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by john manzi,with help from
Steve Oldford
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The Italian Amateur
Friendship Challenge officially kicked off with a gala dinner hosted by the
mayor of Naples Italy, Luigi de Magistris on Thursday.
Pier Luigi De Angelo
principle owner of Agnano race track in Naples, guided the invited
American amateur drivers to this event held at the elegant Belvedere Carafa
Museum in downtown Naples, Italy.
“The people and the food are
over the top and the majesty and history of this area goes back thousands of
years,” team correspondent Steve Oldford said.
Festivities will continue
when team America will dine with their Italian counterparts prior to the racing
action which begins Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday when track
hosts the world class $500,000 trot, the Grand Premio Lotteria.
“There’s no doubt that
amateur racing is moving to a new level and we hope the events here in Naples will continue to promote
amateur racing at a world-wide level, “ noted team USA team captain Joe Pennacchio.
When the races get underway
Friday at Agnano, Pennacchio and Oldford will be joined by Mike Mitchell, Dein
Spriggs and Hannah Miller. The five outstanding American amateur drivers will
compete against the best that the Naples area has to offer.
