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Egidio Alvaro Duarte is my given name. People on the racing circuits call me Giles, the anglo translation of my first name. I was born July 8th 1982 in the coastal Portuguese Municipality of Viana Do Castelo. Life growing up was joyous even though there appeared never to be enough money to enjoy any of the luxuries it seemed other kids had. I have two younger brothers Flavio and Rafael and two sisters Silvia was two years older than I and Alda she was the baby. My mother stayed at home filling the small 3 bedroom apartment we lived in with the wonderful aromas of her cooking. It was always boisterous around the dinner table.
My Father however was a mechanic. Antonio Duarte was considered one of the best mechanics in all of Portugal. He could work wonders with his hands and a set of tools. He was known as “El Magia Homem” The Magic Man for the ways he could make a clunker purr like a kitten and get the most out of any vehicle! He worked at a small shop on the bay, where they worked on vehicles from all the manufacturers from TVR to Audi to BMW to Alfa Romeo, even the occasional Ferrari and Lambergini.
We did not live in poverty but we did sacrifice because my Pai (Father) had a plan. He loved racing! When I was 4 he took me to my first race. The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. I remember vividly getting on the train the night before and taking the long ride. We got what sleep we could on the train. When we arrived we ate a quick breakfast of bagels and cream cheese from a vendor on the street. Then we hurried to the track finding a grassy knoll along the race route. I was blown away by it all. The sights and sounds, the engines screaming at incredible RPM’s. The cars flying by so fast it was almost hard to identify them. The cheers of the people around me. From that moment I knew this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to drive race cars! My Pai bought me a toy race car as we left to return home. On the train I was beaming from ear-to-ear as I talked a hundred miles an hour about racing and all the things we’d seen and heard. It was a great time of bonding between my Pai and I. Little did either of us know at the time it was the beginning of a plan and partnership that would last our entire lives.
This is our story...
As I grew up Pai began to develop something in me because he could see something I was too young to understand. In the early years I’d just sit in a wooden box in front of the television with an old car wheel I’d found pretending to be a race driver as we watched races on the telly. Pai would help me build a wooden box car and just roll it down the hills around the city. When I was twelve Pai helped me build a motorized racing cart with spare parts he found around the shop. With his mechanical expertise we were soon running and winning cart races in the national youth league. My pai had a plan. He had the ability to work on cars and he was developing the love for racing them in his son!
With everything, talent, ability, and expertise, every plan needs a little “fortune” mixed in.
On a bright autumn day in 1998 we got a big dose of fortune! A car was towed into the garage where Pai worked. It had developed some mechanical problem and would not run. Everyone at the shop was in awe of the Alfa Romeo 166 that was towed in. It was the first year the Executive Car was produced and the first anyone had seen of it. A gruff older man stepped out of the tow truck along with the driver. It was Walter de’Silva, the cars designer. As he looked around at the unimpressive group of mechanics his face belied the doubts he had that anyone here was qualified to fix the 166.
The shop owner Sergio Marchi immediately recognized him and greeted him as if he were royalty. He promised Mr. de’Silva that his car could be fixed and said he had just the man for the job! My Pai. Sergio called for my Pai and introduced him to Mr. de’Silva as the man who could make anything run properly. Still, Mr. de’Silva had his doubts and looked on as my Pai got to work. Soon the two men began to converse like two old buddies. Pai was describing the parts and workings of the 166 like it was an old friend, and Mr. de’Silva was impressed with his knowledge. Pai was drawing on everything he’d ever learned about cars. There were tons of books, magazines and newspaper articles on everything under the sun about cars that Pai had saved and stashed in every room of our apartment. Under the bed, in the closets on the shelves. You don’t become an expert without reading he’d tell us. Doing is easy once you have read. He would say.
Pai had identified the problem as a loose connection on the motherboard that controlled ignition and power distribution. Since the part wasn’t available he jury rigged a small contraption that would maintain the connection until Mr. de’Silva returned home. In that single hour the two men had developed such a rappour talking about cars. Pai particularly impressed him telling him about every car Mr. de’Silva had designed. Pai knew them all! Mr. de’Silva apologized to Sergio, that he was offering my Pai a mechanics job with Alfa Racing. Sergio knew a day like this was coming. My Pai accepted the offer and before you know it we were on our way to Turin Italy.
