As usual, at 8:15 PM on Saturday 25 November, the lights were turned off in the large hall of the “Canadì” restaurant in Spino d’Adda – sold out for the occasion – and the green light came on signalling the start of the 24th Solidarity Grand Prix. Soft, coloured lights and background music accompanied the entrance of the world champions, the former motorcycling ace Loris Capirossi, the former Formula 1 driver Pier Luigi Martini, who in 1990 started from the front row of the grid alongside the great Ayrton Senna and the two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion, who despite being feverish, was determined to be present. Also attending were Gian Carlo Minardi and naturally Signora Maria Pia Regazzoni accompanied by her daughter Alessia.
Between one course and the next, interviews were conducted with the founder and honorary president Giacomo Tansini, with the willing support of the Executive Committee led by the chairman Don Luigi Avanti who at the beginning of the evening summarized all the activities undertaken by the Club Clay Regazzonii during the course of the year, explaining the funds raised and their destinations.
There were the representatives of the beneficiary bodies, Dr. Michele Spinelli, directors of the Spinal Injuries Unit at the Niguarda Hospital in Milan, Signora Claudia Gasperini, Head of the Montecatone Casa di Accoglienza and Dr Guido Molinero, director of the Mozzo Rehabilitation Centre, accompanied by Sig. Claudio Tombolini, president of the Associazione Disabili Bergamaschi.
The funds raised in 2017, presented by the special guests to the three above mentioned institutions totalled €40,000; the illustrious guests were themselves presented by Sig. Tanzini with the precious “Golden Helmet” in memory of Clay Regazzoni in the 11th year after his death.
Thanks were then offered to all the members of the Club Clay Regazzoni Executive Committee, together with the directors of the Minardi-Club Paullo-Castelleone. Thanks to them all it was once again possible this year to prepare a demanding but satisfying evening of sport combined with solidarity