When the hills are alive…

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Alessandria is a city in Northern-Italy with an 18th century Citadel. Between the two world wars the town was well-known for the 'Circuito Bordino' a racing circuit named after Pietro Bordino, a local hero, who died there during practice in 1928. The race was run through the surrounding hills and villages of Alessandria and only the very best drivers took part, Nuvolari (main picture), Varzi and Ferrari to name a few. Eyewitnesses still remember today that two months before the start of the race, the town started working on the track by painting the trees along the road half white and half black, to give the drivers, running at high speed between them, the feeling of a wall alongside. Hundreds of workers mended the roads, filling potholes, at least the biggest and removed the stones. Usually drivers were allowed to practice two weeks in advance and the true enthusiasts were able to distinguish the car or the driver from the sounds or the way in which they shifted gears! Today things may go different, but the race is still on, although in a more civilized form. Every year the Veteran Car Club Bordino of Alessandria commemorates the old days with the "Veterane sulle strade dei vini" or "Pre-war cars on the Wine Road". The next edition will be June 1-3, 2012.

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