Reply author: Martin
Replied on: 01 Jan 2012 12:10:31
Message:

This is a slot to review the 2012 Silver Flag...... it really is about time we all made it up this particular Italian mountain..... again......

You can't really mention the Silver Flag without realising its one event woven into the fabric and every year of the locality.
I suppose the nearest we have in the UK are the genuine market towns, outside urban areas and still linked into local agriculture and local produce making, with their own annual festivals. Businesses, and the local town authorities have to be directly involved to make the festival work well.... yet for any festival to resonate around the nation, as well as internationally, it needs an ongoing backbone organisation.

The backbone, in the case of the Vernasca Silver Flag is supplied through the CPAE.... the Club.......
.....................Club Piacentino Automoto d'Epoca....................
so the CPAE is a historic automotive club of petrol heads and enthusiasts whose members own about 600 bikes and cars from the best of Italian production, and from the rest of Europe.
When I first visited many years ago, their emphasis was decidedly twenties and thirties bikes and cars, with a growing number of forties and fifties marques that included a few Abarth zealots. It depends on the event during the year.. static displays and parades during other local produce fairs.

Annual Event Calendar
Here's the club's 2011 calendar - their own meetings, there are two or three other local events (not just auto based) per month, except in the winter.

Cultural Events
...................- Estemporanea di Pittura - Extemporaneous Painting -
in collaboration with the Art School Bruno Cassinari
29th January 2011 .................................... Piacenza Piazza Cavalli
.......................- Cultura & Motori - Culture & Engines -
ASI event at the Polytechnic of Milan based in Piacenza
7-8-9th May 2011 .................. ASI evento culturale Politecnico

Motorcycle Events
.....................- ASI Moto Show - ASI Motorcycle Show -
13-14-15th May 2011 ASI evento rievocativo - ASI event reminiscent

.....- Passeggiata del Ducato di Parma e Piacenza -
........Walk of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza
28-29th May 2011 ASI Social Gita -

......................- In Valtidone with bikes -
7th August 2011 - Gita sociale per moto fra natura e gastronomia Company picnic for motorcycles between nature and gastronomy

Auto Events
............- Trofeo del Grande Fiume - Trophy of the Great River
17th April 2011 - ASI evento turistico culturale con prove
...................................ASI cultural tourism event tests

............- Raduno del Cardazzo - Rally Cardazzo -
3rd April 2011 - Gita sociale - Company picnic

........- 36° Castell'Arquato Vernasca - 36th Castell'Arquato Vernasca
12th June 2011 ASI manifestazione di regolarità non competitiva con rilevamenti di passaggio - ASI regularity rally/ surveys of passage
...........- 16° Vernasca Silver Flag - 16th Vernasca Silver Flag -
24-25-26th June 2011 - CPAE Historic Hillclimb for competition cars made up to the 1970's

..................- Le 3 Province "Vintage" - The 3 Provinces "Vintage"-
17th July 17 2011 - Manifestazione turistica in collaborazione con i Club di Cremona e Parma riservato a vetture ante 1945 - Tourist event in collaboration with the Club of Cremona and Parma reserved for cars before 1945
....................- Raduno in Valnure - Meeting in Valnure -
31st July 2011
................- Nuovo Raduno in Bore - new Meeting in Bore wood -
7th August 2011 Gita sociale per moto fra natura e gastronomia Company picnic for motorcycles between nature and gastronomy
...............................- Bobbio - Penice - Bobbio - Penice -
4th September 2011 - ASI evento turistico culturale con prove
..........................................- ASI cultural tourism event tests

Tractor Events
- Fiera di Cortemaggiore - Fair Cortemaggiore - 20th March 2011
- Tour dei Vigneti - Tour of the Vineyards - 1st May 2011 - Picnic
- Arti e Mestieri - Arts & Crafts - 28-29th May 2011 Fiorenzuola review
- Fiera dei Tre Casali -3 Fields Country Fair -27 July Ploughing contest
- Aratura Amatoriale - Amateur Plough - 24th July 2011 Castell'Arquato
- Fiera delle Castagne - Chestnut Fair - 2nd October 2011
..................Castell'Arquato exhibition and fashion show


Foundations and the forming of the Vernasca Event
In 1967, the CPAE was forming, with some ideas for celebration events... with meetings organised at some members premises or houses. It was in 1969 that the Piazza Cavalli was used by a display of 100 cars and a parade in "Commemoration of the circuit of Piacenza".
Since then successive Presidents have built up CPAE, in its type and number of events, its partnerships, and scope of operations.


