ALPS ATTACK

MAZDA MX-5 100th ANNIVERSARY

Time to stop once again, I’d actually love to stay here for the whole day plunging myself in this silence until forgetting that one of the reasons we are here is instead the screeching of the tires thru corners and the run of 132 horses to the threshold of 7,000 revs.

 

 

 

Words Alessandro Marrone / Photos Bruno Serra

Suddenly, without anything or anyone preparing for what is about to emerge in front of your eyes, the asphalt gives way to a perfect expanse of cobblestone that forms in an almost maniacal precision a succession of curves, just before aiming for the rock and grass wall thus adding perfectly shaped and looking hairpin bends that you will never forget. The same instant, the still dark morning sky becomes severe and lets the clouds accumulated during the night to collide as some drops start falling. Not even the time to fully realize the incredible beauty of the road ahead that a horde of cows forces us to stop.

 

 

 

We remain in the middle of the road, with the windows already closed due to the adverse weather and we cannot help but wait for the cattle to pass by. Having now reached and surrounded us, they seem like observing the little Mazda, brushing its body with an education and a delicacy that you would not think could belong to animals of this size. While we wait their pasture moving or perhaps their comeback to the stable due to bad weather conditions, the herd ends its passage and beyond the front bonnet takes shape the silhouette of one of the most beautiful and unique roads in the world, the Strada della Tremola, also known as the old St. Gotthard pass, the most spectacular and engaging way to reach the peak, located at an altitude of 2,106 meters. It is a real open-air monument, a work built in the early 1800s (between 1827 and 1832) that includes 24 hairpin bends and the most classic alpine serpentine, however embellished with a floor that recommends caution, especially on a wet day like this.

 

 

 

The alarm sounds again at 4 in the morning and when you get out of bed well before dawn, there must be a good reason for that. The Alps Attack is our annual trip that involves a marathon of kilometers struggling with a bunch of mountain passes: this year it’s all about the Swiss Alps. To complete it all, however, you need the right car, not necessarily a supercar, but rather something that embodies pure driving pleasure. As I began to imagine the roads we were about to tackle this year, the silhouette of the Mazda MX-5 immediately started to take shape in my mind. The 100th Anniversary Edition makes everything even more special, celebrating the centenary of the brand by taking up the Snowflakes White Pearl colors for the bodywork and Burgundy Red for the interiors, made legendary by the R360 Coupe of the 60s. It’s time to go.

 

 

 

After having stowed only the bare essentials in the small but spacious trunk, we find ourselves on the motorway, passing the countless road-works that currently storm the section that connects Liguria with Piedmont and therefore Lombardy. A few hours and a few coffees later we cross the Swiss border and head towards Airolo, the last town before the Gotthard Tunnel, a 17-kilometer mastodon that allows you to cross the pass in the fastest but most boring way possible. Not today, ‘cause we are here for a proper binge of curves. And this is how, without any particular signal warning us, at a certain point the asphalt becomes cobblestone and the road is transformed into an authentic driving paradise. The hairpin bends of the Tremola are of absolute perfection, but must be approached with common sense turned on. Being here for a photographic reportage, stops are a few. It sounds incredible, but we can’t drive fifty meters without pulling over and taking pictures. This place is magnificent. In reality there are no words capable of describing how magical it is to find ourselves in this precise point, completely alone. Not even the cowbells of some distant cows manage to break the absolute silence of the morning, with a thin mist that hides the lines of the road above and the kilometric stones that guide us to the hospice a little further on.

 

 

 

The roof remains closed, if not for a few sporadic moments useful for photographic purposes. The small cockpit of the Mazda is a safe shelter and although the outside temperature remains stable around 8 degrees, a breath of wind promises at least to sweep away the clouds and give us a few moments away from the rain. The road ahead is long, there are four more passes to cross, but already the Gotthard worth the ticket, it justifies the early start and enters my personal top 5 without a shadow of a doubt. No surprise here, but the MX-5 showcases its proverbial ability to read the ground, with its direct steering, close-to-the-ground seating position and a perfect visibility all around. The 4-cylinder at my disposal is the quiet 1.5 with 132 horsepower, which put under a weight that touches 1,000 kg, makes the little white pearl agile in any situation that does not require pure power. Rear-wheel drive – of course – and 6-speed manual gearbox, I couldn’t wish for anything else.

