Club member Ross Williams has kindly provided this great report on the recent meeting organised by the Italian Barchetta Club which he attended. Many thanks Ross!

Remember, remember the fifth of November. No, that’s not it. It’s not right…..

Remember, remember it’s all right – that’s better….. I’d better explain. It’s all driving on the right hand side of the road in Italy, but I expect you know that. But it’s also right to drive the Barchetta on the right hand side of the road too, especially as the Barchetta is back in the right country.

Right, have we got that all right now?

I was told right round the roundabout, second exit and your destination is on the right hand side. Hmmmm, looks a splendid hotel but that is not much of a car park for about 90 vehicles, let alone 90 splendid Barchettas, not counting all the other hotel guests. Oh well, nice driveway to park in front of the main doors while dropping off my luggage but better not stay too long in case I give the UK Club a bad reputation!

Now to the tiny car park at the side – but hang on, there is a sign on a barrier further down there with a familiar emblem I can’t quite make out… What I thought were sheds were actually covered parking for two rows of cars, with another open row on both sides. What’s more, the sign on the barrier was very clear – “Parking for Barchetta Club Italia Rally” with the thirtieth anniversary logo too! Staying on the Wednesday night at another hotel was another UK Barchetta Club member, Dominic Flatman, from Ipswich and his daughter. Repairs to his car were finished just in time to travel via Switzerland for his first rally.

Right, not many Barchettiste here in Modena tonight, Wednesday, (I’m not going into why everyone was not there), but the start is a very prompt 9.00am on the Thursday. Split into two groups, one group visits the Lambourghini factory in the morning and then the Pavarotti museum in the afternoon. Vice versa for the other group. Attention to detail was very evident in the factory, right down to where we could and could not walk! As usual, no photographs are allowed except in the museum which housed a number of different models, including one for the Middle East which had a number of special extras in view of the terrain and security, etc. Some of the cars were worth in excess of £300,000 should they now be sold on the open market.

Lunch followed just down the road where both groups were seated in the restaurant. Within the two groups, there was always one lead car and one final car, with the second car being told where to stop and indicate to the following drivers which turning to take. Once the final car had arrived, the second car became the second to last car, and so the system carried on. On to the Pavarotti museum,which was his house, it had been kept with many photos, a grand piano (no, I was not allowed to play it before you ask), an upright piano, his usual evening suit and other music. One wall was covered in photos when he met all sorts of people from all over the world. A great motto was that music was for everyone, no matter how old or young, or whether totally down at heel or rich and famous and he tried to bring it to the masses.

Back to the hotel and now a chance to see practically all the Barchettas and Barchettiste apart from the ones joining for the Saturday day. Plenty of polishing and cleaning taking place and the UK Barchetta Club poster was in its place on the windscreen. Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Spain, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were all represented by cars, drivers and co-drivers with Masami and Kyoko flying in from Japan.

Friday dawned with more cars being prepared as is usual then a drive to the Pagani factory, much more of a super duper large warehouse than the Lamborghini factory. No photographs inside but the museum was interesting as Pagani started making things out of discarded objects, such as a motor bike. So different from his father who ran his own bakery. Now, there is a long waiting time before your car will be ready, in case you are asking! On to lunch and then, for most people, an hour’s drive to Parma where a drink and a snack was laid on by one of the event’s sponsors before a three hour drive to the Padova hotel.

Saturday was another warm sunny day and, unusually, it was one group of 90 cars in tandem going to the central piazza. You know the saying, waiting ages for a bus and then three turn up? Imagine when the three becomes 90 Barchettas all in one line! A slight hiccup, my turn to indicate to my following drivers and I was positioned in the middle of a Y turning to indicate to veer right. Vehicles pass me, cars, vans and lorries and then one vehicle stops so I waived to drive on ahead. But it did not. I waved more frantically to go on but the car remained. Then, I understood why – a policeman walked over to me and ordered me to drive on as it was far too dangerous. Even one of the rally organisers who was behind could not change his mind. Oops, following Barchetta drivers had to fend for themselves.

That was just the start! On arrival at the Piazza, the area set aside for our parking had not been unlocked and the line of Barchettas was bringing the city centre to a standstill – until the blue car arrived with blue flashing lights to take us on a short detour but, happily, all ended well. In the heat of the morning, there was a long, guided walk round the centre of Padova with lots of facts being told – far too many for me to remember – but the ambiance and history of the place with its shops, duomos, cafes, restaurants and markets will be remembered for a long time. Followed by a super lunch as only the Italians know how, relaxed, social, timeless mixed with local food (and wine if you want) and still there after a couple of hours!

The rest of the afternoon was at your leisure – until the grand evening meal!All dressed up, in the hotel’s large restaurant, wine and water already on the table. Each table had a specially prepared menu of six courses (seven if you count the special cake) and speeches in between. The owner of the very firstBarchetta was there too and, in his speech, he mentioned that he never expected such a following of the car from the beginning. The owner – Andreas Zapattinas no other. Various country’s club representatives gave thanks to the Italian Club team together with a message from our President. Each Club received a signed limited edition print which I have in my possession – but our Club must decide what happens to it. (Given the chance, I’d outbid if it went to an auction!). I’ve yet to find out if there were any bidders as Dominic was in two minds whether to auction a brand new Barchetta headlamp, drivers side. You might have problems fitting it – but you could really say it was the icing on the cake find!!!

Over all, the UK Barchetta Club members are not members just in the UK –there was such a family atmosphere with people from different countries clubs,friends and acquaintances made and rekindled, new drives in different countries, social meetings, visits suggested for the future, ideas for our cars to protect them and plenty more.

Overall, a time to be remembered!

Ross