It was an ordinary weekday on Friday 17 of February, in 1978 when my Dad Roberto drove me to the renowned Kartodromo San Pancrazio, near Parma, to buy me the first go-kart.

A Birel chassis powered by I.A.M.E. 100cc. engine, “Cadetti” class, the new ‘low budget’ category started by F.I.K. (Italian Karting Federation) that year to give young promising drivers the chance to try and grow up their talent in karting.

For sure, it was not an ordinary day for me. My dream since I was a kid - racing, speed - had become reality that winter day.

Not an ordinary day for sure few days later while testing in my first outing in Rezzato, a small kart track near Brescia, I met Giulio co-owner with Sergio of the new team Speedy Motor, also founded in 1978.

‘Life is a series of collision with the future’ someone said. Yes, three different lives coming together in the same place for unknown reasons to form one of the best ever team in go-karts history.

Sergio is the very best ever karting engine builder. In 1976 and ’77 He was assisting former karting Champion Felice Rovelli to win ‘back to back’ World Karting Championships. After then, Rovelli decided to quit and young Sergio was suddenly in search of “what to do next” in his life. Few weeks later Sergio and Giulio partnered to start Speedy Motor.

I was the first driver they met and we finally got together to race the full 1978 season and the official number selected was “17” because of that ‘not so ordinary’ Friday 17 !

Thank You Giulio Pini, thank You Sergio Dell’Acqua for all Your support in those exciting and glorious 4 years in karting, came to a successful end on Sunday, September 21st 1981 with the 3rd Place overall in the World Karting Championship, the only private team to finish on the Podium, in between official Birel/Dunlop drivers Mike Wilson (1st) and Lars Forsman (2nd) and official DAP/Dunlop supported and very renowned driver Ayrton Senna da Silva (4th place).”

1978 - 8 wins;

1979 - 17 wins out of 21 starts;

1980 - selected ‘Club Italia’ driver (Italian National Team), European Karting Champion - Team Italy in Fulda (D);

1981 - selected ‘Club Italia’ driver (Italian National Team), 3rd place World Karting Championship, 6 wins”.