ALFA-ROMEO WINS SECOND BUENOS AIRES GRAND PRIX

ALFA-ROMEO WINS SECOND BUENOS AIRES GRAND PRIX

Jose Canziani on a VI2 3.8-litre car averages 67 m.p.h. Field includes six Alfa-Romeos and two Maseratis THE second Grand Prix of Buenos Aires was run off in January over a 1+-mile circuit on the riverside of the town of Argentine, embracing wide, good-surfaced avenues. Training went on for a week beforehand and on the day of the race. Three 15-lap heats and two other events were held the day before the big race, which was run on a simple handicap, over 40 laps or 60 miles. Also on the day of the Grand Prix, before this race, a 25-lap final of the previous day’s heats, but for the ” Specials ” only, was contested. The practice period was rendered very entertaining as it was divided into classes—cars up to 3+-litres, cars up to 3.7-litres and cars over 3.7-litres. In the first category, Barbalarga was fastest in 1 mm. 24.2 sees., handling a converted Model ” T ” Ford. Similar cars driven by Ramonda and Pian were the runners

up. In the next division, Martini’s Mercury managed 1 mm. 25 secs., and Puopolo’s Graham and Rossi’s Ford V8 were next fastest. Of the big stuff, Mario Chiozza, with a Mercury, said to be a two-engined car, set the record lap at 1 min. 22 sees., or 06 m.p.h., and Pessanti’s Chrysler did 1 min. 24.6 sees., while Meneghetti’s Hudson clocked 1 min. 25 secs. There were no fearful incidents. The first of the 15-lap heats saw Garat lead until his flywheel broke up, whereupon Barbalarga won easily in 21 min. 50.9 secs., at 01.8 m.p.h. Plan’s Ford ” Special ” broke its gear lever. The next heat was won by Martini’s Mercury, in 21 min.. 49.8 secs., with Puopolo’s Graham second and Moyano third. The last 15-lap heat saw Chiozza’s remarkable Mercury win in 21 mm. 31.8 secs. from Blanco and Donzino. Nanni’s Hudson was wildly cheered for very good stability when it lost a rear tyre at speed. A 10-lap race for previous non-finishers must have seen some feverish work to get sick machinery well again. Plan’s “1′” ” Ford won easily in 14 min. 16.1 sees., and

Nanni’s Hudson again threw a tyre and finished on the rim. The last race of the day was for the racing cars proper. Apparently pole position was contested in some preliminary lappery, in which Ramos and Canziani tied in 1 min. 16.7 sees., or 70 m.p.h., a new lap record. Landi, a Brazilian driver, with an AlfaRomeo, managed 1 min. 19.5 secs., and Malusardi (Alfa-Romeo), Forrest Green (1+-litre Maserati), the Brazilian Avelar (Alfa-Romeo), Ochateco (Alfa-Romeo), and Riganti, with the latest straight eight, four-valve-per-cylinder 2.9-litre

Maserati, were runners-up. Canziani yielded pole position to Ramos, but nevertheless proved the victor. The race day proper opened with a

371-mile final for the home-brewed type “Specials.” Chiozza’s Mercury won easily from Pian’s ” T ” Ford. Donzino’s clutch burnt out on the 22nd lap when he was in second place, and he was half suffocated by fumes when he retired two laps later, one lap from the finish. Blanco broke a connecting-rod.

The Grand Prix brought 19 starters, of whom 11 had earned the right to compete by finishing in the first 11 places in the previous race. ” Specials ” had one minute’s start from the real racing cars. Chiozza’s Mercury was on pole position and he led lap one, with Canziani out ahead of the second group. Riganti’s Maserati retired after being lapped by the Mercury, and Canziani caught the slower cars by lap seven and was in second place on lap ten, 11 sees. behind Chiozza, whom he disposed of by lap thirteen. The Alfa-Romeo, which we believe is one of the 3.8-litre V12 jobs which ran at Tripoli in 1938, took 53 mm. 49.5 secs., an average of 67 m.p.h. Ramos (AlfaRomeo) was losing ground, but got home second 14 secs. later, in 54 min. 3.5 secs., and Chiozza’s Mercury was third, 2 secs. ahead of Landi’s Alfa-Romeo, Malusardi sliding off the road when going strongly in third position in avoiding a slower car at a corner—he was still third, but smashed his gearbox in regaining the course. Avelar, Green, Martini and Brisco were next home. The winner wore full racing kit and dark goggles, and the Alfa-Romeo bore No. 1 and the name ” Colmena ” in large letters on its bonnet.