Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Racing & Interes

The Italian Car Registry (since 1980) John de Boer 925/933-0684

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Lines in red are presented as being probable or otherwise interesting as possibilities to consider. These comments and references should not be considered “fact”.

ALFA ROMEO 6C2300 RACING & INTERESTING APPEARANCES IN THE 1930’s

1934

12-27 aprile 1934 27 0 Salone dell'Automobile - Palazzo dello Sport - Milano AR6C2300 telaio foto SM8C p905 AR6C2300 berlina foto SM8C p905 AR6C2300 berlina foto SM8C p905 AR6C2300 berlina foto SM8C p905

5//1934 photos seen 1989 with Luigi Orsini show four Scuderia Ferrari cars before the start of the Giro d’Italia: AR 6C2300 Brianza 700240 Severi / Barbieri AR 6C2300 Brianza 700238 Marinoni / Pietro Ghersi AR 6C2300 Brianza 700269 Leoncini / Carraroli AR 6C2300 Brianza 700237 ? Comotti / Rosa

26.5 - 2.6.1934 I Giro d'Italia “Coppa d’Oro del Littorio” (Initially announced as “Coppa d’oro del Duce” in two pre-season calendars) #183 AR 6C2300 Luigi Catalani / Polini 10 th o/a (6 th / 3000) SF #184 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700237 ? Rosa / Comotti 2nd o/a (2 nd / 3000) SF #190 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700240 Severi / N. Barbieri 4th o/a (4 th / 3000) foto TdM p96, LaSF p251 ??foto LGAR p74 #190(?) captioned as “Rosa” etc?? #191 AR 6C2300 Beneventano / Pietravalle ___ o/a (7 th / 3000) SF #196 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700238 Marinoni / P. Ghersi rit. - incidente SF #198 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700269 Leoncini / Carraroli 9th o/a (5 th / 3000) foto LaSF p317, TdM p96 #199 AR 6C2300 Gino Cornaggia Medici / De Nora (10 th / 3000) foto AMA’34 p27 #204 AR 6C2300 ?? Ludovisi Boncompagni / Berlingieri (Note: L. Boncompagni owned AR8C2211053 from 4.5.1933 to 23.6.1933 when it was sold to Renato Sacerdoti who had it until 11.8.1934.)

(Paraphrasing from Lurani: Cornaggia crashed his Alfa near Bologna in order to avoid hitting a young boy. The car seemed beyond hope and was left at the local Alfa dealer. He and DeNora jumped on a train and got three hours sleep on their way home to Milano. After a bath and a bit more sleep he decided to repair the car and try to finish the event. He telephoned Alfa Romeo and arranged help. Cornaggia jumped in his AR8C Monza and drove with DeNora to Bologna to see how things were going. The car was not yet ready so he and DeNora had a nice dinner and at 10:00PM, they left, even though the car was really not quite “ready”, so as to have a chance of arriving at the Milano stop before it closed. They made it by 1 minute and 35 seconds … last of those who qualified to continue. The next day, they were required to start early and they stopped at Portello to have the steering box reattached to the chassis … which likely involved some chassis repair. They drove rather quickly to Rome and were the first to arrive. They received more attention than the actual winners.)

17 giugno 1934 Trieste - Riviera di Barcola (0.800 km lanciato) # Alfa ?? Luigi Catalani - TS 3rd o/a (Catalani owned AR8C2211051 officially from 31.8.1934 to May 1936 but perhaps had it earlier as well?)

12-13 Agosto 1934 VII Targa Abruzzo (24 Ore di Pescara) This 24-hour race began at 12 noon on the 12 th and finished at noon on the 13 th . There were 45 starters. The organization of this race was heavily criticized, particularly as to the reporting of the progress of each car, the reported lap times and the position of each car during the race. The “Targa Abruzzo” was a special prize that was awarded on a separate scoring system from the 24-hour prize and many observers thought that the awarding of both wins to the same team was in error. The three winning cars were delayed early on by wheel problems, reputedly solved only when they fitted wheels from the “monoposto” cars.

