The fastest principal has left us (Obituary Nino Vaccarella)
09/25/2021
The fastest teacher (and principal) of all time died in Palermo on September 23, 2021 at the age of 88. He was first and foremost a Sicilian from Palermo, secondly a retired principal of a secondary school and finally a racing driver. And it was precisely in this order that Nino Vaccarella remained active from 1956 to 1975 - he even turned down works contracts with well-known companies such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo!
Nevertheless, his career was more than just remarkable: he won Le Mans (1964), then the Targa Florio three times (1965, 1971 and 1975), plus victories in the Nürburgring 1000 km (1964), the 12 Hours of Sebring (1970), numerous first places in hill climbs and smaller sports car races, all at a time when it was more than uncertain whether he would survive all this?
He remained involved in motor racing well into old age, even if he was only rarely seen at race tracks. However, he commented on Formula 1 races for a Sicilian daily newspaper for 40 years, so he had to be in the picture of what was going on.
Unfortunately, I only met him twice in person. The first time I had the pleasure of dining with him and Arturo Merzario in Brisichella on the occasion of the "Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini". As I had been banned from driving in Italy at night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) for speeding, the two of them gave me an Alfa Romeo poster with the words: "Caro Carabinieri - l`ha lasciato guidare.... Cordiali saluti da Nino Vaccarella e Arturo Merzario".
Later I met him again at the Ennstal Classic, where he captivated the Austrians with his beautiful Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12.
Sadly, a very special personality and a great figurehead of Alfa Romeo has passed away. May he rest in peace.
P.S. A few years ago we published an extensive report with interview notes about Nino Vaccarella .
