When did you decide to bring back the Golden Cup of the dolomites?
I began this adventure when I was still deputy President of the ACI of Belluno exactly because we wanted to revive its spirit. In fact, the ACI of Belluno had baptised it in 1947, and followed it until 1956, when it was suspended. We brought it back in 2001 and I am very satisfied about it: it grows year after year as well as the enthusiasm of both participants and sponsors. Since this year, the Dolomites became also World Heritage of Humanity and to link this race to these mountains makes us even more proud.

Do you therefore a 2009 edition richer than the previous ones?
Yes, definitely in terms of events, as demonstrated by the participation of the Ferrari Club Italy of Maranello, that asked us to take part in it with about twenty cars. To me this 2009 will be the most important year, besides the first one, because we had to re-launch and re-organize the event. A bit of anxiety was there…

The Golden Cup cannot take place without Cortina…
With the city hall of Cortina we always had a great relationship, there has always been the biggest availability to cooperate and do well. Notwithstanding that, due to the race, we actually make their tourist season, with a big number of fan and non-fan of the competition.

And your passion for engines, when did it begin?
I still used to wear shorts when this race used to take place and, back then, it was a speed race, on broken, non-paved and dangerous grounds where the skills of the pilots were emphasized. We used to watch it because it was fantastic to hear those powerful engines; when it passed by Belluno we used to lie in post near a very dangerous turn, in the centre of the city, to see the rumbling racing cars. Those were the years of Villoresi, Fasoli, of Maria Teresa De Filippis, first woman pilot. Years of heroic pilots and motoring.

Are you moved when you think about it?
For us to remember those times and “to bring back on track” this race is something really touching.

A curiosity: do you race?
Well, let’s say I go and make a reconnaissance together with those organizing the stops, I am the pacesetter; I like to see first-hand places and situations, talk to pilots during their lunch breaks. Only on the first day though, on the second one I stay in Cortina: my role forces me to entertain public relations…

Davide Passoni

Italian Version

Absence of Gravity.  Cape Canaveral (Florida), Kennedy Space Center (Nevada); San José (California). From here start the flights that allow to try the absence of gravity on the same planes used by NASA to train its astronauts. To live the sensation of the level of gravity on Mars (1/3 compared to that on the Earth), on the Moon (1/6 compared to the one on Earth) and the unique experience of zero gravity.

MIG 31. The flight happens on a military plane MIG 31 until the edge with the space at a Mach 2.5 speed (twice and a half the sound speed), around 2700 km per hour. The program includes both the flying on board of a supersonic plane MIG 31 “FOXHOUND”, and the flight combined with a tour of Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod.

Training Stars City. The experience takes place at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at the Stars City, in Moscow. It lasts for three days and the program includes a short physical examination, a theoretical preparation and an experience chosen between the astronaut spin-drier and the absence of gravity, to live the sensations of a walk in the space perfectly simulated inside a pool.

Virgin Galactic (in collaboration with Yourprivateitaly). A flight in the space with the “SpaceShipTwo” to observe the Earth from over 100 thousands high, starting from the first airport in the world dedicated to commercial flights to the space, the “Spaceport America” (New Mexico).

http://www.elation.it/ai-confini-dello-spazio_ct173.htm

Italian Version

Scuba diving lovers feel the need of taking with them precise tools, which allow for high performances in full safety. For those careful to details it is important not to leave aside style. Here we present some of the coolest diver’s watches ideated by watchmaking maisons in 2009.

The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands stems out of IWC Schaffhausen’s attention to environment and of a partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation, founded to safeguard the Galapagos islands. The time piece is characterized by a opaque black coating of vulcanized rubber, which surrounds the stainless steel case, allowing for a particular feeling in terms of touch and sight. A similar black rubber strap is fixed to the case through a quick-change system on the bracelet allowing the strap to be removed and replaced by another by the manual release of a mechanical lock. This new non-slip external bezel is a quite significant modification brought about the entire family of Aquatimer watches. The chronograph has a pressure-resistance that has been tested to 12 bar with a power reserve of 44 hours when fully wound.