The region has been staging significant speed and road race events since before 1900. Each of the current main events has an historic thread reaching back into the inter-World War period.
One example is the Castell'Arquato - Vernasca - speed event.... an uphill race organised by the Automobile Club Piacenza for 17 years between 1953 and 1972. (note cars built between these dates are of particular interest to the modern committee too). The race was 9 km long, with a contrast between the first 5 km and the last 4!
The route began along the valley road, before beginning the ascent... with 34 hairpins and gradients of up to 10%. By 1960 the race had become famous with Dalmazio Calvi winning that year. In 1961 the event was graced by a Maserati Birdcage, while Nando Paglierini competed with a Ferrari 250 short wheelbase and Ludovico Scarfiotti with an OSCA 1500.
Bad weather prevailed in 1962 with slow times across all classes, and in 63 it was the turn of Vittorio Venturi in an Abarth 1000 barchetta... then in 1965 victory was hard won when two old adversories again disputed the hill to Vernasca: Nember Noris and Vincent, the first of Porsche 904 rear engine, the second in a Ferrari 250 GTO. Crowd estimates when local drivers were amongst the favourites topped 20,000 - 1967 being such a year when Roberto Bertuzzi took his 'borrowed' works sports 2000 Abarth to a win with a course time braking the record by 5.7 seconds. It was a change in regulations, a switch in Provincial championships, and bad weather in 1972 that leads to an end to the event. The memories and popularity of the event remained.


Then in 1995 Massimo Meli, became the youngest CPAE President. During his tenure, the annual "Castell'Arquato-Vernasca" regularity rally had achieved national ASI status, and was used to model a new annual event based on ascent of the course at speed. The hillclimb attracted historic racers in the format we now recognise as the "Vernasca Silver Flag ".
The club has continued to extend its links within the region while celebrating the automotive history and unique landmarks of the locality. CPAE is now the ASI licensing authority with more than 3000 certified vehicles (apart from competing in events, historic cars are now able to gain tax rebates on certification). Club membership has continued to grow, and for several years activities have included some winter guided tours to important collections and museums such as Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Morbidelli and Moulhouse. (The tour idea has been copied at BolognaFiere for two years too.)
Since 2007, the CPAE has also found partners and collaborators for local events including the Art School of Piacenza and the Technical University of Piacenza Milan in a series of events and conferences with themes related to the history of drive technology and its protagonists.
This innovation and sheer effort has meant that the ASI awarded their "Golden Crank" in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, in recognition of the quality of the organization of the "Vernasca Silver Flag"
The event has rightly gained international acclaim and awards, while going from strength to strength.

The Vernasca Course
With a few changes, a new bridge, and a new road up the hill to Vernasca, 8.5km instead of 9.1km in length.... the Vernasca Silver Flag course takes the same sort of route along the valley and up the mountain as the Castell'Arquato - Vernasca speed event of 1953 - 1972.
The 10% slope is still there, although the number of hairpins is less today. The surface is good tarmac, if a little warn and pitted in places. The main problem for race cars - where heavy traffic has indented the uphill lane - does occur.... but then is little worse than the road camber which you are cutting across to get to the apex of successive hairpins. The road is cambered to meet the demands of a hill in a rain storm.
Drainage gullies sometimes lead into ditches, or pipes, but the surface is largely free of grid irons.
Both the start and finish is more built up in this century, and is suitably marshalled. The main spectator interst is likely to be at the start, exiting the square, where the cars have been stationed overnight.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2Idt-RKPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQlykAGOY-o&feature=related


Added this clip because a) Mike Kason's X1/9 is starting 30 seconds ahead (you won't be seeing it again), b) here is an object lesson on how not to take a camera in-car on an event.... you can't hand-hold a camera (even in this mild cornering Renault) all you'll get is shots of sky/ roof lining/ feet/ arms and dashboard. If the car pulls more than 2G in corners (on semi slicks they can - even these Renaults) and in terms of competition driving we can hear what revs the driver's pulling. If its pulling 2.5 - 3G you'll hit yourself with it..... AND ITS ILLEGAL.
Mount the camera low enough and forward of heads bouncing around.... don't point it at the mirror.... and if you're doing a HILL climb its probably better to mount it on the dash in front of the steering wheel, or in the middle near the windscreen. If you're going to try and hand hold a camera for some reason, then I'd advise rigging it (short stick, or pole so you can press it into the dash and try and keep it in one position by pressing it into the dash.... for any competition event or track day its illegal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSNHTC6FXiM


