RACING CLUB 19: THE ELITE OF TURINESE MOTORSPORT BETWEEN HISTORY, PASSION, AND LEGEND

Seventy years of excellence are not a finish line, but the story of an identity carved in metal and speed. There are associations that have managed to transcend the simple concept of a “racing team” to become an institution, transforming mechanical passion into an unprecedented cultural and social phenomenon. Racing Club 19 is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most precious guardian of this subalpine heritage. A history that smells of castor oil, fine leather, and that industrial ingenuity that made Turin the world capital of the automobile.

A Dawn of Passion at Caffè Torino: The Winter of 1948

It all began in a setting that seems plucked from an auteur film. It was the winter of 1948, a period of reconstruction and hope, when 19 gentlemen of the Turinese industrial and cultural elite decided to give substance to a shared dream. The chosen location was Caffè Torino, the city’s elegant “drawing room,” nestled within the timeless elegance of Piazza San Carlo.

Those nineteen founders were not simply creating a social club; they were laying the foundations for a hub of attraction dedicated to speed and innovation. In an era when Italian motorsport was rising from the ashes of the post-war period, Racing Club 19 immediately emerged as an absolute point of reference, capable of combining the purest competitive spirit with high-level networking.

Corso Vittorio Emanuele 65: An English Club in the Heart of Turin

If Caffè Torino was the cradle, the headquarters at Corso Vittorio Emanuele 65 became the club’s temple. A monumental space of 500 square meters, designed and furnished according to the standards of the most exclusive London clubs. To cross that threshold was to enter a parallel world, where time was measured by the heartbeat of engines and visions of the automotive future.

It was not a mere gathering place for enthusiasts, but an operational center where members could:

• Plan race strategies and discuss the technical development of new competition cars.
• View historical footage and updates on international mechanical innovations.
• Engage in dialogues on economy, industry, and major industrial projects.
• Socialize in a hushed and refined environment, with the impeccable service of qualified waiters ready to serve coffee and drinks.

And yet, the sporting soul was never confined within the velvet walls: very often, gala evenings and technical discussions found their natural conclusion in daring challenges on the hillside roads, with the climb toward Superga serving as the supreme judge for both drivers and machines.

Illustrious Members and Protagonists of Motorsport

Scrolling through the golden book of members and drivers of Racing Club 19 is like reading an encyclopedia of world motorsport. The leadership of the club was entrusted to figures of legendary stature. The first president was Giorgio Giusti, a driver and constructor by hobby, capable of giving the association a rigorous organizational and sporting structure. At his side, as honorary president since its founding, was Nino Farina, the first Formula 1 World Champion in history.

Among the club’s ranks were names that wrote the most glorious pages of motoring:

• Alberto Ascari, the legendary Lancia driver and icon of the Italian steering wheel.
• Nuccio Bertone, founder and visionary of world automotive design.
• Battista Farina, the “Pinin” who gave shape to the Pininfarina myth.
• Gianni Lancia, a pivotal figure in the sporting history of the “fleur-de-lis” house.
• Umberto Agnelli, a prominent member of the industrial dynasty that led motorized Italy.
• Enrico Nardi, a superb tuner and excellent collaborator of the Lancia racing department.
• Marino Brandoli, a driver and constructor of rare skill.
• Gino Valenzano, a highly talented driver and founding member.
• Ada Pace, the famous “Sayonara,” a female driver capable of regularly beating her male colleagues, leaving them the writing on the back of her car as their only greeting.
• Gino Munaron and Carlo Mario Abate, the latter a winner of a Targa Florio and a Ferrari driver.
• The Count and Countess Della Chiesa, respectively a patron and a female driver, testifying to a passion that united entire families.

The Alliance with the Lancia Brand: A Satellite Racing Team

The prestige of Racing Club 19 was not limited to its exclusive social membership but extended to circuits across Italy. The club became a satellite racing team for Lancia, a technical and sporting bond that definitively consolidated its reputation. This partnership not only raised the competitive level of the members but allowed the club to play a primary role in the evolution of the racing cars of the era. In the 1950s, during the peak of the industrial boom, the club experienced exponential growth. In 1956, the members already numbered about 150, forming a critical mass of entrepreneurs, innovators, and champions who deeply influenced the national automotive sector.

Founders and Leadership: The Roots of a Myth

The solidity of Racing Club 19 lies in its steel roots. The 19 founding members – among whom the names of Nuccio Bertone, Enrico Nardi, Luigi Segre, and Gino Valenzano stand out – knew how to instill the club with a unique DNA made of rigor and passion. Under the leadership of Giorgio Giusti, the club was not just a place of leisure, but an institution capable of engaging on equal terms with major manufacturers and international federations.

The honorary presidency of Nino Farina was the final seal of guarantee on a project that, from day one, aimed for absolute excellence without ever compromising.

Racing Club 19 Today: A Living and Selective Legacy

Today, over seventy years after its birth, Racing Club 19 is not a museum, but a vibrant and operational reality. Under the presidency of Giorgio Tessore, the club continues to represent the pinnacle of Turinese motoring tradition, bringing together prominent figures from contemporary civil and industrial society.

Exclusivity remains the fundamental pillar: joining the club is not a matter of financial means alone. It is not enough to pay a membership fee; to be part of this legend, one must be presented by two members and obtain the approval of the board of directors. This rigorous selection ensures that the spirit of the nineteen founders of Caffè Torino continues to live in every initiative, keeping intact mix of technical expertise, industrial vision, and pure passion for speed that made Racing Club 19 great.