Waterresistant to 1000 metres, the Blancpain 500 Fathoms features a brushed titanium case measuring 48 mm in diameter. Placed inside the case at 10 o’clock, a self-winding decompression valve guarantees the security and the reliability of the watch, without requiring any handling on the part of the wearer. To enhance readability, Blancpain has designed large phosphorescent Arabic numerals that are hollowed into the sunray-brushed metal appliques. The luminescent coating on the hour-markers, bezel markings and hands, along with the red tip of the sweep seconds hand, ensure optimal readability in all circumstances. The unidirectional ratcheted bezel facilitates handling and avoids any involuntary extension of the dive time. The 500 Fathoms is powered by the self-winding Calibre 1315, specifically designed to equip sports watches.

The new Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5 is preciously refined and fitted with a 500 meter water resistance. The watch features a unidirectional turning bezel, a 43 mm diameter case in fine brushed steel. The screwed in crown with colored rubber coating on the face is provided with a double lining to prevent water or dust infiltration. The watch features a dial with vertical streak effect, on which hands and indexes are covered with luminescent markers, used to ensure excellent readability even in low-light environments or in the dark of sea beds. The automatic helium valve makes out of the watch a suitable instrument for professionals that dive at great depths for long periods. The automatic movement Tag Hauer 26 mm (Calibre ETA 2836-2) is decorated “Côtes de Genève”.

Particularly big case – 49 mm – is the one of Oris Regulateur Der Meistertaucher, high-readability watch that allows for great precision in calculating immersion times. The screwed in crown makes it extremely water resistant. The watch is water resistant to a depth of 1000m and fitted with a unidirectional security divers top ring, a helium valve and a thick 4.70mm curved sapphire crystal, for optimal reading of the displays with luminous tritium inlay on the black dial. The design makes it a watch easy to wear even on daily life.

It is with Chronograph Grand Ocean Automatic that Edox celebrated its 125th anniversary, paying tribute to its very first diver’s watches. Water resistant to a depth of 10 atmospheres, it features a 48 mm case, fitted with calibre Edox n. 012, with a 12 hour reserve.

It doesn’t carry a very encouraging name for being a diver’s watch the Locman Squalo. In its self-winding mechanical movement version or the quartz-driven chronograph alternative, it is provided with rotating bezel, enhanced by a colourful insert printed with large Arabic numerals alternating with hour-markers that guarantee optimal readability and facilitate read-off below the water. he bezel itself is also stamped with the silhouette of the shark joining up the 0 of the 20 numeral. Significant are the dimensions of this watch that features a round case entirely realized in brushed steel.

The new collection Dive Master 500 Mecha Victorinox offers design, functionality and the typical technical performances of self-winding mechanical movements. Luminous hands, a punctuated dot second hand and oversized markers are combined with a large date calendar for superior legibility. The dial was conceived to facilitate the readability of all signs. Scratch-resistant, antireflective sapphire crystal and a unidirectional bezel with luminous markings frame a commanding dial design in anthracite. A screw-down crown and see-through screw-in exhibition caseback provide the utmost protection against water and humidity.

For those that do not need professional performances and love classic lines, there’s Scafomatic by Eberhard & Co. Modern and functional lines, automatic mechanical movement, sapphire-crystal and generously sized wholly steel case characterize the watch. The dial, which allows for an easy and immediate reading of the time, makes a striking impact and is available in various colour combinations. They all feature a gloss finish on the flange and the regular alternation of large Arabic numerals and trapezoidal indexes in relief, all luminous, guaranteeing maximum visibility. In a central, commanding position on the case back, the ancient shield of the House provides a symbolic fragment of history.

Italiana version

If you love extreme sports and you don’t want to give up exclusivity, here is an accessorize that could turn out to be extremely useful during your coming holidays.

We are talking of the Kayak Wave Sport Project 54 CX, a sort of “supercar” realized in Kevlar, ultralight carbon, and glass fibre. The limited edition manufactured only 50 pieces whose cost starts at 2.500 dollars. Despite the minimal weight, this super luxury kayak is very resistant, easy to handle and unsinkable.

Italian version