From 1953 to 1972 the Automobile Club of Piacenza organized 17 editions of the Castell’Arquato Vernasca uphill speed race.
The event was initially born as a minor provincial race. The uphill route of 8.9 km developed with different characteristics, the first part 5 km, of straight road, while the final part consisted of 34 curves, most of which were hairpin bends.

In the first edition, 40 starters, Alfa Romeo participated with the driver Consalvo driving a splendid 3000CM.

Since 1994 the CPAE has been organizing the re-enactment with a regularity race, the main event for fans from Piacenza and the surrounding area who want to measure themselves with stopwatches. Since 1996 it has also begun to organize the Vernasca Silver Flag which retraces the same route on a closed road as in the past but with the formula of a dynamic conservation and restoration competition for racing cars.

Over the years this event has brought the most important collectors of racing cars to Val d’Arda, allowing the public present to bring cars of all types to Vernasca, including Formula 1, and allowing our club to make itself known by winning the ASI awards from 2004 to today, winning the International Historic Motorsport Award Speed Event of the Year in 2005 and receiving in 2011 the nomination from the English magazine Octane for Motorsport Event of The Year being beaten by the Goodwood Festival.

The title “World Champions!” is quite evocative, especially if dropped into the motoring context.

In fact, 2025 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of a very special year for Italian engines: Ferrari won the F1 World Championship with Lauda and the 312 B, Alfa Romeo won the World Championship for Makes with the 33 TT12, Lancia completed the trio of World Championships with the victory of the World Rally Championship with the Stratos and, just so as not to leave even crumbs to its opponents, Fiat with the 124 Abarth completed the poker by winning the European Rally Championship.

This year the appointment is from 19 to 21 June 2026.

For the thirtieth edition, the competition becomes green. Participants will be able to use bio-gasoline, reducing the environmental impact of the race. The activity is part of the ‘ASI Net-zero Classic’ project.

For more information: http://www.cpae.it/index.php