“I know there was another love before me, but I couldn’t have endured another after.
In fact, lately my feelings had cooled a bit. Last year we didn’t go on trips, races, or even simple walks. Maybe it was the fault of Covid, which didn’t allow us to participate in exciting events. But if I’m being honest, it was also my fault.
After seven years together, I started courting another thoroughbred who had aroused my interest for some time and I did everything to bring her into my stable, thinking she would replace her. Her silence for so many months had almost convinced me that I could do without her.
The newcomer had a boisterous voice, a rash temperament, truly exaggerated forms. In short, she had forcefully invaded our spaces. She, on the other hand, had remained in the shadows, waiting for my interest. Then unexpectedly a few days ago a passionate admirer came forward, declaring that his love for her dated back many years before I met her and that he would be happy to possess her.
After setting a date for a meeting, I began to think that she would need some care after months of almost abandonment. I opened the large doors and immediately the sun of the first almost spring day flooded the garage with light, making her shine in the darkness.
I leaned against her, and she lightly allowed herself to be pushed outside into the full light, as if she wanted to show off all her beauty under the slight veil of dust that covered her. I circle around her, first I touch her lightly, then I touch her, I look at her as if it were the first time, she is truly sexy.
I get into the driver’s seat, turn the ignition key, the electric pump begins to pulse, pushing the gasoline like a lifeblood, at first frantically, then slower and slower until it stops. The carburetor bowls are full. My finger lingers for a moment before pressing the engine start button, it’s the moment of greatest tension, the moment when you’ll know if she’ll accept your invitation or not. A roar, her voice.
I had forgotten how much I liked it. And so off we go. First, second, third, each gear change a new scream that rises higher and higher with increasing revs. Fourth, faster, faster and faster, I lower the passenger side aeroscreen to avoid its turbulence and remain in the aerodynamic cone of mine, I see on the dashboard the plaque that reminds me that my Jaguar XK 120 is the exact replica of the one that set the record of 144 miles per hour at Jabbeke in Belgium and then I floor the accelerator and she generously gives me even more. Fast, very fast, intoxicating. Behind the huge steering wheel the instruments seem to go crazy, the needles seem to want to fly out, the excitement of driving and the air of this February day that whips my face make me tremble. Up, up, even higher. That’s enough, you don’t need to prove any more, I understand the mistake I was about to make. Let’s go home.
We enter the courtyard and find the newcomer, the Lister Jaguar, waiting for us with a fierce look. She is a car, therefore a woman, and she seems annoyed to see me arrive with a radiant face together with the old lady of the house. I’m sorry if, when they’re alone, they exchange not entirely friendly compliments.
I don’t know which one I’ll dedicate more time to, but I know for sure that they’ll have to get used to living together because I won’t give up either of them.”
After last year’s wonderful experience, in 2023 I have also chosen to participate in the Abruzzo Gran Tour-Avezzano Circuit double: the first for the opportunity to get to know a regional territory that is always different (this year, Teramo and its province); the second, for the pleasure of a race that is above all an opportunity to see many friends from Italy and abroad.
For the participation I relied on my well-tested Jaguar XK 120, a very comfortable and high-performance vehicle.
We left Avezzano on Wednesday 5th, stopped at the Santo Spirito Fortress Monastery and then had lunch on the Gran Sasso. In the afternoon we reached Teramo, dedicating the entire following day to discovering its many architectural beauties and reaching Giulianova in the evening for a dinner with a sea view.
Friday, return to L’Aquila, with a stop at the Rifugio Alantino in Lucoli and a meeting at Rocca di Cambio with the participants of the Avezzano Circuit only. In the evening, a gala dinner at the Di Lorenzo family in the Villa Seritti house-museum in Avezzano.
Saturday, the most anticipated day, began with a visit to the Fucino Space Center, and continued with a tour of Pescasseroli, Forca d’Acero, and Campoli Appennino. Back in Avezzano, we left the cars on display in Piazza Risorgimento awaiting the night race. As darkness fell, over one hundred historic barchettas, including, as usual, many rare and splendidly preserved pieces, started their engines to travel the streets of the center between two wings of a cheering crowd.
Sunday, after the morning awards ceremony at the Teatro dei Marsi, I returned to Brescia carrying with me the memory of many pleasant moments.
Thanks as always to the host Felice Graziani and his staff, to the mechanics of Promotor, to Giovanni Tesauro, here as speaker of the Circuit and a round of applause to a region, Abruzzo, which every year manages to offer us new corners of unexpected beauty.
The Legend of Bassano – Giannino Marzotto Trophy is a gathering I always take part in with great pleasure; for this year’s edition I once again involved my nephew Filippo, an attentive and disciplined navigator.
The event was attended by 117 prestigious racing boats from all over Europe; for the occasion I took my Jaguar XK 120 out of the garage, which had been dormant for a few months, to experience the pleasure of driving an agile, powerful car that was particularly suited to the mountain routes we would be tackling.
The mountains were in fact the absolute protagonist of the landscape, and the passage through some of the most evocative passes of Alto Adige (in particular Passo Pennes and Passo Rombo), which were unknown to many of the participants, proved to be one of the highlights of the event.
Another moment to remember, the visit to the Mercantile Museum of the Austrian-Milan Consulate in Bolzano and the guided tour of the highest motorcycle museum in Europe, the Top Mountain Crosspoint in Hochgurgl.
