order to carry on racing thereafter.

Everything reported is correct except for the year.
Accident happened on Jun 26, 1970 in the locality Ospedaletto di Firenzuola, not far from Klass' accident location.
The victim was 7 months old, as far as I know he's the youngest victim of a motorsport accident ever.
Four were injured: the baby's mother and another woman along with her two children.
Spartaco Dini was immediately arrested, I don't know the result of the legal action.

Source: newspaper "Il Resto del Carlino" dated Jun 27, 1970, article by Rosario Poma


pyrytus