Good speed to your youthful valor, boy! So shall you scale the stars!
— Virgil, Roman poet,first century B.C.M
Ever since the motorized car was invented, man has wanted one basic thing from his automobile — more speed! We are driven by an insatiable quest to go faster.
Even if you are not part of the Formula 1 circuit, not involved in designing or building cars and not one of the intended targets of the AFN spots about slowing down, you can still experience the thrill of speed. From now until Aug. 17, you can trace the history of racing cars at an adrenaline-pumping museum display at the exhibition hall in Turin, Italy.
Called "Velocity," the exhibit has more than 50 record-setting cars, ranging from: a 1920 vintage Botafogo to a 2004 Maserati MC12; a twin torpedo-shaped Tarf to a 1960s dragster; and a solar-powered Phoenix to the Ferrari F-2005 that Michael Schumacher drove to victory in Formula 1 races.
"Velocity" is set in a space that was used for hockey games during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Temporary walls have divided the expanse into smaller rooms. Each houses a speed theme, such as Formula 1 cars or machines from the earliest days of racing.
However, the exhibit is more than a display of cars. It also includes audiovisual presentations that feature the great rally races of the 1980s and ’90s, and a review of 50 years of racing in the United States. Static exhibits trace the history of car design ("From Pencil to Computer- Aided Design") and advancements in automotive technology.
Even in this day of environmental concern, speed is not forgotten. The Zero Emissions Recordcar, built by the Italian design firm Bertone, was the first electric car to break the 300 kilometers-per-hour (more than 180 mph) barrier. In a 1995 test, the car, powered by 36 lead batteries, traveled one kilometer and reached a top speed of 301.5 kph.
Nearly all the cars are from the collection of Turin’s venerable National Automobile Museum. One of only three national auto museums in Europe (the others are in France and England), it is currently under a massive renovation with a projected opening in late 2009.
But it is just the building that is under repair — the impressive collection of vintage and modern machines is still available to the public through a trilogy of exhibits. The first, called "1900s," ended in March. The final installment, called "Dream," will feature Italian concept and design cars from 1950 to today, and runs from late September to Nov. 23.
However, the star of the trilogy is clearly "Velocity." Dedicated to our quest for speed, the sights and sounds of the exhibit let you take Virgil’s advice and "scale the stars."
Jim Sajo is a freelance writer who lives in northern Italy.
Known & GoWhere: The exhibition hall, called Torino Esposizioni, is at Corso Massimo d’Azeglio 15. It is on the bank of the Po River in downtown Turin at the north end of Valentino Park. If you drive, the parking lot is convenient but small. It’s better to take the number 9 streetcar; the final stop is directly in front of Torino Esposizioni.Getting there by car: Autostrada 4 leads directly to Turin. Traffic in the city is a challenge, but there are plenty of guarded or covered parking areas. They are not cheap; expect to pay at least 25 euros per day.By train: There are regular train connections from other Italian cities, including twice-hourly connections from the Milan Central train station for 10 euros each way. Schedules at www.trenitalia.com.By air: There are direct flights to Turin from throughout Europe. Check Ryanair, Air One, Alitalia, Brussels Air, Lufthansa, easyJet or Air France. Web site: www.aeroportoditorino.it/EN/voli/default.php).Hours: The hall is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is 7 euros. For information, check www.museoauto.it, e-mail pr@museoauto.it or call (+39) 011-650-2251.Speed milestones(In a speed test, cars drive over a fixed distance, usually either one kilometer or one mile.)
In April 1899, a French-built Jenatzy was the first car to travel faster than 100 kilometers per hour (61 mph). It happened in Achères, France.In 1911, a Mercedes surpassed the 200 kph barrier (120 mph), at Daytona Beach, Fla.November 1937 was the first time a car broke 500 kph (312 mph). The car, a Thunderbolt powered by two Rolls-Royce aero engines, set the mark at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.Bonneville was also where the 1,000 kph (610 mph) milestone was reached. It was established in October 1970 by American Gary Gabelich in a rocket-powered vehicle called the Blue Flame.In 1997, at Black Rock Desert, Nev., a car drove faster than the speed of sound for the first time in history. A ThrustSCC, powered by two Rolls-Royce turbojet engines and driven by Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green, was clocked at 1,227.986 kph (767 mph). It looked more like a rocket on wheels than a traditional car.Source: "Velocity" at TorinoEsposizioni
