Intoducing THE RITA Award for Drivers of Vintage and Historic Alfa Romeos

Intoducing “The Rita” – An Award Recognizing “Modesty and Graciousness” Among Drivers of Historic Alfa Romeos

August 3, 2010 -- A deserving Alfa Romeo driver will soon be selected as the first recipient of “The Rita”, an award recognizing an individual historic or vintage Alfa race driver who demonstrates driving skill and personifies the qualities of being modest in victory yet gracious when others are victorious.

To be initially awarded at “Alfas at the Glen,” the 100 year celebration of Alfa Romeo as part of the SVRA event at Watkins Glen on September 12, 2010, The Rita is named in honor of Rita Manganaro, one of the best vintage racing drivers regardless of gender who ever took to the track in a small-bore Alfa Romeo sports car. In the future, the award will be presented periodically (i.e. not necessarily annually) at SVRA’s annual Mid-Ohio event. A committee comprising noted racers of historic Alfa Romeos has responsibility for the selection process.

Rita lost her life in 2001 after a long battle with scleroderma, a little known but debilitating disease, but while she was able to summon the energy, Rita rarely missed a chance to get to a vintage race and run her car, the red #05 Alfa Giulietta Veloce Spyder, which she did very successfully from 1988 until June of 2000.

“Rita personified not only modesty and graciousness both on and off the track, but she also simply exuded the pure joy of racing,” said Andy Manganaro, who was Rita’s husband and is the sponsor of The Rita trophy. “She loved racing and all the vintage racers with whom she shared the circuits. She was courageous and kind both on and off the track and I never knew anyone who didn’t enjoy her company and her quiet good humor.”

Added Bob Colaizzi, who designed the award, “She was also incredibly precise and smooth, and she embarrassed an awful lot of considerably more experienced drivers, especially macho guys, like me – and Andy -- who, when her car was working right, she often would just flat drive away from, leaving us dumfounded.”

Recipients of The Rita will have their name engraved on the “perpetual” art deco style trophy and also receive a keepsake statuette, which is mounted on granite and is a duplicate of the one atop the trophy itself.

Driving coach and longtime Alfa enthusiast Peter Krause summed up his feelings about The Rita this way: “I am truly pleased that Andy, Bob and a few others have collaborated to develop this award. I can think of no better example than Rita Manganaro of a person who truly epitomized the skills, attributes and attitude we all should strive for as vintage racing drivers.”

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