That’s when Pai told me his plan. “Egidio”, he said in his matter of fact way. “This my son is not the end result that I want for you and I and the family.” This is but a short cut. Since the day that we went to the Spanish Grand Prix and I saw how excited you were and how much you truly wanted to drive race cars I’ve been planning. I’ve been saving every extra penny I could in the hopes that one day we would buy a few cars and start our own racing team. I know cars. I know them inside and out. I can put them together and make them work. You have the talent for driving them. Together this family we can build a successful racing team. This new job just helps me save more money and allows us achieve the goal faster. You keep racing carts for now. When you turn 18 we will try to find a small circuit race team that you can develop your skill with and build your reputation. Save your money also and one day together as a family we will start our own team.”
Those words resonated straight to my heart. I was wondering how I’d ever get into racing. That’s all I ever wanted to do. Pai now had a way to make more. Whatever car we were able to buy he’d make it hum. I had won national cart races in Portugal, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into getting on with a race team. There was a chance, and that chance would come sooner than expected.
About six months after my 18th birthday a gift was given to us. Pai was working late one night helping to get the team ready for the 24hr Le Mans race, when the Alfa Chief Engineer Emilio Avante, came by to check on the progress. He started a friendly conversation asking Pai about the family and of course talking racing. Pai noted that he was having a tough time getting his son on a race team. That’s when the wheels in Emilios head began to spin. “You know there are there is the annual Sunday Cup races each June at Autumn Ring? It is open to anyone. You just have to have a ten thousand lb entry fee.” he said. I know you’ve been saving. Do you have that amount for the fee?” Yes, Pai answered. “We have a Giulia that was just retired from racing, but with your ability to tune it would be perfect for you and your son to get a start with.” It’s in the secondary garage. I will fill out the transfer paperwork and have it driven to your home. Take it it’s yours. Go win a race! Pai’s eyes lit up as he thought of what he could do with the car. He vigorously shook Mr. Avante’s hand and thanked him profusely for the gift!
That’s how we got started. With a 1990 Alfa Giulia that was being retired from racing. When Pai arrived home with it he called us all down to look at it. The entire family was amazed and I’d never seen Pai with such a over joyous heart before his face radiated and I could see tears welling in his eyes. “Everyone,” he began “This car is the beginning of our lives, the doorway to the achievement of our dreams. It will keep our family together and give us the extras we never had before. We will all be apart of “Duarte Racing!”
With Pai’s new job we were now able to afford a small house and the garage became our racing garage. After work and on weekends Pai and the family would work on the Giulia. Pai began to draw on the savings to buy a new engine and parts as he worked on the mechanical aspects with the and Silvia as his assistant. To everyone’s surprise Silvia had taken after Pai. She had a knack and real interest in auto mechanics. Though Mama disapproved Pai said there was nothing wrong with a girl being a mechanic. She was now his right hand man, er woman I should say. Eveyone else worked on the interior and asthetics. We painted her a bright red and Pai got her to hum with more horse power than I think she ever had.
The Sunday Cup was a month away, June 1st and finally she was ready. Pai came home early that day. With three big boxes in the back of the family car. “Egidio, help me take these inside.” Everyone was curious. What could this be. Proudly Pai opened the first box to reveal brilliant blue racing uniforms with bright white trim! In the other box were silver racing helmets. On the back were emblazoned in white the words “Duarte Racing” In the last box there were bottles of wine. “Tonight we celebrate! Tomorrow we practice!” I was wondering why the aromas in the house were so strong! Pai had told mama his plans and she was preparing a feast! That night it seemed the whole neighborhood was at our house celebrating, looking at the Giulia and wishing us well. For me tomorrow could not come soon enough. I could not wait to get behind the wheel.
On Saturday we began to practice. We found an old asphalt road that was seldom traveled. It had three right hand turns onto different streets that lead back to the starting point. Flavio was at the first turn with a cheap video camera, Rafael at the second and Alda at the third and Pai at the finish line with a stopwatch. They would each take video as the car drove by. When we got home we’d load them onto the laptop and Pai and I would begin the process of analyzing my driving.
