The seventh edition of the "Modena Centro Ore Classic" once again attracted the cream of historic cars and a swage of international entries to a city which regards itself as being at the heart of motor racing. The Modena Centro Ore Classic is an international historic car event of growing repute that brings back to life the winning formula of the historic "Giro d'Italia" of the 1970s and 1980s, and the "Coppa d'Italia" of the 1990s.

This year's running saw competitors undertaking a distance of one thousand kilometres as part a new itinerary which comprised of ten special timed stages and three racing track stages, including one test against the clock held around Fiorano, Ferrari's private test track. Apart from the participants themselves, the event's prestige was assured by the standing of its main sponsors this year - Credit Suisse and Porsche who were again linking their logos to the Cento Ore.

The City of Modena regards itself as being firmly at the heart of Italy's long standing automotive tradition. It is a tradition that has become the symbol of a culture and a passion with roots into the past and which goes back to 1909 when the inaugural "Record Mondiale del Miglio" (the world record mile) race was held, a sporting event that served to put Modena in the international spotlight. By the 1920s Modena had established itself as the permanent home for two very important events: the historic Modena track hosting the "Three-Province Race" and the "Modena Grand Prix". At the same time the prestigious Mille Miglia always included Modena as an integral part of its itinerary and all sorts of rally events were taking place in the Modena area. The important manufacturing names of the day such as Ferrari, Maserati, Stanguellini and De Tomaso were already becoming linked with the city.

Today the four-day long Modena Centro Ore Classic seeks to reclaim this great heritage, especially as the local populace always turns out in force to follow the drivers and cars through the beautiful green countryside and the picturesque surrounding hills before the event finishes in the centre of town where the contrast between the beauty and allure of different styles, the historic atmosphere and the roar of the engines, all combine to create a uniquely thrilling experience.
 

The whole experience is made even more enjoyable by this town's exquisite culinary tradition known for its wholesome, authentic fare, the rich abundance of products and the excellence of the local wines that have always been a key part of the Modena spirit and culture.

The generations who have grown up this century throughout the Emilia Romagna Region have naturally absorbed these values and the dream of owning a historic car has never meant acquiring a status symbol: it is simply the full expression of a local birthright. The organisers of the Modena Centro Ore Classic firmly wish the event to be a tribute to the vibrant town itself, not merely as a physical entity but rather for the emotional value it has inspired over the years, with its engineering firms aspiring to mechanical perfection in their cars, without forgetting impeccably elegant design.

Emphasising the growing international aspect of the event, 80 of the 100 entries this year came from outside Italy. After a string of high finishing positions in previous years the Swiss crew Studer/Bertschi finally won the event outright at the wheel of their Ford Mustang Shelby 350GT. Coming home in second and third places - at 41 and 46 seconds respectively after 1 hour and 30 minutes of time trials on the track and on the road - were the Italian-French team Di Montelera/Mayeux (Jaguar E Type) and the German-Belgian duo Von Diergardt/De Lesseps (Alfa Romeo GTA). Italian cars featured - as usual - prominently throughout the mouth-watering list of entrants, with models represented including the Ferrari 250 GTO, 250 SWB, 275 GTB and Daytona 365 GTB/4; Maserati Mistral 3.7; Lancia Aurelia B20; and from Alfa Romeo the GTA, GTAm, Giulia TZ, Giulia Super and TZ2.

Photos by Alan Guerzoni