SF #23 AR 6C2300 Pescara berl. T. Rosa / Comotti 3rd o/a foto LaSF p258, 319, SM8C SF #24 AR 6C2300 Pescara berl. T. Cortese / Severi 1st o/a foto AMA 1934 p21, LaSF p258, 259, SM8C, LGAR p74, ARVJ p193, ICdP1924/1939 p78, 119, Fusi p252 (Lurani’s account indicates that Cortese did not follow team orders and finished first on his own rather than in a group.) SF #26 AR 6C2300 spider Catalani / Pollini foto LaSF p258 SF #27 AR 6C2300 Pescara berl. T. Tadini / N. Barbieri 2nd o/a foto LaSF p258, SM8C (The wheels of the 6C2300 proved to be fragile and several broke early in the race. Ferrari retrieved the wheels from the Tipo B cars that were to race in the following days and had them mounted with the appropriate tires and all wheels were substituted for the remainder of the race.)

7 Ottobre 1934 XV Vermicino – Rocca di Papa # AR6C2300 Pescara berl. T. “Renato Balestrero” “3 rd o/a in Alfa Romeo 2600” foto VRdP p81 # AR6C2300 Pescara berl. T. “Vittorio Belmondo” foto VRdP p81

Note: A 1941/42 compilation by Alfa Romeo indicates that 40 (forty) “Pescara” versions were built in 1934. For 1935, the reported number was twenty (20). We might be wise to consider the possibility that these numbers were estimates rather than precise production numbers?

1935

In an Alfa Romeo Service Bulletin dated 8 November 1935 (better late than never?) there is an illustration of: “Ruote R.W.” (“Wheels Rudge Whitworth”) followed by the text: “Le ruote per vetture “Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Gran Turismo” sono speciali, avendo una campanatura diversa da quella delle normali ruote R.W. 18” x 4” : percio onde evitare gli inconvenienti derivanti dell’applicazione di ruote inadeguantamente campanate – non si trascuri, nel far acquisto di ruote di ricambio, di richiedere quelle espressamente costruite per le vetture in oggetto.” This can be translated as: “The wheels for Alfa Romeo 6C2300 GT are special , having a bell-shape that is different from the normal Rudge Whitworth 18” x 4” wheel. In order to avoid inconveniences coming from the use of inadequately belled wheels – do not forget, when seeking replacement wheels, to seek out those specifically made for the car in question.” This admonition comes as a direct result of the wheel failures experienced during 1934 which resulted in a re-designed wheel for the 6C2300.

?? 1935 GP Tripoli # Rosa rit.

14 Aprile 1935 IX Mille Miglia #86 AR 6C2300 Pescara Touring “Frate Ignoto” / Alessandro Gaboardi 15 th o/a (“Frate Ignoto” also listed as “Ignis” by Luigi Orsini who also lists “Ignis” as a pseudonym for “A. Mercanti”) SF #92 AR 6C2300 Pescara Touring A. Rosa / G. Comotti 10 th o/a (DNF?) SF #100 AR 6C2300 Pescara F. Cortese / F. Severi 8th o/a (Orsini had foto 1989) foto AR Archives (11905 = AF741), OMM p103, foto Touring p100, 101, The MM by Lawrence p67, LGAR p74

15-16 juin 1935 XIII Le Mans 24 hour #21 AR6C2300 spider “Grey Don” (Kaye Don?) / Desvignes Alfa Romeo archive foto (A88 F766 = AF766)

10-11 Ago. 1935 VIII Targa Abruzzo (24 Ore di Pescara 12.8.35) SF #10 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700560 Cortese / Severi 1st o/a Foto Quad.#64, Touring p100, IcdP 1924/1939 p78 SF #11 AR 6C2300 Pescara 700581 Rosa / Comotti 2nd o/a SF #16 AR 6C2300 B berlina Nicola di Romania / Tadini 6th o/a Foto Touring p100

1936

1936 ? Salon Geneve 813003 displayed

5 April 1936 Mille Miglia #35 AR6C2300 Pescara 700622 Vittorio Belmondo / F. Balbis 11 th o/a #37 AR6C2300 Pescara 700401 Guido Cattaneo / Renato Donati 9th o/a #38 AR6C2300 Pescara 700635 Ercole Boratto / Guido Mancinelli 13 th o/a “on alcohol” #39 AR6C2300 Pescara berlina V. Randaccio / Sartirana rit.