When watching film Silvia noticed that the engine sounded like it was losing power through the turns. Traction control. The new engine came with a traction control chip. Pai removed it.
As the month wound down we began to shave seconds and tenths then 100ths off our time. Until finally we achieved consistency and each lap was in the 1:16’s. We were ready!
Sunday, June 3rd, 2001
The Sunday Cup
My Father however was a mechanic. Antonio Duarte was considered one of the best mechanics in all of Portugal. He could work wonders with his hands and a set of tools. He was known as “El Magia Homem” The Magic Man for the ways he could make a clunker purr like a kitten and get the most out of any vehicle! He worked at a small shop on the bay, where they worked on vehicles from all the manufacturers from TVR to Audi to BMW to Alfa Romeo, even the occasional Ferrari and Lambergini.
We did not live in poverty but we did sacrifice because my Pai (Father) had a plan. He loved racing! When I was 4 he took me to my first race. The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. I remember vividly getting on the train the night before and taking the long ride. We got what sleep we could on the train. When we arrived we ate a quick breakfast of bagels and cream cheese from a vendor on the street. Then we hurried to the track finding a grassy knoll along the race route. I was blown away by it all. The sights and sounds, the engines screaming at incredible RPM’s. The cars flying by so fast it was almost hard to identify them. The cheers of the people around me. From that moment I knew this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to drive race cars! My Pai bought me a toy race car as we left to return home. On the train I was beaming from ear-to-ear as I talked a hundred miles an hour about racing and all the things we’d seen and heard. It was a great time of bonding between my Pai and I. Little did either of us know at the time it was the beginning of a plan and partnership that would last our entire lives.
This is our story...
As I grew up Pai began to develop something in me because he could see something I was too young to understand. In the early years I’d just sit in a wooden box in front of the television with an old car wheel I’d found pretending to be a race driver as we watched races on the telly. Pai would help me build a wooden box car and just roll it down the hills around the city. When I was twelve Pai helped me build a motorized racing cart with spare parts he found around the shop. With his mechanical expertise we were soon running and winning cart races in the national youth league. My pai had a plan. He had the ability to work on cars and he was developing the love for racing them in his son!
With everything, talent, ability, and expertise, every plan needs a little “fortune” mixed in.
On a bright autumn day in 1998 we got a big dose of fortune! A car was towed into the garage where Pai worked. It had developed some mechanical problem and would not run. Everyone at the shop was in awe of the Alfa Romeo 166 that was towed in. It was the first year the Executive Car was produced and the first anyone had seen of it. A gruff older man stepped out of the tow truck along with the driver. It was Walter de’Silva, the cars designer. As he looked around at the unimpressive group of mechanics his face belied the doubts he had that anyone here was qualified to fix the 166.
The shop owner Sergio Marchi immediately recognized him and greeted him as if he were royalty. He promised Mr. de’Silva that his car could be fixed and said he had just the man for the job! My Pai. Sergio called for my Pai and introduced him to Mr. de’Silva as the man who could make anything run properly. Still, Mr. de’Silva had his doubts and looked on as my Pai got to work. Soon the two men began to converse like two old buddies. Pai was describing the parts and workings of the 166 like it was an old friend, and Mr. de’Silva was impressed with his knowledge. Pai was drawing on everything he’d ever learned about cars. There were tons of books, magazines and newspaper articles on everything under the sun about cars that Pai had saved and stashed in every room of our apartment. Under the bed, in the closets on the shelves. You don’t become an expert without reading he’d tell us. Doing is easy once you have read. He would say.
Pai had identified the problem as a loose connection on the motherboard that controlled ignition and power distribution. Since the part wasn’t available he jury rigged a small contraption that would maintain the connection until Mr. de’Silva returned home. In that single hour the two men had developed such a rappour talking about cars. Pai particularly impressed him telling him about every car Mr. de’Silva had designed. Pai knew them all! Mr. de’Silva apologized to Sergio, that he was offering my Pai a mechanics job with Alfa Racing. Sergio knew a day like this was coming. My Pai accepted the offer and before you know it we were on our way to Turin Italy.
