Vernasca Silver Flag

From 1953 to 1972, the Piacenza Automobile Club (CPAE) organised the Castell’Arquato  – Vernasca hillclimb 17 times.  The event was initially created as a minor provincial competition, but soon grew into an international event with many famous drivers and scuderie taking part.  The event ran on the 8.9km hill between Castell-Arquato and Vernasca, which starts out straight and fast for the first five kilometres, with the final part ending in 34 curves, most of which are hairpins.

Since 1994 the CPAE has been organising the re-enactment of the event both as a regularity competition and, since 1996, as a demo, with cars running on closed roads at 30-second intervals without timing.  It is a joyous celebration of the cars and their history set in the countryside of the beautiful and historic central Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, offering a weekend of warm and generous hospitality in a convivial and friendly atmosphere.  It is open to both road and racing cars built before 1973.

This year the event will celebrate two important anniversaries on 21-22 June when it features 110 years of Maserati and 100 years of the Type 35 Bugatti.  The event attracts a high-quality, international entry and has won many prizes and accolades for its organisers in Italy and abroad.  See www.vernascasilverflag.it.