by Joe Faraldo, for the North American Amateur Drivers’ Association

Joe Faraldo, president of the North American Amateur Drivers’ Association, is in Italy for the Magna Grecia, a multi-nation amateur driving competition being hosted in southern Italy.

Taranto, Italy — The economic crisis hit the amateur ranks hard as it forced the cancelation of the Consolation race and all hope of redemption. The left overs were Switzerland, Czech Republic, USA and one other Spaniard. While some were very disappointed the cheering in the backstretch hit an all-time high crescendo as the Italians finished one-two, with a behaving Spaniard Pau Raig Moll grabbing the show spot.

Last night, a Sunday saw a larger crowd than Saturday evening show up as approximately 2,000 jammed the joint for yet another Gran Premio event, the Due Mare (Taranto lies between two seas) and the Memorial to Donato Carelli, the track’s patriarch.

Many people, from very young infants, teenagers and older people come to watch the races, bring the kids, a folding chair and some even their dinner. They stayed all night, that is all night, eight races over four hours time starting at 8-8:30 p.m. then some remain for dinner at midnight or 1 a.m. They congregate near the children’s park which has slides and swings and most things you would find in any park in Queens or Chicago on the very spacious opposite side of the grandstand. They gravitate to the track where occasionally a driver walks by to talk to friends or family or merely to answer questions. A driver can actually shake hands with anyone along trackside. The track itself sits literally an inch from the apron and the glass in the dinning room is on the track at the head of the stretch.

In the backstretch another life exists. For each horse who looks like he/she is nearing a victory, down by the wire a chorus of cheers and screams from the winning connections assembled along the trackside paddock wall arises. It is great to see such enthusiasm visible in the form of jumping and whooping, from excitement crazed, hard working horsemen.

Our disappointment in not racing was placated by more wine and food to the closing night’s festivities. We added a couple of special Schnittker stories to the delight of the Spanish twins that met Ray in Goshen two years ago. They told us how they admired his work ethic and how cordial he was to them.

A meeting between the U.S. and the F.E.G.A.T. (European amateur) reps produced an agreement on new protocols for a Ladies World Championship which will be held here in Puglia on September 14 and 15. The U.S. representative hails from Chicago in the form of Michele Ruvola. Michele exceeds the requisite number of wins to qualify and her competition has the equivalent credentials. They will most probably behave better than the gentlemen did on day one of this abbreviated Friendship competition.

The next NAADA hosting will be for amateurs from New Zealand, followed by a trip across the pond to try our luck in Germany. Then next year as hosts to these Italians and Germans.

All in all Italy, like the U.S., will somehow survive its economic crisis. In the meantime a flight to Brindisi, a few nights in the Ostuni Palace, a visit to an ancient Masseria like Il Frantoio for dinner in an outdoor expansive courtyard, with a relaxing few days by the pool at the Masseria Quis Et Deus in nearby Crispiano and it is possible to learn why this still unspoiled area is quite the place to relax. Well, Michele will find out in September what we long ago have learned. Bona Fortuna, Michele.