Situated up the hill from the Rimmi– Riccione – Cattolica coast in the village of Santa Monica, the Misano track now runs clockwise, contrary to the original layout when the ‘Lurani’ first raced here – but the excellent restaurant and trackside swimming pool remains the same – and needed more than ever with temperatures variously quoted from 39 – 46 degrees!
Friday promised two dedicated practice sessions for the Formula Juniors, running together as R5 of the ‘Lurani’ and R4 of ‘Formula Storiche’ the FJ/F3 Series enthusiastically organized by Tommaso Gelmini of GPS Classic. Matt King of Motor Racing  Medics had brought out John Dowson’s BT2 and Duncan’s Alexis and they both opted for the early session, in the hope that it would be cooler, as did Luc Deneve, having towed his Lotus 18 from Belgium, and Guido Di Egidio in the ever improving yellow Stanguellini – John Delane had flown in from California, having raced F1 at St Jovite (Canada) the weekend before – but Dick of Hall and Hall was still on the road, he too, having made a quick turnaround from Le Mans Classic.
Duncan and Mair were already by the pool, but the Swiss team of Schäffner Racing, arrived in time for the afternoon session, Philipp Buhofer, this time in BRJ 59, ex of his cousin Mark (following the Brands Hatch accident to BRJ 63), Marc Amez-Droz in his BT6 and Christoph Burckhardt, making a surprise appearance (as his entry form had gone astray), managing to smuggle his bull terrier in to the paddock, although it was really too hot for the poor beast, although luckily he and his wife had an open cabriolet. GPS Classic had brought an array of vehicles; Tommaso’s Branca, with Paulo Marzatico’s similar car, in the absence of Aquilio Branca – too hot for an 87 year old patron/mechanic! – Rome hotel owner Francisco Zadotti’s ex –Bianchi Tecno F3, now on Dunlops, with the ex-Benedini BT6, the ex-Mark Woodhouse Dolphin, which will shortly have a new owner, the ex-Steve Wilkinson, Barry Maskell Chevron B9 F3, which Benedini was going to drive but he opted for cooler climes, while a rare sight indeed, two 1960 rear engined Moretti Branca’s, for Stefano Rosina (020) and Francesco Liberatore (006) although the latter was only doing the ‘parato’. Swiss winegrower Angelo Delea had his BT15 F3 (called a BT16), while front engined Italians were in the hands of Daniele Salodini, and Tazio Taraschi (Taraschi’s), Franco Beolchi (Apache MK 1), and Bruno Ferrari’s black Stanguellini driven again by Angelo Baiguera, while Bruno himself, now fully recovered from his March 701 testing accident (as is the March) in his old Branca ’63 FJ. The only withdrawal was Jan Biekens’ Stanguellini while Jan (not the Stanguellini!) has repairs to his back discs. Patricia Sbardolini completed the entry in her Merlyn Mk5.
Afternoon free practice had Tonetti setting the pace for the weekend with 1’58.242”, a clear margin ahead of Bruno Ferrari, and Christoph Burckhardt, acclimatising himself to the track. Tragedy struck John Delane: the Lotus 18 had not run well on warning up, and the mixture had been weakened – but eight laps were all that it would take, and poor John was heading back to the USA with a holed piston.
Qualifying was mid morning Saturday – and it was hot, most drivers opting for a few laps, and to preserve motors – although for Patrizia, it was a broken diff, and Zadotti, a half shaft, that curtailed activities. Tonetti, however, did his full 30 mins, improving to 1’57.510”, while Christoph was only 0.46” behind, ahead of Bruno Ferrari. Stefano Rosina was a more than respectable 2’9.016” in his Branca Moretti, just ahead of Tazio, with his 100 hp FIAT, far ahead of the remaining front engined runners.
Fortunately Sunday started cooler, with even a threat of rain, and with a 9am race (reduced to 25 mins) it augered well – certainly it did not disappoint, with Tonetti and Burckhardt nose to tail the whole race, Christoph nosing ahead, but losing it as backmarkers were lapped, but finally gaining the lead two laps from the end, and crossing the line only half a second apart, with Bruno Ferrari in waiting, behind -Tommaso had made a slower start, but was making dramatic progress, disposing of Buhofer and then Amez-Droz as these three battled together, setting fastest lap of the race in the process, only to have a pin work loose on the left front wheel, being remarkably lucky to cross the line still with four wheels! The two Swiss diced to the end, Buhofer ahead on lap 6 but Marc had him back on lap 10, and held out to the flag. At the back, Franco was leaking oil into the pan and onto the track, with a broken oil seal, but ahead of him, Salodini, Rabagliati, and Di Egidio had a great first half battle, with Salodini just ahead at the start and Rabagliati nibbling – then Guido really hit form, passing Duncan, despite the latter improving his lap time to one strong 2’15.577” and harrying Salodini, who spun, allowing both Di Egidio and Rabagliati to pass. Deneve had also slowed with a suspect motor, but after letting Rabagliati past he speeded up, and retook the place by the flag, but behind Di Egidio. John Dowson had a lonely, but satisfying drive, gradually improving his lap times, while Paolo Marzatico (Branca) had started from the pitlane, having had difficulty getting away, and worked his way through the field to 6th.
It was a bit of a wait until the afternoon race, itself slightly delayed, and Beolchi, Gemini and Rosina (wheel bearings) were out, but it didn’t spoil another excellent race at the front, this time between Tonetti and Ferrari, with Amez-Droz and Marzatico making it a foursome after Burckhardt pulled off on lap 2, the tell tale signs of oil leaks in the bores, proving fatal, his first ever FJ retirement. Amez-Droz had got by Marzatico, and despite a nudge from the back, held it while poor Marzatico had a rod through the side of his Branca engine with a lap to go. Taraschi and Baiguera drove good races again, Deneve ignored the engine problems, and powered ahead of the rabbits, Salodini slowed and then pulled off, and then Di Egidio also pulled off – but it was only a broken throttle cable, so he wired it up and set off again to the finish, although Rabagliati had long past (There were few marshals!).

DCPR