Great success for the revival of the victory of Magistri at the Targa Florio of 1936, organized by Corrado Lopresto from the 16th to the 19th of December in Sicily. The event has seen as protagonist the original Lancia Augusta that the driver Costantino Magistri brought to the victory in the historic race in 1936. The car, recently brought back in the original livery, has retraced the paths of the Targa Florio welcomed by local enthusiasts and by the Lopresto Collection's friends.

The tour started at Palermo, then moved to Cefalù to reach the museums dedicated to the Targa: the Museo del Motorismo Siciliano e della Targa Florio of Termini Imerese, the original grandstands in Floriopoli, the Museo Vincenzo Florio in Cerda and finally the Museo della Targa Florio in Collesano.

As tradition, Corrado Lopresto wanted to support the historic motoring with a cultural aspect of great importance, as he dedicates a part of the revival to visit three painting works by master Antonello da Messina. After the Annunciata in Palermo and the Ritratto di Ignoto Marinaio in Cefalù the cars reached Messina, through a ride in the panoramic location of the Tindari sanctuary. In Messina, the Museo Interdisciplinare Regionale that hosts the Polittico of San Gregorio and other works of the painter was visited. This second day ended with a concours of elegance won by the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 with bodywork Aprile, one of the most famous cars of the Lopresto Collection, awarded also in Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach.

The revival had its peak on Sunday with the arrival in Nicosia: here the entire town has dressed up for the occasion, recreating the look at the time of the race with vintage costumes and installations. Posters and historic signs were hanging all over the town and over 150 people were dressed in perfect dresses from the 30s. Cars were welcomed with a vintage mood that brought all the participants almost a century back in time. Italy had never seen a similar kind of event with a large participation of local people. Through the day the participants had also a conference dedicated to the victory of Magistri, with the participation of the nephew of the driver.

The event was made possible thanks to the support of Ma-Fra, that sponsored the revival, and the partners Allemano and Vitale Barberis Canonico, in addition to the support of the sicilian enthusiasts and the incredible work of the Associazione Veicoli Storici Nicosia, ACI Palermo and Veteran Car Club Panormus. Among the participants were also Amalia de Angelis of Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri and Lucafrancesco Caminiti delegate of Anci Campania Motorismo Storico e Sportivo.

After the enormous success of the event in Nicosia, the Lopresto Collection will organize an international meeting in 2022, with guests and participants from all over the world, strictly in period clothing, to live for three days the spirit and atmosphere that reigned in the Sicily of the 30s, all in a magnificent town that will turn into a sort of time machine.

See you then in 2022 to compete with your classic cars in the streets of the historic center of Nicosia.

Photos by Romana Zambon Photo
Eugenio Livolsi and Alessandro Coco