1975

 
A CRUCIAL YEAR

                                                                                                           
The new UFO 39’ “ERAF", driven by Giulio de Angelis – Riccardo Mambretti – Franco Esperto, wins the Rosa D’Oro Trophy in Pescara, setting a new European record thanks to its performance superiority compared to the Cigarette. Such result is achieved in spite of a power loss of an engine! UFO 27’ “TIBIDABO”, driven by Sandro and Guido Pesenti, wins the European Championship and the Pescara Rosa D’Oro Trophy in the OP2 “cadet” class, taking the second place in the general order of arrival, just after the UFO 39’ of Giulio de Angelis. It’s a true triumph. On July 13 of the same year Riccardo Mambretti, who after Pescara had decided to quit races, in the name of Giulio De Angelis and his son Elio’s friendship accepts to participate in the Naples Grand Prix driving the Cigarette 36’ OP1 boat with Elio himself (who later on would become a famous F1 pilot) and Franco Esperto. While racing from Gaeta to Ponza the Cigarette 36’ literally threads its bow into a long wave at the speed of 130 km/h. The boat makes then the peculiar “spin-out” that we – and those who have driven racing boats, like our friend Antonio Soccol – know very well. Precisely Antonio Soccol, leaving the race and therefore also a good placing, stops to provide first aid to Mambretti, seriously injured: it will take over two years to recover. And after 8 surgery operations and battle-hardened Mambretti starts again, working passionately at new ideas, projects and plans. Meanwhile his UFO 27’ TIBIDABO, driven by Pesenti, sets TWO WORLD RECORDS (speed and endurance) with the acknowledgement of F.I.M. (Italian Motorboating Federation) and U.I.M. (Union Motonautique Intérnationale).