Achille Varzi led the 1930 Targa Florio in his
super fast Alfa Romeo P3 from the start. On
lap 67 his car developed a serious fuel leak
from the tank. Louis Chiron, in a blue Bugatti
was following closely in second place. The
always intense Varzi refused to give up his lead
to repair the leak. At the last depot in the
mountains, they collected a can of gasoline.
Varzi shouted orders for his mechanic to stand
up, lean over the back of the Alfa and pour the
gasoline into the tank while they were speeding
on a downhill part of the coarse! This he did,
but only a small percentage of the fuel got into
the tank. Most of it sprayed all over the place.
When it landed on the red hot exhaust pipe, the
entire rear of the car ignited in flames. Louis
Chiron had problems of his own. His mechanic
became ill, and was vomiting and finally fainted.
At times the man was nearly thrown from the
race car. This is how they came across the
finish line. Achille Varzi crossed first, leaning
as far forward as he could to keep away from
the flames, while his mechanic, who had ripped
out the seat cushion was frantically beating at
the fire. Louis Chiron crossed only a few
seconds later, holding his unconscious mechanic
to keep him from falling out of the car on the
treacherous road coarse with one hand, and
steering with the other.
super fast Alfa Romeo P3 from the start. On
lap 67 his car developed a serious fuel leak
from the tank. Louis Chiron, in a blue Bugatti
was following closely in second place. The
always intense Varzi refused to give up his lead
to repair the leak. At the last depot in the
mountains, they collected a can of gasoline.
Varzi shouted orders for his mechanic to stand
up, lean over the back of the Alfa and pour the
gasoline into the tank while they were speeding
on a downhill part of the coarse! This he did,
but only a small percentage of the fuel got into
the tank. Most of it sprayed all over the place.
When it landed on the red hot exhaust pipe, the
entire rear of the car ignited in flames. Louis
Chiron had problems of his own. His mechanic
became ill, and was vomiting and finally fainted.
At times the man was nearly thrown from the
race car. This is how they came across the
finish line. Achille Varzi crossed first, leaning
as far forward as he could to keep away from
the flames, while his mechanic, who had ripped
out the seat cushion was frantically beating at
the fire. Louis Chiron crossed only a few
seconds later, holding his unconscious mechanic
to keep him from falling out of the car on the
treacherous road coarse with one hand, and
steering with the other.
1930 Alfa Romeo P3
Achille Varzi
Targa Florio
Achille Varzi
Targa Florio
Grand Prix Models kit
1/43rd scale
1/43rd scale
1930's Grand Prix Cars Racing Sound