With the events of the past two days fresh in my mind, i decided that there was only one thing left to do on what was my last day in Sicily, and that was to run the old route of the Targa Florio. I felt that i had experienced so much of the passion and history of the race, that this was the only way that i could end the trip. One last run, on what was once one of the world great racetracks, in a car not only named after the race, but one that had dominated it until the end.
So, with the girlfriend and Caccamo still fast asleep, i woke up early Sunday morning at sunrise and went and fired up the old SC. While she warmed up, i walked around and looked at all the road grime, brake dust and exhaust soot on the tail and decided that yes, this was indeed the only fitting way for her to end the trip.
So, with exhaust resonating off empty cobblestone streets, i headed out to meet the Targa. Ever since i had been interested in Porsche, i had heard of this race, this 'Targa Florio' with which the history of the marque had been inextricably intertwined. Now, i would finally get to drive the route. Would there be anything left or signs of the old race? Would it be anything remotely similar to pix and vids i had seen? I would trace the entire route of the Targa, starting at just before Cerda, winding up to Caltavuturo, then down to Scillato and through Collesano, with a final run straight down the mountains to Campofelice di Roccella
All this floated through my head as i drove through the beautiful Sicilian countryside at dawn. The landscape of the island is particularly striking at dawn and sunset, with farmers doing what they have been doing since Roman times. Being so close to the ocean, there is a thick mist which enshrouds the landscape and mountains around Caccamo at sunrise that i find particularly picturesque.
Sunrise on the road to the Targa
At first it looked like it was going to be a clear day, but the weather can change quickly on Sicily, and clouds rolled in and drops fell as i finally arrived at the starting line where i had been the last two days. Being sunday morning, the road was pretty much deserted as I wound my way up the first part of the route, just as i had the day before. I wasn't able to push it very hard, as the road was fairly slick from the light rain.
From this 1973 documentary
YouTube - Targa Florio 1973 documentario francese 3 parte, you will see that the main obstacles back then were farm animals and slow moving traffic... the road looks like it was in excellent shape. However, the main thing slowing you down on the Targa Florio road today, is the presense of numerous cracks, dips and irregularities in the road due to the instability of the soil in the regions. There had been a lot of rain recently, and this compounded the problem.
Other than that tho, the road is THE same road as that on which the Targa was last run 36 years ago. More building have been built in some parts, but not many, and if you look at pix and vids from the 60's/70's, most of the same features are still there, as i found out.
Through Cerda at not quite the speed as the day before or the Ferrari pilot in the video
Drizzle on the first stretch between Cerda and Caltavaturo
And then, magically, the rain and clouds dissipated and the sun came out and a great stretch opened up and i was able to really drive. The road truly is stunning, with the Madonie mountains all around you and getting closer
The route to Calatavuturo in the tracks of Elford, Mueller, and all the greats...
