Next August 16th will be the first time in 53 years that the Capodarco Grand Prix will take place without Gaetano GazzoliIt was May 29th when the volcanic organizer from the Marche closed his eyes and Two days earlier, Don Franco Monterubbianesi, who had created the Capodarco Community in 1966, had also passed away. and in 1973, together with the Gazzoli family, he launched the historic amateur race. The small community in the Marche region wasn't easy to absorb. But the race is coming, and it has a thousand organizational requirements. Therefore Adriano Spinozzi and Simone Gazzoli, Gaetà's son, have rolled up their sleeves and have been spinning like tops for weeks.
"The race is over, keep going."
Everyone has their own job and family. Yet they never thought of backing out, or even stopping. the yellow motorbikes that have identified them for years in the radio racing service they carry out in every corner of Italy. We intercepted them while they were in the car on a tour of various sponsors. And from the conversation came an unpublished portrait of Gazzoli and at the same time the confirmation of the great passion that drives them.
"It will be tough without Gaetano," Spinozzi says, "even though we've always technically led the race. I'll say something bad, but in the last few years, half of the teams that left didn't even know who Gaetano wasBut he knew them all, he knew who was leaving and who was missing. A few days before he died, He told us: “The race is over, guys. Don't worry, I called.”In fact, we're all covered this year. We went to the sponsors because we didn't know half of them, since he was doing everything. It was his race."
An old-fashioned father
Simone nods and confirms. And adds that His father didn't delegate because he never fully trusted anyoneHe always told them both that they couldn't do it, even though they when they weren't there and he was talking to others, he used different tones. An old-fashioned father, a gruff and generous captain.
"He said Spinozzi was good at technically running the race," Adriano continues, "while Simone wasn't good at talking to sponsors. I'm 64 years old and I've been coming to his house since I was 14, 47 with Gaetano. I shared my life with him more than with a father and for him I was more than a son.He often clashed with Simone, and he said things to me that he wouldn't even say to him. He also kept telling him that he wasn't capable of managing the family kennel. while Simone has been running it for twenty years and it's going swimmingly. He's doing everything his father did."
«I learned things from the elders – says Simone Gazzoli – because my father didn't tell me anything, maybe because he saw me as a rival, you know? More or less I knew how to do things, but I didn't have his ideas, because you have to admit he had some brilliant ideasBut he didn't confide in me, he did everything with "Spino". And then I started following my grandfather's advice, who told me: “Listen! If someone won't talk to you and explain, you try to steal things with your eyes and ears.” So when I saw my dad talking on the phone with sponsors or other people, I was there and I could hear what he was saying. He never let me exhibit, because he was jealous of his race.».
The smile under the mustache
They say that Gaetano left the hospital on Sunday and died the following Thursday. In those few days, there wasn't a single moment that he didn't encourage them to keep going. He was sure they wouldn't stop and he was laughing under his breath at the pride of that small team that had grown up in his shadow.
"But he never told you, at least not to me," Simone continues, "because I was his son. He never said to me, 'Well done, you did well!'" He never gave you the satisfaction, but he laughed. I know he knew he could trust you.Even now, when meeting sponsors, we've heard from people we didn't know who spoke well of us to them. My satisfaction is when someone says to me: “You look like your father!”I'm a man of few words, I'm less explosive, and I get stuck in interviews because I'm less used to it. However, I was pleased to hear that I think like Gaetano, because I learned a lot from my father and now I'm putting it into practice».
The yellow motorbike of “Gaetà”
Gaetano Gazzoli's yellow motorbike will be taken out of the garage and for that one day, August 16th, it will be parked in the square among the riders. Until, once the race is over, it will return to do its job, driven by someone else. Because nothing stops and Gaetano's memory will live on in the work of his boys and in the name of the race: GP Capodarco-Memorial Gazzoli
"Right now," Spinozzi continues, "we're having a lot of trouble. Gaetano died a month and a week ago, and the race is practically over. We had to restructure the company and reorganize all the staff. Apply for race accreditation.We're running like crazy, because we can't delegate too much. Simone and I balance each other out; where one doesn't finish, the other does. I carry around two cell phones: mine and Gaetano's, where I can look for answers to questions I can't handle.I was at the Giro d'Italia and Marco Selleri offered to help us with the secretariat, but this year it wouldn't have been possible. There was too much time to get the Extra Giro secretariat to come in. We'll see about the future. We'll see about the expenses. We'll see about everything. Now we want to have a good race and we are organizing ourselves».
Capodarco's tribute
With the Tour de l'Avenir starting on August 23rd like in the old days, there would also be the possibility of having the best Italian under 23s at the start, including the Italian champion, provided he is not on retreat with the national team. And provided that the presence in the same national team of riders of I have to team up and continental does not prevent the invitation of the teams they belong to.
While waiting to untie the last knots, Spinozzi and Simone Gazzoli tell us How Capodarco will pay homage to GaetanoBut then they also ask us not to say it, so as not to spoil the surprise. And since it's a wonderful initiative, we can only offer you one piece of advice. Come to Capodarco on August 16th. And bring a camera. (Your phone will also work fine.) There'll be a photo to take, and then it'll be a fantastic ride as always.
