Somehow the scene is reminiscent of a movie, more specifically "The Italian Job". A distinguished gentleman drives up a mountain pass and lets his Lamborghini Miura roar through tunnels. Matt Monro sings his "On Days Like These".
And it's almost the same 48 years later in the Engadin, except that instead of a blood-red one, a yellow and an orange one accelerate up the hairpin bend. And a Maserati Bora and a De Tomaso Pantera, as well as many other Italian classics in tow. The drive is called the Julius Baer Rally and is part of Passione Engadina, which Paolo Spalluto and his team organized for the fifth time from 19 to 21 August 2016.
Passion
"Passione" means passion in German and Paolo Spalluto has plenty of it. He is a passionate admirer of the Italian art of car building. And he always manages to surprise his rally participants.
As if by chance, he has rounded up four Alfa Romeo 33s for the fifth edition of Passione Engadina, which he is presenting alongside other Alfa Romeo and Abarth rarities in the tent on Via Serlas. There are almost too many cars for the small tent, which is also sparsely lit. The many visitors would have loved to take a closer look at the cars.
For gentlemen drivers
It is not a rally for everyone, the prices are too high for that. It's an event for gentlemen drivers who don't come together for the grass, but because they are good friends, like to dine in a distinguished setting and have a thing for good cigars. They also have an Italian car (or usually several) in the garage, preferably from 1980 or older, but there is also a special category for younger sports cars.
Alfa Romeo at the center
The fifth edition of Passione Engadina is primarily dedicated to Alfa Romeo sports cars and limousines, and these models make up almost half of the field of not quite 100 cars.
Three pre-war 6C 1750 models can be admired, as well as the beautiful Giulias and Giuliettas in spider and coupé form, but also as limousines from the post-war period. Two Alfa Romeo Montreal cars will be playing their eight-cylinder soundtrack, while a very special example will be on show under Swiss coachwork.
Graber dressed several Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 chassis in the post-war years, one of which found its way to the Passione.
A leisurely start
The first of the three days is dedicated to the arrival, the registration procedure and a short hose test on the military grounds of S-Chanf.
Then the men's riders enjoy a Filet Stroganoff at almost 2500 meters above sea level and also get a wonderful view from Muottas Muragl.
Riding the pass
On Saturday, at the Julius Baer Rally, the participants get to ride. From St. Moritz, the route goes via Zernez and Schuol to Nauders, where the road then leads up to the Reschen Pass. If you've still got sooty candles by then, you can now put the spurs to your car and climb the winding road up to the pass to reach the medieval town of Glurns, where lunch is served.
The journey continues through the Vinschgau Valley and the Swiss National Park over the Ofen Pass back to Zernez and the starting point in St. Moritz.
Some of these roads are among the most attractive driving routes in the world, although some participants would have liked a few more side roads instead of the large and sometimes congested main roads.
Of course, it's not the organizer's fault that it starts to rain after lunch and a state of emergency has to be declared in several cars because the windows simply can't be cleared of fog.
Almost a rest day
On Sunday, the Concours is held in the center of St. Moritz. The cars are judged by the spectators, so there is no need for a jury.
Before that, however, the pilots are allowed to put the spurs to their machines once again, as the uniformity test at Samedan Airport also includes a high-speed section.
Some people are also glad that the engine gets really warm, as this also heats up the interior, which is very pleasant when the outside temperature is around ten degrees.
Father and son
For the fifth edition of his Passione, Spalluto, who is like an old friend to the participants, has come up with something very special. Fathers taking part with their son or daughter were able to do so at a reduced rate. The offspring come along for free.
Ten such couples signed up and it was worth it for them, because future classic car drivers will each receive a valuable watch from Spalluto. And celebrated. The gala dinner hall is moved and the youngsters promise to come back. This is another way to promote young talent.
A passion for fast cars
A highlight for many participants is the panel discussion on Sunday before lunch.
Racing drivers Arturo Merzario, Miki Biasion and Bruno Giaccomelli, as well as former Maserati designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti and Paolo Zegna discuss their passions, moderated by Pino Allievi.
Of course, the hour allotted for this is far too short; Merzario alone - who rescued Lauda from the burning Ferrari at the German GP in 1976 - could easily have taken up the whole time with his anecdotes. But then the audience would have been left in the dark about the fact that Miki Biasion is also a great driver in a truck or that Bruno Giaccomelli once started his racing career as a magazine editor at March.
For connoisseurs
The Passione is not an event for racing-oriented frequent drivers or ascetic round-the-clock long-distance drivers, it is a rally for connoisseurs. Conversations among friends and buffets with an impressive selection are just as important as driving the rare classics. Of course, petrolheads are part of it, but there are certainly also discussions about many other topics, especially about the price barometer around the classic cars, unfortunately a little less about the many beautifully restored classic cars and youngtimers on the course, as one participant said.
And Paolo Spalluto is constantly moving from one table to the next, making sure that everyone feels comfortable and comes back next year. Attention is paid to every detail, whether it's the ribbon with the Alfa Romeo print that holds the napkin together or the various gifts that the participants receive during the three-day event.
Winners too
Of course there are also winners, despite the events being geared towards enjoyment and cultivating friendships. In the Julius Baer Rally, these are Axel and Domonique Marx in a 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Brainza, Giustino De Sanctis and Claudia Morbiducci in a 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S America Spider, Filippo and Alessandro Forcella in a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT, Bjorn and Annekatrin Schmidt-Liedl in a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona and Miki Biasion with Paola Ramella Paia in a Lancia Delta HF Integrale, who came out on top in their respective categories. The overall winners were the Schmidts in the Daytona.
The Zegna Challenge Cup was won by Giustino De Sanctis and Claudia Morbiducci in the Lancia, followed by Axel and Dominque Marx and Miki Biasion and Paolo Ramella Paia.
The winner of the Concours d'Elégance was the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Compressore, a beautiful mouse-grey convertible from 1930. You can't deny the public's good taste.
More than a thousand words (that's how long this article is), pictures show the essence of Passione Engadina. An additional picture gallery shows almost all the participating vehicles on the various stages.
