Targa Florio – 20th Century epic

July 7, 2014

Pino Fondi

This is the official book celebrating the centenary of Sicily’s incredible road race, and covers everything within its 480 pages: from its fantastic bas relief trophies (the first the work of René Lalique), super-stylish Art Nouveau promotional posters and programmes, paintings, original correspondence, access passes and organiser Vincenzo Florio’s megaphone, to a comprehensive (150 pages!) results section. It does not lack for detail.

What it does lack – surprising for perhaps the most scenic motorsport event of all – is beautiful, jaw-dropping images. Get beyond the 1920s and too often the photos are ho-hum, tightly cropped head-on or front-three-quarter shots. A more ruthless edit would have allowed the better photos room to breathe. As for the words, a literal in the first sentence prepares you for a somewhat tortured translation. Giorgio Nada has produced some fantastic books; this one is ‘merely’ good, especially given the price. PF

Published by Giorgio Nada Editore, £75. ISBN 88-7911-270-8

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Paul Fearnley

Contributor

Having spent much of his formative years soaked and sideways in his father’s 1933 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Paul has long been in thrall to old cars and past – and current – motor racing. He joined Motoring News as junior rally reporter in 1990 and went freelance in 2005, having edited Motoring News, F1 Racing and Motor Sport in the meantime.

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