This year on Friday 21st October, the 8th edition of the Slow Race will once again be held in Guastalla – a town in the Reggio Emilia area of Northern Italy. A selection of classic cars will attend and race around the town centre cobbled streets such Via Gonzaga, with the race starting in Piazza Mazzini.
Last year saw Ferraris, a Fiat Army Jeep, VW Beetle, Maserati’s, MG, Jaguar, Mercedes, Jaguars, Porcha etc. Some cars with €250,000 price tag and also the ‘priceless’ and infamous 1970’s olive green Fiat 500 driven by the event organiser Gino Tosi
So what’s different about this race? The winner comes last! All cars are timed around a set circuit and a ‘leader board’ is displayed in the Piazza for all the crowd to see. At the end of the race, all the times are checked and the slowest car completing several laps around the town is the winner
Not only that, but a selection of lucky guests, with developmental and learning disabilities, get to ride as a passenger in one of these fabulous and collectable cars and ride around the town to the noise of car horns, music and the local crowds
There’s a small prize for the winner, along with a presentation, and then all line up for a photograph taken by the local Reggio newspaper. The cars that entered the race are lined up in the square for anyone to see, before and after the race, which set in the beautiful back drop of this quaint and unpretentious town
All donations are paid to the 2 charities directly, with a 100% of monies raised being given to them without any deductions for travel or other expenses for Morclean to attend the event. Again this year the money will be split between Anffas in Italy and Fairplay in Chesterfield
Peter Morley’s MD said “I want to help support people living with the challenges of developmental difficulties and learning disabilities so that they have the best possible quality of life, by supporting them practically”
Peter has met with not only the event organisers and Anfass volunteers, but has strolled around town, had dinner with the guests and taken them to various shops, getting to know the individuals that the money goes to help improve their lives. Peter also has close ties with Tony and the team at Fairplay.
Peter added “All donations will directly fund travel, equipment and excursions for the people that need it in both Guastalla and Chesterfield”
This year, Peter will be joined by Morclean’s Production and Assembly Manager Harry Morley who will also assist with the race set up, and be there for the event and presentation
Harry said “this year it will be great to get to see the actual race in person and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in Guastalla”