Italian magazine writer, kart driver to be part of Grand Prix of Karting field this weekend

MILAN, Italy — The return of the Grand Prix of Karting to Quincy will have some international flavor when the event returns in June to South Park.

Fabio Marangon, who works for Vroom International Magazine and lives in Milan, Italy, does more than write about karters. Marangon also is a racer. He describes himself as an “embedded” racing journalist for the events he both covers and competes in.

He’s had his eye on the Grand Prix for some time.

“The Quincy Grand Prix has been a project since 2020,” Marangon said.

Marangon, 48, said he hooked up with Keith Freber of St. Louis-based kart manufacturer Margay and new Grand Prix director of operations Jeff Scott to help connect all the necessary dots.

“Jeff is doing a great effort to help give this event the visibility it deserves,” Marangon said.

The Grand Prix returns, following a one-year hiatus, this Saturday and Sunday when it turns South Park into a twisting, turning 1.125-mile road course.

Marangon is excited about his first visit to Quincy. It’s a destination he can mark off his personal checklist.

“I’ve been racing since I was 15,” he said. “I define myself as a ‘gentleman driver,’ and currently I am racing in the Briggs & Stratton Italian Championship.”

In Europe, karting is treated and acknowledged as a major sport. Most of the stars of Formula 1 and other major racing disciplines in Europe started in karting. Marangon says Vroom magazine is the publication that tells their stories.

Marangon believes he is fortunate to have been allowed to have his passion for karting help define his professional career.

“It wasn’t about winning races for me but just being part of racing,” he said. “Sometimes, I (have) brought home some small trophies but nothing special. Karting is the passion that became a job and … my first love.”

The tremendous amount of attention paid to karting in Europe is not all good, according to Marangon, who says he also enjoys “any outdoor sport, mountain biking and dogs.”

“Coming to Quincy is also, for me, an opportunity to see what karting can be for ‘common people’ and how enjoyable it can be for a community,” he said. “The escalation of karting costs in Europe is no (longer) sustainable for normal families.”

Marangon said cost controls are now being introduced to help maintain and widen the base of karting, helping it remain a key element of the feeder system for Formula 1 and similar series. 

This will not be Marangon’s first trip the United States. He’s anxious to return.

“I love the U.S. and the American people, who have always been very nice to me,” he said. “I have been in the U.S. several times, both for holidays and for racing purposes.”

Following his stay in Quincy, Marangon will participate in a June 13-15 vintage karting weekend in New Castle, Ind.