Emilio Materassi

Emilio Materassi (October 30, 1894 – September 9, 1928) was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver.

Born in Borgo San Lorenzo, near Florence, Italy, Emilio began working in a bicycle shop, learning the basics of applied mechanics. Later, he went to work in a car garage, where he developed a strong love for engines and cars.

When he was in his twenties Materassi took over the administration of his family business, selling wine, ropes and twine.

Poor economic condition forced him to work as a bus driver for local services.

The racing debut came at the Gentlemen Grand Prix at Brescia, September 11, 1921, driving an aged car from the Turin automaker Itala. Unfortunately the car broke down after three laps. Materassi had better fortune the following June when he finished 8th overall at the Mugello Circuit

In 1923 Materassi, with the help of some wealthy friends, opened his own workshop in Via dei Poggi 12, in Florence. He called it "L’Autogarage Nazionale", and signed a dealership contract with Itala. During World War I Itala had built Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines under license. After the war the company had a surplus of spare engines, and Materassi succeeded in buying one of those at a very low price. Materassi heavily modified the engine, and built a car based on an Itala chassis around it, calling his construction "Italona". The car was quite heavy, weighing over 2 tons. Nevertheless, the 3 liters aviation engine was powerful enough to allow good performances even in hill climbing races.

With the Italona, Materassi won a lot of important, but local, races from 1924 to 1926, including two Mugello Grand Prix and three hillclimbs at the Pistoian Hills (Coppa della Collina Pistoiese). In 1926 he managed to get a fourth place in the prestigious Targa Florio. He won the Coppa Montenero at the difficult Montenero Circuit in 1925 and 1926, earning the nickname "King of Montenero”.

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