Adriano Cimarosti is known for his vast knowledge of motorsport worldwide. As a motorsport expert, he took part in Swiss television's "Double or Nothing" quiz at the age of twenty, whereupon he was promptly hired as sports editor by "Automobil Revue" in 1961 and from then on reported on all major races worldwide for over 40 years. His various book publications also received various awards such as: "Cavaliere al Merito della Repubblica Italiana", "Prix de l`Académie Bellecour", "Montagu Trophy" of the "Guild of Motoring writers" "Autobuch Preis" and inclusion in the "Wall of Fame" of the autobau erlebniswelt in Romanshorn.
How this three-volume set came about
Now, at over 80 years of age, he has set another milestone and published a racing book consisting of three books with a total of 900 pages. Adriano Cimarosti: "Actually, my wife Donatella is to blame for my new book. When she repeatedly asked me to finally clean out my archive, I had the idea for this work."
From the simple hill climbs to the glamorous Grand Prix and endurance races, the three volumes provide a comprehensive insight into 99 years of racing history from 1894 to 1993.
"I owe the anecdotes told in the book to my son Arrigo. He encouraged me several times to give the book a personal touch," comments Adriano Cimarosti, who was born in Maniago near Friuli in 1937. These anecdotes are certainly part of the appeal of the three books and one would certainly like to be able to read more of them.
The book concept presented by Arrigo Cimarosti
"The concept behind '99 Years of Motorsport' deliberately builds the work on three levels, which should appeal to different readers with different needs and levels of knowledge. On the one hand, the main text offers the expert reader a meticulously researched reference work on technical developments and results from the various racing classes. On the other hand, the almost 900 pictures offer the photophile reader an illustrated journey through time in motorsport, enriched with informative captions. The third level rounds off the work with over 100 personal anecdotes from the author."
What is missing?
Nowadays, the Internet gives you very quick access to results, statistics and all kinds of technical data. But it's all very impersonal and, as an enthusiast, you know most of it anyway. Books become all the more interesting when luminaries, such as Adriano Cimarosti, recount their personal positive and negative, sometimes very private experiences with the racing greats, some of whom are unapproachable for many, and pass on the anecdotes and memories collected over decades.
What was an Enzo Ferrari, a Jim Clark or a Jochen Rindt like? Cimarosti had a close relationship with Jo Siffert and Clay Regazzoni and I still remember our last interview with the Ticino native. We were in Roggwil, where Regazzoni was taking part in the annual Swiss racing drivers' meeting. I immediately felt Adriano's closeness to the vice world champion and the three of us decided to put "Rega's" very personal memoirs into a book. Unfortunately, Clay had an accident just two months later.
Together with Jo Siffert, Cimarosti traveled to Argentina for the 1968 Temporada. Unfortunately, such eagerly awaited stories and memories are now missing from the three books, probably due to lack of space.
Evening-filling feast of images
The 900 or so photos reflect many impressions from 99 years of motorsport history. Some of the photos are being seen for the first time and you will be amazed again and again at what thrilling pictures could have been taken 100 years ago. The texts provide well-founded explanations of the events and developments in motor racing between 1994 and 1993 on around 900 pages. The 100 or so anecdotes are a welcome addition.
Each of the three volumes is a wonderful way to spend an entire winter evening in a warm living room, reviewing the staggered history of motorsport and experiencing some great aha moments.
With the purchase of Cimarosti's "99 Years of Racing", CHF 10 will be donated to paraplegia research. The "Aiutiamo la Paraplegia" foundation was set up by Clay Regazzoni.
Bibliographical details
- Title: 99 years of motorsport (3 volumes: 1894-1927, 1928-1961 and 1962-1993)
- Author: Adriano Cimarosti
- Language: German
- Publisher: edizione cimarosti
- Edition: 1st edition 2020
- Format: Three volumes in hardcover 23x32cm
- Scope: approx. 900 pages, spread over three volumes with around 900 photos
- Price: CHF 199 / EUR 190
- Buy/order: Edizione Cimarosti, Zälglistrasse 48, 3202 Frauenkappelen / BE or via email
