<A HREF="mailto:swampmtn@siscom.net">swampmtn@siscom.net</A> wrote:
g.s. BENOTTO 85 CASOLA Luigi (Ita)
I had the good fortune to meet Luigi Casola, in either 1977, or 1978, I believe. He had come to Boulder, CO, with a Mexican team which was to ride in the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic. The Mexicans were simple, tough, tiny guys, in the tradition of the great Columbian climbers of the period -- a development team, not the first squad. Casola was the Campagnolo agent/importer for Mexico, and the sponsor of the team. I was a 21-year-old bike shop owner who loved bikes, but knew little or nothing of classic European racing.
Casola brought the team to the shop to have a couple of little items serviced, and we wound up doing complete overhauls on six bikes, throwing out many abused, neglected, and generally un-maintained parts. In fact, in retrospect, I wonder what the racers must have thought when they got their bikes back, as they had been transformed from neglected beaters into competent machines. For instance, at least one BB had a broken ball in it, and a couple of the other BB's were bone dry, lubricated only by flakes of rust. Heavy pitting of bearing surfaces was typical.
Naturally, we developed a friendly relationship with the team, and with Casola. I doubt that we charged much for our work, and I don't think that we charged for parts -- instead, I think that Casola had replacement parts shipped to us by Campy. In otherwords, we didn't make a dime on the deal -- we did it for the love of the sport, and to participate, if peripherally, in the race. (I also worked, and later managed, Zinger/Coors production, for years.)
I had no idea who Casola was/had been, although for years, I've regretted never looking him up in Mexico. I did a web search for his name a year or two back, and discovered that he had been a pro of some accomplishment. Amazing. A pity I didn't have an understanding of that then, but, in retrospect, the contribution that we made to that team was much more important than any fan worship of an aging ex-racer would have been. Regardless, he was a gentleman, and a pleasure to know.
My web searches have produced no current information on Luigi Casola. No Campy connection, no business connections, etc. Of course, if I recall correctly, he was born in '21. I sure would enjoy tracking him down, assuming....
Blather mode <off>
Peter Bridge
Denver, CO