Billy Cart Derby .... Spoleto Style

This weekend we have been treated to one of Spoleto's many festivals, the Spoleto Vaporetti.  The streets of Spoleto became the Corsa Dei Vaporetti as these wheeled bobs raced from the top of the city to the Piazza Garibaldi.  We joined the throng on Saturday evening to watch the initial "practice runs" and then we were back again on Sunday to check out some of the race.  The vaporetti are  streamlined 2 man wheeled bobs with a driver/steersman who sits in the front and a "pusher" who rides on the back.  This is the 48th festival, the last one was held in 2006.  This race is certainly not for the faint-hearted and there are plenty of ambulances and officials around the course.  It's a good thing the riders are all wearing helmets!  Check out the video at http://www.spoletocity.com/2012/02/riparte-la-corsa-dei-vaporetti/ to see some past action.  The event is sponsored by Peugeot who took the opportunity to show off of some of their latest model cars.  The competitors are racing for the Avis Trophy.


Oh for the good old days of the Annual Billy Cart Derby down Warragamba Avenue in Duffy ACT, before the nanny state and fun police took over.