From the August RACV royal Auto, 'My Story',
I have been an RACV member for more years than i can remember.
Being a mechanic, [Owner of Thornbury Alfa Romeo Workshop, Il Bolide Rosso], i don't need the roadside service much, but, its always nice to know it's there.
One of the greatest things to happen to me was my connection with the wonderfull Argentinian Grand Prix Champion Juan Manuel Fangio.
I first met him in 1955 when i was a young boy in Milan, I used to hang around the Alfa Romeo factory where he was number one race driver - he inspired me to become a mechanic there and pursuaded me to work with Mercedes when he switched as a driver.
Then i came to Australia and we lost touch. In 1978 i saw a newspaper poster saying Fangio was coming to Melbourne to do an exhibition race for Mercedes. I told my wife and unknown to me she contacted him through the Mercedes dealer, i received the most astounding phone call of my life - Fangio inviting me and my family to a meeting where there was also Jack Brabham, Malcolm Fraser and heaps of TV and press people.
I told Fangio i had named my daughter Emanuela after him and he gave me his business card and said the strangest thing, "Ring that number, i want you to bring your family to Argentina and don't worry about anything else". This was a wonderfull opportunity but i don't like a lot of noise and fuss, and where there is Fangio there is plenty of that. I had my family, my home and a good little business in Australia. I didn't make that phone call.
For years i kept that business card but now its missing, Fangio died in Buenos Aires in 1995. My family are still going well here, as is my Alfa Romeo workshop. I have no regrets.
Thank you to the RACV August Royalauto.
Ettore Massa, specialists in Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Abarth and Lancia from classic to Contempory.
Equipped with the factory diagnostic scan tool.
610-612 High St. Thornbury, ilboliderosso.co. phone 9484 6534.
Colin.
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What a lovely story, by the sounds of it Ettore is truly a rare breed of a man and a gentleman to boot.