30 Agosto V Corsa dello Stelvio # AR De Rham 7th o/a # AR Mazzonis 10 th o/a # AR Pes di Villamarina 11 th o/a # AR Cattaneo 12 th o/a # AR Baruffi 13 th o/a (1 st / guida interna) # AR Renato Ferrari 14 th o/a foto LaSF 27.9.1936 p26

28 Ottobre 1936 Salone Milano 6C2300B chassis & berlina displayed foto LaSF VI/15 p25

1937

4 Aprile 1937 XI Mille Miglia (Points valid toward Italian National Championships in Sport 750, 1100, 1500 and 1500+ categories.) #103 AR 6C2300 700624 “Spegetti” – E. Gambaro 15 th o/a (7 th / Tur.1500+) foto Locchi (CB) #105 AR 6C1750 ?? B. Bindocci / U. Berti 44 th o/a #107 AR 6C2300GT spider 700269 E. Teagno / N. Barbieri 8th o/a (4 th / Tur.1500+) #110 AR 6C2300B MM berl. Ghia 813822 F. Severi / E. Righetti 9th o/a (5 th / Tur.1500+) foto OMM p114, 115, 119 #111 AR 6C2300GT berlina M. Merli / A. Mari 26 th o/a (8 th / Tur.1500+) #112 AR 6C2300B spider Zagato Franco Cortese / A. Guatta 6th o/a (2 nd / Tur.1500+) foto AR Archives (16223=AF804), LaSport p14, OMM p115 #114 AR 6C2300 coupe R. Faini / V. Petrini 37th o/a (9 th / Tur.1500+) foto Locchi (CB) #117 AR 6C2300 V. Randaccio / O. Randaccio 11th o/a (6 th / Tur.1100+) #118 AR 6C2300B MM berl. Ghia E. Siena / E. Villoresi rit. #119 AR 6C2300B MM berl. T. 813821 E. Boratto / G.B. Guidotti 4th o/a (1 st / Tur. 1500+) foto AR Archives (16223 = AF804)(12231 = AF806)(12412 = AF807)(16213 = AF807)(16224 = AF810) foto ARStory p99, LGAR p90, (Orsini had foto 1989), AR Spirit of Milan p66, Fusi p322, Touring p123 #120 AR 6C2300B berl T. 813823 F. Crivellari / P. Ferraro 7th o/a (3 rd / Tur.1500+) foto Locchi (CB)

21 Aprile 1937 “Coppa Littoria” I Circuito dell'Agro Pontino - Roma (2 Maggio ?) See: newsreel of 05/05//1937 “78 starters” #1 AR6C2300 “Pescara” 813821 ? Bruno Mussolini / X 3rd o/a (remnants of race #119 on car) #7 AR6C2300 berlinetta #8 AR6C2300 berlinetta #7 or #8 AR6C2300 G. Lurani 1st o/a 149 km/h #8 or #7 AR6C2300 Giacomo Dusmet 2nd o/a

16 Maggio 1937 Parma - Poggio di Berceto # Alfa Romeo “2800” ?? G. Salvi del Pero (1 st / Tur. 1500+) (car not yet described as to type) # Alfa Romeo 2300 C. Villa Marina (2 nd / Tur. 1500+) (car not yet described as to type) # Alfa Romeo 2300 D. Lanza (3 rd / Tur. 1500+)

6 Giugno 1937 V Coppa d'Ascoli (VI Coppa d'Ascoli ?) see RACI 6.6.37 p18 # Alfa Romeo Lamberto Grolla (1 st / Sport 1500+)(car not yet described as to type)

27 giugno 1937 Gimkhana “Dame di Carita” – Campo Sport (A.C. Bari) # Alfa Romeo Anna Azzone Spagnoletti 2nd o/a (car not yet described as to type)

18 Luglio 1937 XIV Susa – Moncenisio (Points valid toward Italian National Championships in Sport 750, 1100, 1500 and 1500+ categories.) # Alfa Romeo 815001 ? Franco Cortese (1 st / Sport 1500+)