2010 Schedule - very typical of recent years
Meeting programme
FRIDAY JUNE 24
15,00-17,00 Scrutineering and number distribution
20,00 Dinner at the “Pieve di Vernasca”
SATURDAY JUNE 25
8,30 -10,00 Scrutineering and number distribution
10,30 Briefing by the judge at the scrutineering tent
11,00 First Battery
Castell’Arquato-Lugagnano-Vernasca
13,00 Lunch in Castell’Arquato restaurant
15,30 Second Battery
Castell’Arquato-Lugagnano-Vernasca
17,15 Wellcome refreshment
20,00 Gala dinner in Castell’Arquato medieval square
SUNDAY JUNE 26
10,30 Third Battery
Castell’Arquato-Lugagnano-Vernasca
12,30 Buffet Lunch in Vernasca Ancient Abbey Park
14,30 Prize giving at Vernasca

PRIZES
Best of Show pre war car
Best of Show post war car
Most representative cars from each category
Best Car/Driver period presentation 20’s-30’s
Best Car/Driver period presentation 40’s-50’s
Best Car/Driver period presentation 60’s-70’s
Paolo Silva Trophy for most representative
racing car for Castell’Arquato-Vernasca
history
TAG Heuer Prize for most representative racing car in Hillclimb race Story
Porsche Italia for the best competition Porsche

SPECIAL PRIZES
Trophy for Best Abarth
Sport 2mila the King of Hill climbs
Giuseppe Merosi Prize for best Alfa Romeo
Fratelli Maserati Prize for best Maserati-Osca
Circuito di Piacenza Prize for best Ferrari
Giuseppe Figoni Coachbuilder Prize for most elegant cars
Silvano Maggi Prize for the top Ferrari
Coupe des Dames
MTA Prize for the competitor who as travelled the furthest
The Coys “Spirit of Motoring” Trophy


Typical Costs
Its going to take a national level competition driver's licence to begin with... anything less will tend to be 'looked down' on.
Then the general entrance fee will be 450Euros for two nights, and 500Euro for three nights accomodation for two people, including attending the Sunday prize giving. Do the three nights!
Needed to think about how you choose an interesting car, likely to attract the eye of the committee. This is a difficult mix to get right... and perhaps our best local to give you advice would be Mike Kason.
I was going to add an example, Dave Roby had an X1/9 Prototipo replica completed by Guy Moerenhout around 2002 (think I saw it at Brooklands Autoitalia that summer). But as far as I know Dave hasn't missed more than one year's entry to the Silver Flag since then. He's become a regular with an Italian replica. They like the idea of this sort commitment - particularly from a foreigner too.
So there are no 'hard and fast rules' about admission... talk to Mike K.

Regional Connections
This is the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.... historical stomping ground throughout the middle ages for many famous happenings and infamous people.
We are more interested in its later auto credentials. The region has often been called the Land of Motors... its in the middle of everything automoto and auto mechanical... with most of the Italian world marques rooted within the region..... within 100 miles.
It lies on the intersection of autostrada between the cities of Brescia and Torino (A-21), Milano and Bologna (A-1)



Further Links
ACI - The Automobile Club di Piacenza - www.acipiacenza.it
ACC - Amateur Club Cremona for vintage vehicles - www.cavec.it
Magazine italiano per gli appassionati di auto d'Epoca - Italy's magazine for vintage car lovers - www.classicworld.it
Historic Club Schio - www.historic.it
ASSI - Auto Sportive Storiche Italiane - www.assiclub.com
.....................Italian historic sports especially barchette, Bassano based
ASI - Automotoclub Storico Italiano, Turin -
.....................national concours homologation and certification authority.

The following are the latest concours regulations enacted in Italy. You'll find the latest motorsport homologation and eligibility inspections will follow the same format - even if they are not as strict in car registrations. If you treat the CPAE as your registration authority, you need to allow plenty of time, and present them with the same content of document as the "Certification of Authenticity - document compiled for cars passing homologation. A unique book of pictures, technical specifications and the history of the vehicle, plus the Technical Commission’s notes. An important document that will accompany the car for the rest of its life."

