molto historico?

Today, as it was our last morning in Bologna, John decided he wanted to experience the craziness of San Luca's 4km arcade. So, for a second time, I made the trek. When we reached the beginning of the hill, though, we found that car traffic was being re-routed and people were gathering along the arcade to see something. We asked a gentleman what was going to happen, and he said, as we understood it, something about a motor race that was very historic. Great! We're here while there's a historic car or motorcycle race going on! So while walking up the arcade, we kept our ears and eyes peeled for the unmistakable sound of racing engines.

Pretty soon we heard the grumble of a motorcycle, and ran to the edge of the arcade, hoping to be there when the pack came around the corner of the adjoining street. But strangely, as it grew there was still the sound of only one motorcycle. Is it the head of the pack? One guy passes. He's not going as fast as I would expect. Perhaps he's just making sure the course is clear for the pack.

But soon another guy follows, also not going that fast, and this guy is at least 40 pounds overweight. Huh? And then we realize, this isn't a molto historico race (very historic), but a race of moto historicas (historic motorcycles). The bikes continue to pass, and now we can see that the bikes are really old. Some of the riders get into character for it, one dressing as an old soldier on a WWI army bike, some wearing the full leather outfit, but a few riders have a second person with them, and are clearly just out for fun on their old bike.

Bologna is the home of Ducati (as pointed out by my friend Sandy), so many of them were from that revered company. But we noticed that all the cops overseeing the course were on BMWs.