That’s when Pai told me his plan. “Egidio”, he said in his matter of fact way. “This my son is not the end result that I want for you and I and the family.” This is but a short cut. Since the day that we went to the Spanish Grand Prix and I saw how excited you were and how much you truly wanted to drive race cars I’ve been planning. I’ve been saving every extra penny I could in the hopes that one day we would buy a few cars and start our own racing team. I know cars. I know them inside and out. I can put them together and make them work. You have the talent for driving them. Together this family we can build a successful racing team. This new job just helps me save more money and allows us achieve the goal faster. You keep racing carts for now. When you turn 18 we will try to find a small circuit race team that you can develop your skill with and build your reputation. Save your money also and one day together as a family we will start our own team.”
Those words resonated straight to my heart. I was wondering how I’d ever get into racing. That’s all I ever wanted to do. Pai now had a way to make more. Whatever car we were able to buy he’d make it hum. I had won national cart races in Portugal, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into getting on with a race team. There was a chance, and that chance would come sooner than expected.
About six months after my 18th birthday a gift was given to us. Pai was working late one night helping to get the team ready for the 24hr Le Mans race, when the Alfa Chief Engineer Emilio Avante, came by to check on the progress. He started a friendly conversation asking Pai about the family and of course talking racing. Pai noted that he was having a tough time getting his son on a race team. That’s when the wheels in Emilios head began to spin. “You know there are there is the annual Sunday Cup races each June at Autumn Ring? It is open to anyone. You just have to have a ten thousand lb entry fee.” he said. I know you’ve been saving. Do you have that amount for the fee?” Yes, Pai answered. “We have a Giulia that was just retired from racing, but with your ability to tune it would be perfect for you and your son to get a start with.” It’s in the secondary garage. I will fill out the transfer paperwork and have it driven to your home. Take it it’s yours. Go win a race! Pai’s eyes lit up as he thought of what he could do with the car. He vigorously shook Mr. Avante’s hand and thanked him profusely for the gift!
That’s how we got started. With a 1990 Alfa Giulia that was being retired from racing. When Pai arrived home with it he called us all down to look at it. The entire family was amazed and I’d never seen Pai with such a over joyous heart before his face radiated and I could see tears welling in his eyes. “Everyone,” he began “This car is the beginning of our lives, the doorway to the achievement of our dreams. It will keep our family together and give us the extras we never had before. We will all be apart of “Duarte Racing!”
With Pai’s new job we were now able to afford a small house and the garage became our racing garage. After work and on weekends Pai and the family would work on the Giulia. Pai began to draw on the savings to buy a new engine and parts as he worked on the mechanical aspects with the and Silvia as his assistant. To everyone’s surprise Silvia had taken after Pai. She had a knack and real interest in auto mechanics. Though Mama disapproved Pai said there was nothing wrong with a girl being a mechanic. She was now his right hand man, er woman I should say. Eveyone else worked on the interior and asthetics. We painted her a bright red and Pai got her to hum with more horse power than I think she ever had.
The Sunday Cup was a month away, June 1st and finally she was ready. Pai came home early that day. With three big boxes in the back of the family car. “Egidio, help me take these inside.” Everyone was curious. What could this be. Proudly Pai opened the first box to reveal brilliant blue racing uniforms with bright white trim! In the other box were silver racing helmets. On the back were emblazoned in white the words “Duarte Racing” In the last box there were bottles of wine. “Tonight we celebrate! Tomorrow we practice!” I was wondering why the aromas in the house were so strong! Pai had told mama his plans and she was preparing a feast! That night it seemed the whole neighborhood was at our house celebrating, looking at the Giulia and wishing us well. For me tomorrow could not come soon enough. I could not wait to get behind the wheel.
On Saturday we began to practice. We found an old asphalt road that was seldom traveled. It had three right hand turns onto different streets that lead back to the starting point. Flavio was at the first turn with a cheap video camera, Rafael at the second and Alda at the third and Pai at the finish line with a stopwatch. They would each take video as the car drove by. When we got home we’d load them onto the laptop and Pai and I would begin the process of analyzing my driving.
When watching film Silvia noticed that the engine sounded like it was losing power through the turns. Traction control. The new engine came with a traction control chip. Pai removed it.
As the month wound down we began to shave seconds and tenths then 100ths off our time. Until finally we achieved consistency and each lap was in the 1:16’s. We were ready!
Sunday, June 3rd, 2001
The Sunday Cup
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