13 Agosto 1937 Targa Abruzzo (6 Ore di Pescara) # Alfa Romeo 815001 ? Franco Cortese (1 st / Gruppo B 2000+) # Alfa Romeo 813820 ? Salvi Del Pero (2 nd / Gruppo B 2000+) # Alfa Romeo Balestrero (3 rd / Gruppo B 2000+)

18-22 aout 1937 Liege-Rome-Liege Rallye #15 AR 6C2300 700552

28 ottobre – 8 novembre 1937 Salone dell’Automobile – Palazzo dello Sport – Milano foto Touring p117 (8C2900 berlinetta PF, 8C2900 spider Touring, 6C2300B Lungo cabriolet Touring, 6C2300B berlinetta Touring

12 December 1937 Litoranea Libica (Bengasi – Tripoli) # AR 6C2300 700401 ? Alfonso Vella / Rodolfo Haller 2nd o/a

1938

3 Aprile 1938 XII Mille Miglia #128 AR 6C2300 spider Z. 700401 ? Rodolfo Haller / C. Castelbarco 13 th o/a #129 AR 6C2300B MM spider Touring “Gambero” / E. Gambaro 17 th o/a #130 AR 6C2300B MM spider Touring G. Missaglia / Drufuca rit. #131 AR 6C2300B MM 815008 L. Rangoni / R. Cornia (Conia?) 15 th o/a #133 AR 6C2300B MM berlinetta Touring P. Ferraro / F. Crivellari rit. #134 AR 6C2300 V. Randaccio / G.F. Randaccio rit. #135 AR 6C2300 C. Lami / M. Barontini rit. #136 AR 6C2300 berlinetta Touring G. Grigoli / R. Malaguti 35 th o/a foto Locchi #137 AR 6C2300B MM spider Touring Cravetto / Vicquery rit. dopo Roma #138 AR 6C2300B MM berl. Touring E. Gurgo Salice/C. Laredo de M. 42 nd o/a foto OMM p123 #139 AR 6C2300 berlinetta Touring G. Battaglia / A. Guatta rit. #140 AR 6C2300B MM 815001 Franco Cortese / C. Fumagalli 9th o/a (1 st / Sport 1500+) foto Alfa Corse 4//38 p12, MM Lurani p93 = LSDMM p93, Touring p173, QR 3/87 p207, MM’93 p__

24 Aprile 1938 Corsa in Salita su i Colli Torinesi / Sassi - Superga / Colle della Maddalena #98 AR 2300 813820 ? Giuseppe Salvi del Pero #100 AR 2300 Alessandro Consonno DNS #102 AR 2300 Bruno Moroni DNS #104 AR 2300 Vittorio Casalegno DNS – moved to Sport Internazionale #106 AR 2300 Renato Balestrero #108 AR 6C2300 Glauco Missaglia - TO #110 AR 6C2300 V. Randaccio DNS #112 AR 6C2300 Lotario Rangoni Macchiavelli DNS (“too young” ??) #114 AR 6C2300B 815001 Franco Cortese (1 st / Sport Naz. 1500+) foto Milleruote 4 p212, foto Touring p173, #116 AR 6C2300 Catullo Lami - PI

29-30 Maggio 1938 XII Parma - Poggio di Berceto # Alfa Romeo 815001 ? Franco Cortese (1 st / Sport 1500+) #154 AR6C2300 berlinetta Severi foto AR Archives

19 Giugno 1938 VI Coppa d'Ascoli (Circuito delle Zeppelle) (VII Coppa d'Ascoli?) # AR 6C2300 815001 ? Franco Cortese 2nd o/a (1 st / Sport 1500+) # AR 6C2300 ?? Catullo Lami - PI

29 June 1938 IV Massarosa – Monte di Quiesa # AR 6C2300 ?? Catullo Lami - PI 1st o/a

3 Luglio 1938 I Trofeo Val d'Intelvi – Como #54 ?? Alfa Romeo 815001 ? Franco Cortese 1st o/a (1 st / Sport 1500+) # AR 700401 ? Rodolfo Haller 3rd o/a

