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TOUR DELLE ALPI 2020 | Better Days Are Back
TOUR DELLE ALPI 2020
BETTER DAYS ARE BACK
Words and Photos by Giorgia Rossi
No, we’re not back to normality, not yet. We still haven’t that everyday life we mainly learned to appreciate just when it has been taken away from us by a virus that suddenly fell on the whole world and entered our lives upsetting everything on its path. Nothing is like before, you can notice that from the masks that cover the liberating smiles of those attending the first edition of an entirely new event for Auto Class Magazine. The Tour delle Alpi is a new name on our pages, three words that however tell pretty well what will await the 30 crews ready to get back a piece of heart, that passion for cars lived in the best way possible, driving and above all doing it on wonderful roads.
In the shadow of the Alps, where everything makes more sense, the early hours of this mid-July Sunday morning starts filling up with music for the ears of every true self-respecting enthusiast. Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, Mustang, Delta, Maserati and various hot-hatches, those short fuse bombs that can’t wait to get in the slipstream of twice as powerful engines, taking advantage of smaller dimensions and weights. The magic of these events, however, is not only relegated to beautiful cars, but to beautiful people. Old and new friendships, most of them born during one of our previous tours, all ready to have a sneak peek at the road book, have breakfast and leave Pontechianale to point the nose towards the first of the 5 mountain passes ready to make this event a day about kilometers and curves, many curves.
Against all expectations due to the most pessimistic weather forecasts, we face the first hairpin bends that lead to the top of the Colle dell’Agnello, making us leave our beloved Italy and get into France with a winding and narrow road on the Italian side and a wider and faster one as we descend into the French territory. A slight fog tries to intimidate the drivers who fight back with a soundtrack made of horsepower capable of waking up all the marmots still asleep for kilometers. The tour has now come alive and we keep driving for the Col d’Izoard, one of the most panoramic places and that this year gifts us a fantastic sun, painting a postcard background for the way up and the way down on its switchbacks sneaking between rock walls that seem launching you on another planet. Here, the show is always otherworldly and despite some tourists along the way, we are the only true protagonists of the peak. A fast transfer to the South lays ahead, just before going up again and running along the wide guts that take us to the Col de Vars, an intermediate point where we allow ourselves a longer stop, good for a coffee and a sandwich on the go (maybe a bit too much on the go for one of our drivers!).
With three of five climbs accomplished so far, the desire to drive is still intense and the next stage is perhaps the most bombastic on the road book, the Col de la Bonette, which with its more than 2,700 meters also boasts the record as the highest asphalt road in Europe. I’m talking about the Cime de la Bonette and its monolith, a true reference point for tourists and enthusiasts from all over the world. We surround the holy stone and although some motorcyclists have to wait for our depart before being able to dedicate themselves to their pictures, we have time to enjoy the splendid landscape of a corner of Heaven on earth. Climbing up here along the Col du Restefonde and drive alongside ruined fortresses, ponds and some frozen residues left by a protracted winter remind how we terribly missed all of this. But we’re here, a quick look around and you can only distinguish happy faces, maybe tired for the sun and the crunched kilometers, but in their eyes there is that spark that makes them all part of a big family.
I have to run, once again, time to leave before the others in order to lurk where I can precisely capture this spirited convoy and allow those who have experienced it firsthand and those who relive it on the pages of the magazine, to truly feel that sense of freedom that these cars are able to offer. We then go down on the South side, other curves, other hairpins, then we reach Isola preparing for the Colle della Lombarda, the last mountain pass that will take us back to Italy and then to the final destination scheduled for lunch, which in perfect Auto Class Magazine style – despite being scheduled for 3:30 pm – will not start until 5:00 pm. Never mind, we are here to drive, so let’s drive. Driving up to Isola 2000 always gives strong emotions, but having the Colle della Lombarda with a prevalence of sunshine has been the icing on the cake. The road is narrow, there is a little extra traffic than expected, but after all these wonderful places are for everyone and are ready to give emotions to all those looking for a day through these beautiful corners of the planet.
Last few shots, then I turn off my camera, put the cap on and breathe a sigh of relief. It was not only a demanding event for the mileage and the number (in excess) of cars attending, but in addition to the great work done behind the scenes, we managed to handle unexpected occurrences that probably many of the participants will not have perceived and this is because the ultimate goal is always to offer a total and unforgettable driving experience. To do this you need beautiful roads and beautiful cars, but above all beautiful people. People who once sat for lunch start to exchange opinions with other enthusiastic chaps who until a few hours ago were complete strangers. Nothing is back to normality, hopefully it will happen soon, but in the meantime the good days are back. And that of the Tour delle Alpi cannot be taken away by anything and anyone in the world.
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