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Show Automobile Racing Very Popular Pastime in Italy-According Italy-According to a report issued by the Italy-America society, automobile racing rac-ing at break-neck speed is a major sport In Italy, rivaling even soccer in popularity. Thousands of fans see the races held In all parts of the country, particularly near Milan, where the "Monza classic," world-famous, is an annual treat Recently the best machines ma-chines and the fastest drivers In Italy took part in a thousand-mile race, which was won by Campari, Italian champion. Campari scored an average aver-age of 70 miles an hour, not on a race track, but on country roads a real record when one considers the handicaps and the obstacles in this type of racing. The Monza classic Is open to foreigners for-eigners as well as to Italians, but the latter have been winning so consistently consist-ently that foreign entries are becoming becom-ing fewer and fewer each year. Campari Cam-pari has won the national championship champion-ship twice and is easily the best road racer in the world. A few years ago he won the Grand Prix at Lyon, beating beat-ing the most famous of his European competitors. Italy is fast becoming a sporting nation. Besides auto and bike racing, soccer, basket ball and track, another anoth-er rapklly-growlng sport Is boxing. A recent national championship drew 55,-000 55,-000 fans. Italian boys make splendid fighters as Americans well know. They have stamina, speed and courage. cour-age. The Italian public, youthful, vigorous vig-orous and enterprising, loves the element ele-ment of contest It Is an Inheritance from the days of old, when Romans packed the Coliseum and made national na-tional heroes of their athletes. Surely Sure-ly it Is a good sign. |