Concours ASI and Italian Classic Car Registration - New Close List Registration, from 2010
Recent changes to Italian vehicle registration, enacted by their government has offered tax differentials to the owners of older vehicles. The benefit has been aimed at cars in near classic - concours condition, or atleast cars in an 'as manufactured' condition. This is verified through inspection, and successful cars will be added to one of the approved lists.
The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure has ruled that the only authorities to approve vehicles, and carry approved lists are the ASI, and equivalent organisation for motorcycles, the FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) and, in addition, the Registro Alfa Romeo, Registro Fiat, and Registro Lancia.
These are the only authorities who can issue a Certificate of Historical and Collectible Value, which “after the decree came into effect, represents the only valid document to attest the historical and collectible value of a vehicle” (ref. n. 79260, 4 October 2010, p. 4, par. 1.2 ).
The effect of this approach has been to elevate these vehicles to a closed list, and provide a single method of licensing for all older cars in Italy.... so that the motorsport homolgation can follow the historic/concours format.
As an example, I'll try and explain a little, if you wanted to enter a car for the Silver Flag, or perhaps lets add the Mille Miglia too... there are areas of highway zoned off for the event. The event could well include historic or motorsport/ rally cars that carry no road registration, and do not have the UK equivalent of an MoT. Then the 'zoning off', inspection at stop points, and eligibility of the cars is all gathered under one set of codes.
There is one set of approval and homologation authorities within Italy
- for cars - they are licensed under the ASI (For bikes the FSI)... and each of the main Italian marques carries a specialist technical inspection, and licensing agency.
If we focus on historic cars, then the new car certificate becomes its own 'passport' for historic events, scrutineering record. and a set of images of the car, detailing its build record and model type, its requirement for Italian MoT - whether annual, every two years or only inspected at scrutineering (as for race and rally cars) - its mileage per annum etc. etc.... It supercedes and extends the previous historic registration system.
- Inspection on events, and at Marshall points, may be looking for a unique registration plate on each car.
- The ASI registered historic cars of over 20 years old... presently whose individual build state can be dated as earlier than 1992.
- This new licensing system recognises classics of over 10 years old... just to emphasise by repitition.... this is based on the date of the individual car's registration at this build state...
- Then the closed list of over ten year old cars is run by each of the registering agencies under each marque. Its offical name is the "closed list of collectible value". The cars listed can be seen by accessing the agency's web site. The cars listed are of stylistic and/or technical interest - according to the licensing agency.
- Foreign makes will also be registered... through the same agencies, so the the Registro Alfa Romeo, Registro Fiat, and Registro Lancia can act as intermediaries for the ASI, as well as running the technical inspections and closed list of 10 to 20 year old cars.
- Cars registered will be eligible for tax rebates, and reductions on administration fees. But they vary according to the region of Italy.
- Competitors will need an FIVA Identity Card too. And the registration agencies can act as intermediaries for this too.

Registration and Concours Homologation
a) Check out - the Registro Italiano most suitable for your car
b) Inspect their Technical Commission and Closed List of cars of collectible value to see if your car is included
c) Inclusion means your car is eligible for registration.

d) For personal registration, use download forms.
e) Obtaining the Certificate of Historical and Collectible Value. This document supercedes all other vehicle documents, and involves the following steps:
....Step i. Simple registration - send car specifications based on the documentation downloaded which includes good resolution photos.
....Step ii. Homologation - the technical authority scrutinises both the documentation provided and the actual car during a homologation session.
....Step iii. Upon homologation, the applicant receives a metal plate confirming the homologated status of the vehicle.
....Step iv. Certification of Authenticity - document issued upon request to cars that have passed homologation. A unique book of pictures, technical specifications and the history of the vehicle, plus the Technical Commission’s notes. An important document that will accompany the car for the rest of its life.

Certificate of Historical and Collectible Value “after the decree came into effect, represents the only valid document to attest the historical and collectible value of a vehicle” (ref. n. 79260, 4 October 2010, p. 4, par. 1.2 ).
It is the essential document to get the car re-registered in Italy.
It is essential to apply for the Historical and Collectible Value Vehicle status (art. 60 C.d.S.), otherwise the car will simply be considered a discontinued car.

Concours Homologation Notes
After homologation, you will receive a Homologation Certificate and a metallic plate with the car homologation number.
In order to be homologated a car must be in original condition. If the car has been restored, it must comply with standards of originality, including the paint colour it had when it left the factory.
Homologation costs - approximate
150 Euro - Initial Fee Homologation costs are inclusive
120 Euro - Annual Renewal
80 Euro - Homologation plate per vehicle (mandatory).
Homologation sessions are held at various centres throughout Italy between February and November each year.
If the vehicle’s registration certificate indicates “Annual MOT testing” you will have to abide by that. For all other vehicles, the recent Ministerial Decree ruled that MOT testing be done every two years.
The December 2009 Ministerial Decree and the following explanatory circular specify that all cars built before 1 January 1960 are to undergo MOT testing exclusively at the competent Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.