Back in Brescia, I wait for the car transporter to pick up the Jaguar for the next adventure.
In the meantime, I enjoy the beautiful images of the event, which has fully entered the ASI Tricolore Circuit and is organized with the usual professionalism by Stefano Chiminelli and Giovanni Tesauro.
After a long period of uncertainty… it is once again possible to start organizing moments of leisure dedicated to our passion and in particular to the timeless English engines.
For October 10, 2021, our Club is called to select 25 cars to exhibit in Botticino in the province of Brescia.
In the town of quarries and processing of one of the most prestigious marbles in the world, “the Botticino Marble”, we will place our old Glories on display to be admired by the Brescia public. The participating collectors will meet from 9 to 9:30 at the Monastery of Sant’Eufemia della Fonte, now home to the prestigious 1000 Miglia Museum.
A coffee together and then immediately behind the wheel, escorted by our motorcycle relays and the Local Police, for a festive parade between Botticino Sera and Botticino Mattina.
Near Villa Cazzago, the Mayor will also be waiting for us for a brief greeting to the crews. We will continue towards Villa Labus where, once the cars have been positioned, we will be able to enjoy an initial welcome in the Villa; the crews will be offered breakfast under the characteristic portico. At the end of the appetizing break, the participants will be divided into groups for a guided tour of the adjacent Marble Museum. After a leap into the timeless world of stonecutters and sculpture, up to the most modern marble workers, we will be able to taste the dishes prepared by the chef, served for us in the enchanting garden set up for the occasion.
At 4 pm, after spending some time together and thanking the Pro Loco of Botticino for the exquisite hospitality, we will be able to begin heading home.
During the day we will take advantage of the kindness of the parish priest for the blessing of all the cars.
The Avezzano Circuit in a Jaguar Xk120 roadster
For years I had been hearing very positive comments about the Avezzano Circuit, so much so that when I received the invitation to participate from the organizer Felice Graziani, I didn’t need to be asked twice and confirmed my presence with a Jaguar XK120 roadster.
Since it was a regularity rally reserved for open cars, I took the opportunity to put one of the favorites from my personal collection back on the road, a 1952 English car with a racing look and a snappy 3.4 in-line 6-cylinder engine.
The rally, held in the province of L’Aquila from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 June, was attended by about a hundred vintage cars from all over Europe – or rather, the world, given the presence of American and Japanese crews. The level of the cars present was very high, and the atmosphere of familiarity immediately created among the participants was very pleasant.
In addition to the regularity tests, we experienced cultural moments together, such as the visit to the birthplace of Ignazio Silone in Pescina and the stop at the Antinum Archaeological Museum in Civita d’Antino, and encounters with the local gastronomic tradition, such as the itinerary among the open cellars at Vicoli di gusto in Roccavivi.
We then enjoyed the rugged and majestic landscape of Abruzzo, with its mountain roads where driving becomes pure pleasure.
The highlight of the three-day event was the circuit, tackled late on Saturday evening: after cordoning off the streets of the center, we left Piazza Risorgimento in blocks to parade several times in front of a large and festive audience.
Thanks to Felice Graziani and his staff for the perfect organization and to Lucia Di Lorenzo for the cordial hospitality in her house-museum, where she keeps her father’s precious collection of vintage cars.
Some images from the set of the documentary broadcast on Sky -Auto MotoTV in the programme “Gentleman Drivers” dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the presentation of the Jaguar xk 120 at the 1948 London Motor Show.
| MARQUE | JAGUAR |
| MODEL | XK 120 ROADSTER |
| YEAR | 1952 |
| CHASSIS N. | 672206 |
| ENGINE | W4966-8 |
| GEARBOX | JL10722 |
| CAPACITY | 3400cc |
| HOMOLOGATIONS | CSAI – Jaguar Heritage certificate |
| INTERIOR | Blue leather |
| OUTSIDE | Ecurie Ecosse blue |
| SOFT TOP | Blue |
| OPTIONS | wire wheels, tonneau cover, aero screens |
CAR FROM THE CRISTIANO LUZZAGO PRIVATE COLLECTION
The car is complete with the original road equipment front/rear bumpers, wiper arms and motor, hood frame with blue mohair soft top, front windscreen frame with glass. Built on 15 may 1952, delivered to New York on 23 May 1952 to Hoffmann distributor
Because the adverts could have a late updating, the published price is to be considered indicative.
Please refer to the official list available in the showroom.
The information data and the characteristics of the vehicle are indicative and not binding, C.L. is not liable for any lack or discrepancy of the components with respect to the original production characteristics of the vehicles and it is therefore the responsibility of the buyer to carry out all the necessary checks before proceeding with the purchase. Therefore the description is purely indicative and has no contractual value.
As this is a vintage car, due to its age and mileage, it is not in perfect condition and has various defects that are seen and accepted by the buyer, with the express understanding that the seller is released from any liability and warranty regarding any defects. of the vehicle itself, overt or hidden, both if relating to the car as a whole, or to its parts, and if relating to its operation, and this without any reservation, also for all purposes of art. 1341 of the Civil Code. If the buyer collects the goods without making use of the right of inspection, the goods themselves are considered unconditionally accepted as seen and liked.
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