MOTOR MECHANIC VISITS ITALY

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 16

MOTOR MECHANIC VISITS ITALY

Member Of Pit Crew At Mille Miglia MR B. DI SOMMA BACK IN CHRISTCHURCH • A New Zealand motor mechanic who was employed as a member of a pit crew for one of the most famous motor racing “stables” in Italy in the Mille Miglia of Brescia this year, has returned to his home in Christchurch. He is Mr B. di Somma, who has been overseas for more than a year working in motor assembly plants and garages. After working for short periods in the United States and Great Britain, Mr di Somma went to Rome, intending to join Alfa Romeo, Ferrari or Maserati. In Rome he met Bruno Presenti, a former international racing driver and the Alfa Romeo representative in Rome, and was employed by him for some months. At one stage he was transferred to the main Alfa Romeo factory at Milan, but was later sent back at his own request to work with Presenti.

During his stay in Rome, the famous Mille Miglia of Brescia was held, and Mr di Somma was selected as a member of an Alfa Romeo pit crew. “Stirling Moss is a truly wonderful driver,” said Mr di Somma, commenting on the race. “Fangio is a different type of driver, who appears much more relaxed at the wheel and appears to take fewer risks than Moss. On one particularly difficult part of the course where the road climbs to the top of a steep hill by many sharp bends. Moss showed remarkable skill to lead Fangio by a good margin.” Both drivers had practised that part of the course about 50 times before the race. “Although the English manufacturers have produced some amazing sports cars in the way of Jaguars and Austin Healeys, the Italians have had much more experience in the racing car world,” said Mr di Somma. “The Germans are, of course, in the forefront, mainly because of their larger factories and greater number of employees. Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia have fewer than 1000 persons working in each of their factories, whereas a German factory employs 60,000.”

Mr di Somma is the son of Mr Nino di Somma, a well-known Neapolitan in business in Christchurch. Mr di Somma hopes to return to Italy in the near future and resume work with one of the racing car firms there.