10 Luglio 1938 XII Pontedecimo - Giovi #94 AR6C2300B MM 815008 Renato Cornia foto P-G p118 #96 AR6C2300B 815001 Franco Cortese (1 st / Sport 1500+) foto P-G p120 #98 AR6C2300 700624 Edoardo Gambaro foto P-G p120 #100 AR6C2300 spider Catullo Lami - PI #102 AR6C2300 spider Zagato Balestrero - GE foto P-G p120 (spider Zagato said to be ex Scuderia Ambrosiana) #110 AR6C2300 spider corsa Leonardo Quadri foto P-G p122

10 Lugio 1938 II Trento – Bondone # Alfa Romeo “da competizione” ?? Giuseppe Girelli - VR 1st / “fuori gara” # Alfa Romeo ?? Andrea Sacco 2nd / “fuori gara”

15 Agosto 1938 Targa Abruzzo (6 Ore di Pescara)(LM start) foto LaSport p17 #2 AR 6C2300 815001 Franco Cortese / Pietro Ghersi 1st o/a (1 st / Sport 1500+) & gpv foto Alfa Romeo archives (16222 = AF863)(12411 = AF864) foto LaSport p17, LGAR p74, Touring p173, Alfa Corse 4/38 p.21?, foto LaSport p17 #8 AR 6C2300 berlinetta aero Carlo Pintacuda foto (spin) Alfa Corse 4//38, LaSport p17 (nose) (Note: RIP Catullo Lami – Pisa, on this date … at this event? He’d finished 3 rd earlier in the 1l00cc class on the Coppa Acerbo in a Maserati) 1938 Targa Abruzzo tuning notes: 2 x Solex, 26mm, 150 mains, 10 o – 12 o advance, coil ignition

28 Agosto 1938 Corsa dello Stelvio ??# AR 6C2300 ?? 815001 ? Cortese (2nd / class )

1939

# Romano Circuito Eritreo 1939 1 st o/a # Boratto / Sanesi 2300 Sport Corsa Bengasi – Tripoli (Corsa sulla Litoranea) 26.3.39 1 st o/a

# Calamai 915010 XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 1 st o/a # Rangoni 915___ XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 2 nd o/a # Dusio 915011 XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 4th o/a # Balestrero 2300 XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 5 th o/a (5 th / 3000) ??# Cortese 815001 XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 rit. – “incidente banale” ??# Tadini ?? XIII Parma – Poggio di Berceto 21.5.39 rit. – dopo 2 km.

# AR6C2300B MM Stab. Farina X Concorso di Eleganza – Torino 27.5.1939 1 st / Turismo 4 posti # AR6C2300B MM Ghia X Concorso di Eleganza – Torino 27.5.1939 1 st / Closed Sport 2000+

#12 Cortese 815001 I Circuito dell'Impero (Trofeo del Lido) - Roma 11.6.39 3 rd o/a foto LaSport p19 ??# Cortese “2500” 815001 VI Corsa dei Colli Torinesi / Sassi - Superga 3.7.39 3 rd o/a #16 Cortese 815001 Targa Abruzzo 15.8.39 rit. foto AR6C2500 p227 # Righetti / Ramgoni (“Ramponi”) 2500SS Targa Abruzzo 15.8.39 1 st o/a

?? # Balestrero 6C2300 ?? II Trofeo Val d’Intelvi (CO) 23.7.39 3 rd o/a

?? # Rangoni ? Alfa Catania – Etna 1939 1 st o/a

1940

#87 Filippo Tassara / Piero Facetti 815001 GP di Brescia della Mille Miglia 28.4.40 35 th o/a foto LaSport p20

# E. Sarasini AR I Coppa Fiera del Littoriale – Bologna 26.4.1940 (2 nd / 1500+ Gassogeno) # F. Nepoti AR I Coppa Fiera del Littoriale – Bologna 26.4.1940 (9 th / 1500+ Gassogeno) # M. Merli AR I Coppa Fiera del Littoriale – Bologna 26.4.1940 (3 rd / 1500+ Metano)