Published on: 03/09/2024 Updated on: 20/02/2025
A classic late-summer event, Edelweiss 2024 (Sept. 6-8) celebrates the historic competition of the 1950s. And Mafra is by the side of participants, welcomed by its large inflatable Arch and Welcome Kit.
From Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8, the Edelweiss 2024 revives the legend of the historic car competition held on Dolomite roads, which has now become a regularity race for classic cars. E Mafra, sponsor of the event, is close to the participants, whom it welcomes with its unmistakable Inflatable Arch and the usual Mafra Welcome Kit.
Mafra's welcome to Edelweiss
Participants in the thirty-ninth edition of the Edelweiss Historical Re-enactment receive a welcome from Mafra upon their arrival with the delivery of the Welcome kit, containing, in a transparent case, a badge holder and classic car cleaning products in the handy 125 ml format.
- Glass Cleaner is Mafra's glass and window degreaser, ideal for deeply washing and degreasing car windows, removing halos, grease, stains and fingerprints.
- HP 12 is Mafra's powerful multi-purpose universal car degreaser, effective on any surface and also suitable for engine cleaning.
- Plastic Care 3 in 1 is the Mafra product specifically for cleaning car plastics, from which it completely removes any stains.
Edelweiss, an important history
Organized by theASI, with the collaboration of the Scuderia Trentina Storica, the Edelweiss Historical Re-enactment is reserved for classic cars, divided into two categories. The Legend category includes cars built up to 1955, and the so-called Celebration category includes cars from the period between 1956 and 1974.
The spirit of the event is to combine the passion for motors with the traditions and natural beauty of the area, thanks to a route that winds along the most fascinating Alpine passes.
The origins of this event date back to 1946, when representatives of theAutomobile Club of Trento traveled to Rome to ask the organizers of the 1000 Miglia to have the legendary competition pass through their city.
Upon receiving a negative response, they decided to go it alone and start their own international speed race open to Sport and Touring cars, similar to the Gold Cup of the Dolomites.
Already the first edition in 1947, which saw 51 cars at the start (given by Tazio Nuvolari himself), was a great success, so much so that it recorded the victory of a champion such as Piero Taruffi aboard a Lancia Aprilia.
The second event, for which the length of the course was increased to 1,400 kilometers with the inclusion of passes such as the Stelvio, also bears a prestigious name in its roll of honor: in fact, Nuccio Bertone with a Fiat Stanguellini won.
From 1949, the competition gradually became more and more selective, both because of the rules, which included more skill tests, and because of the length of the course, which came close to 1,500 kilometers.
Trying their hand at the race were big names in motoring at the time, from Taruffi to Giannino Marzotto, from Maria Teresa De Filippis to Consalvo Sanesi, and even the most prestigious foreign drivers.
The list of subsequent triumphants in the Edelweiss includes Franco Simontacchi (Fiat Stanguellini), Salvatore Ammendola (multiple winner with Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 and Lancia Aurelia), Ovidio Capelli (Fiat 8V), Giuseppe Crespi (Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Zagato) and Belgian champion Olivier Gendebien (Mercedes 300 SL).
It was, his, the last achievement in the Stella Apina, because shortly afterwards the tragedy of the 1957 1000 Miglia put an end to road racing in our country. It will be the Scuderia Trentina that will want to remember the importance of this event, organizing, starting in 1984, the Rievocazione Storica that has come down to the present day.
The Edelweiss 2024 program
The Edelweiss 2024 for classic cars kicks off on Friday, Sept. 6, with technical and sporting scrutineering scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the G. Caproni of Trento.
After the welcome buffet, the first crew departs at 3 p.m. from Piazza Fiera in Trento; the day's route will include crossing the Cembra, Fiemme and Fassa valleys, with a stop in Moena. The cars are expected to arrive at 5:30 p.m. in Canazei.
On Saturday, September 7, the start of the second stage of the Stella Alpina 2024 regularity race from Canazei is scheduled for 9 a.m. From the Dolomite resort, the classic cars make their way to the Fedaia Pass, then to the Colle di Santa Lucia and Forno di Zoldo.
After a stop at the Bear's Lair, the crews continue on to Staulanza Pass, Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Falzarego and Valparola passes, ahead of the lunch break at Armentarola in Alta Val Badia .
From 2 p.m., the classic cars will set off again to tackle Passo delle Erbe, Val di Funes, Val Gardena, and Passo Sella, until returning, around 5:30 p.m., to Canazei.
The day is rounded off with a charity auction that gives participants the opportunity to support the association Bambi of Castello-Molina di Fiemme, a local organization committed to helping families with children with chronic illnesses.
On Sunday, September 8 , the last stage will see the departure of the classic cars from Canazei at 9 a.m., with destination the valleys of Fassa, Fiemme and Cembra. A break with aperitif in Baselga di Piné is scheduled at 12 noon; at 1 p.m., the arrival in Trento. This is followed at Villa Madruzzo by the awards ceremony and the final lunch of the event.
The 410-kilometer-long regularity race course includes 75 skill tests to the hundredth of a second or imposed average ( 20 kilometers long, in all), which determine the rankings of the crews.
An ASI Stella Alpina Trophy, on the other hand, is for the most representative car among those that took part in one of the editions of the race held between 1947 and 1955.
Mafra supports Edelweiss 2024, in the name of a common passion for the most beautiful cars of yesterday and today.