 

 

 

With more than a hint of melancholy it is time to continue and leave the Strada della Tremola behind, looking North-West and retracing the trail of a certain Sean Connery. The Furka Pass is a more traditional road and after a few kilometers strictly traveled respecting the local speed limits, the inclination points upwards again. Initially quite narrow, the Furka is characterized by stone walls and an asphalt in impeccable condition. Like all the mountain passes of the area, there are numerous lay-by areas that allow a quick stop useful to admire the landscape, such as the one created next to the exact spot where James Bond stopped his Aston Martin in the famous “Goldfinger” movie. Other than a proper sign that names the road as James Bond Strasse, you get a slate telling the most salient moments of that epic chase.

 

 

 

A timid hint of traffic reflects a clear improvement in weather conditions, with the sun now making its way through the clouds and accompanying us to the Grand Tour photo spot, from which it is possible to frame the hairpin bends of the Grimsel Pass. The mountain seems alive, the colors are perfect and the clearing of the sky makes possible to spot even the most distant peaks all around. Arrived this far, we know well that shortly thereafter it will be the moment for one of the most iconic hairpin bends in the world and probably one of the most hashtagged on Instagram, that of the old Hotel Belvedere. Unfortunately, a large number of people stopped just close to the curve does not allow us to extend our break beyond what is strictly necessary for a shot, so we decide to go down towards Gletsch. Luckily, there is still time to enjoy the spectacle of the West side of the Furka pass, even more panoramic and this time more prone to a higher number of revs.

 

 

 

No more stops until we start to climb once again towards the Grimsel Pass, where after greeting us with half a dozen other MX-5s, we confirm that the sun has finally decided to join our company. With the roof finally open and with the windows fully up, the cockpit is the ideal place where you want to spend some good and memorable time. The sound of the small but exuberant engine is always present and the perfect dialogue between gearbox and clutch invites you to play around the curves like a baby. Here is one of the many magic of this beautiful little car. After a few marmots and nods of approval from a small group of classic cars that proceeded swiftly in the opposite direction, we reach the summit of the Grimsel Pass (2,164 m) and enjoy the radiant image of the lake, also taking advantage of a stop for a lunch with some tasty sandwiches and croissants. Sitting next to the Mazda, we take the opportunity to look around, appreciating the conditions of the road and the structures, but above all the dedication of motorcyclists and motorists who have come here from all over Europe for one simple reason: to enjoy a day of driving.

 

 

Our Grand Tour of the Swiss Alps is just over halfway through and just when you think you’ve seen majestic landscapes like you haven’t seen for a long time – with the exception of the Tremola which is in a class of its own – the Sustenpass shows how incredible mother nature is. The chase with a BMW M2 does not last long, because when the richest stretch of curves comes to an end, the engine supremacy inevitably comes into play and we must necessarily eat some dust. Not bad, because the Susten is another range of emotions, a kaleidoscope of rocks that a few kilometers from the summit intertwines with carved tunnels, hairpin bends and a balcony overlooking the void over the road traveled moments ago, so far away that it almost seems unrecognizable. Time to stop once again, I’d actually love to stay here for the whole day plunging myself in this silence until forgetting that one of the reasons we are here is instead the screeching of the tires thru corners and the run of 132 horses to the threshold of 7,000 revs.

 

 

 

One more pass, the Oberalppass (2,044 m) and after all the magnificence I have just experienced, I almost let myself be carried away by the 100th Anniversary and its small details such as the badges on the sides, the celebratory cap on the wheels and the various logos on mats and headrests. Reality is that the MX-5 does not need special editions to attract one’s attention, because it still is one of the best cars ever and represents the maximum meeting point for all the needs that a passionate motorist can have. Driving fun, purity of shapes, reduced dimensions and a price within reach of all wallets. The Mazda MX-5 is the best way to share certain emotions with a second person, but above all with yourself, going to tickle the imagination for the next drive to the mountains, the sea, or even stuck in traffic on your way back home.

 

 

 

Never as this year the choice has been dictated by a set of images that have proven to fit perfectly into the design of the Swiss Alps. By creating a new standard of this caliber it will be extremely difficult to think how to move the bar even higher next year, but after all it is thanks to a perfect interlocking that crosses generations of motorists and that brings together a driving concept seemingly snubbed by a lot of big brains from many car manufacturers. With the MX-5 we still think of that simple and primitive desire to drive for the pure pleasure of holding a steering wheel, listening to the sound of the exhaust and letting your hair in the wind, an aspect that in my personal case is almost science fiction. What’s 100% real is that we need cars like this. So badly.

 

MAZDA MX-5 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Engine 4 cylinder, 1.496cc Power 132 hp @ 7.000 rpm Torque 152 Nm @ 4.500 rpm

Traction Rear-Wheel-Drive Transmission 6-Speed Manual Gearbox Weight 1.071 kg

0-100 kph 8,3 sec Top Speed 204 kph Price from €33.700