The personality of Tazio Nuvolari will remain unsurpassed and unsurpassable in the history of sport records. He was born in Castel D'Ario (Mantova) on November 16, 1892, in a family of sportsmen. His father, Arturo, made a name for himself in athletics and cycling events of that end of century and his uncle Giuseppe was in that period a pioneer and champion of national cycle racing. Tazio had shown since he was a child his daring, riding a bicycle first and a motorbike then; reliable sources state that he took part in his first motorcycle race in 1920 in Cremona. Upon a car, indeed, he started racing for the first time in 1921 in Verona, but his real "test" on a special car took place in 1925 in Monza, with an Alfa Romeo P2. That time, however, did not turn out well because he rolled over at the third lap. Four years later, he joined the Scuderia Ferrari, the Alfa Romeo racing team, which he had to become the standard-bearer of. In 1930, the first victory came with the Alfa 1750 G.S. at the Mille Miglia and, since then, all the records of an age were signed by a pair that seemed to be indissoluble: Alfa-Nuvolari. In 1933, he was Italian absolute champion, title he won also in 1935 and 1936, when he drove a red Alfa Romeo to the victory in Roosevelt Field, United States, by winning the Vanderbilt Cup. And on June 15, 1936, on the Florence-Sea motorway, he broke with the Bimotor Alfa two international records in the flying mile and in the flying kilometre. Then, in 1937, there were a standstill owing to the war and to a great sorrow: the loss of his son Giorgio due to a disease which nine years later was also bound to strike the second-born Alberto. On April 8, 1938, he risked his life in the fire of his Alfa 308 during the Pau G.P. practice: he squeezed through with a couple of minor burns but, ten days later, he announced to Alfa Romeo his decision to quit racing. Nuvolari was a brave, all his life was dictated by a will do dare and to risk, but he always came out alive, even if not always unhurt, from the most frightful accidents that would have been fatal for anybody. ...When Nuvolari passes people wait hours and hours for his arrival and when eventually hear the noise jump up... sings Lucio Dalla in a very popular song dedicated to the Mantuan racing driver whose human and sporting life-story is full of awesomeness which reaches us intact still today. The folk imagination made a myth of him and presented unforgettable legendary nicknames, to that short man who could dominate the racing fast cars like nobody else, who was able to gain ground in the most dangerous curves, who raced even when he was wounded, in plaster, and who did not withdraw either when he broke the steering wheel: Nivola, Master, the Devil, the Flying Mantuan. Also Gabriele D'Annunzio, who as Nuvolari loved to take risks, was fascinated by him and wanted to know him. They met only once, on April 28, 1932, at the Vittoriale, as witnessed by a historical stock photo which portrays them sat on the running board of the new Alfa Romeo 1750. When the time to part came, D'Annunzio offered "to the fastest man of the world, the slowest animal." It was the fabulous golden turtle that "Nivola" always wanted to bring along, as lucky charm, pinned on the race yellow jersey, engraved on the writing paper and painted on the nacelle of his airplane.

Elvira Ruocco

Visit the Nuvolari's official website: www.tazionuvolari.it

Info from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazio_Nuvolari

GRAND PRIX OF GERMANY NUVOLARI ON 2-LITRE TIPO B WITH DUBONNET SUSPENSION 1ST IN THE ABSOLUTE RANKING 1935

A PASSAGE OF NUVOLARI ON TIPO B P3 AT THE BERGAMO CIRCUIT 1ST IN THE ABSOLUTE RANKING 1935

NUVOLARI AFTER THE VICTORY IN BUDAPEST HUNGARY RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS ON STYLE FROM THE PRINCE COLONNA CADET TO THE ROYAL ITALY EMBASSY 1936