Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti Is Where Classics Tackle A Real Challenge

Mountains weren’t exactly designed for people, let alone vintage racing machines, but artfully carved passes have been a longstanding source of pride in countless places. One day, cars tackle the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, and the next, it’s filled with normal traffic. So why race classic cars on such challenging terrain?

Because many classic sports and racing cars were designed to tackle roads found in and around the Dolomite mountain range—hillclimbing has been a longstanding test of a vehicle’s performance. Several manufacturers, most notably Porsche, honed their wares on hillclimbs—a timed event was one of the first places Ferdinand drove the first car to bear his name.

Photographer Pierfranco Garcea was on hand this year at the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, which has morphed into an event that prizes enjoying classics as much as pushing them to the limit.

Looks like a great way to spend an afternoon…