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Rest in peace, master

Javier del Arco de Izco (1946-2013) died prematurely, suffering from Parkinson's, on January 14. The call by many motoring journalists teacher, He was an industrial engineer with a degree in Information Sciences, as well as an irredeemable passionate about motor sports.

His professional career as a specialized journalist, which began at the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix, at the Montjuic circuit; He developed in media such as TVE, La Vanguardia or from the magazines Formula, 4 Strokes or Auto Only, among other. In addition, he wrote four important books, published by the publishing house of the Real Automóvil Club de Catalunya -RACC- and which have as titles "40 years of motor racing history in the Montjuic circuit", "55 years of motorcycling history in the circuit of Montjuic ”,“ Història de l 'automobilisme a Catalunya ”and“ RACC: 100 years of passion (1906-2006) ”, the latter together with co-authors Gabriel Pernau and Jaime Arias.

The editor of “La Escudería” who writes this obituary is too young to know the teacher. For this reason, you will turn to the deep impressions caused by this one to some professional colleagues who deserve your confidence. Also, to the brief examination of the numbers of the fantastic magazines Formula y 4 Times that you have in your collection.

 

No. 9 of 4 Times, June 1980
No. 9 of 4 Times, June 1980

According to Valentí Fradera, director of the magazine F1 Racing Spanish edition, Javier del Arco was a simple, modest and tremendously attentive person, who “went bankrupt trying to give the few enthusiasts of this country a publication racing that could be equated to foreign ones ”.

That was the magazine 4 times, that, from October 1979 to September 1980, "I wanted to be like an encyclopedia in monthly installments, in which current affairs, history, technique and the human factor had a place", in the words of the Arch himself. And it was: after reading part of its last issue I can say that it is journalism of the best quality, which was followed by some fabulous sports yearbooks published until 1988.

Not in vain did the inhabitant of box number 13 for years forge his character and his style in the mythical magazine Formula, true school of motor journalism in Spain. Throughout the sixties and seventies, this publication, along with other renowned headers such as Highway o criterion, They taught from their respective work areas how to write about motorsport.

 

"Formula", at that time monthly motor racing magazine
"Formula", at that time monthly motor racing magazine

Leafing through some of its copies a bit, the editor who signs these lines realizes that in the trade we may have thrown the bar a bit. That we no longer have that meticulous, serious, rigorous style that such publications exude. Nor do we, in general, have that desire to elevate the reader's knowledge beyond a passing entertainment.

The reasons for this could lie in the times in which we have lived: today, everything is digested faster, with hardly any time to reflect. We consume enormous amounts of information whose quality could - and perhaps should - have been better. Before, however, it is possible that everything had a different rhythm, and that the value of newspaper articles in which all the causes, consequences and implications of the information had been calmly explored was more appreciated.

Formula 1 was also different then ... Be that as it may, talking about Javier del Arco is talking about a huge motor racing fan; whose style, in the words of Fradera, concise, entertaining and direct - to which I would add clear and inspiring - made thousands of fans feel part of the races. Even in my brief flirtation with his magazines, I have been able to appreciate how, with an outreach will, this journalist introduces the reader into the world of competition without asking for anything in return. At no time does he make him notice his position of superiority, but rather invites him to enjoy his knowledge and, with it, to know more every day.

 

History of the Magic Mountain, the masterpiece of Javier del Arco
History of the Magic Mountain, the masterpiece of Javier del Arco

In 2000 he published the book “40 years of motor racing history on the Montjuic circuit”, in which he collects everything that happened on four wheels in the Barcelona park. Later, the volume devoted to motorcycles would appear: "55 years of motorcycling history on the Montjuic circuit". Both constitute his masterpiece and historical refuge from the myth of the Magic Mountain.

For all this he was honored by the RACC in 2007. And for all this, we would like to declare that in "La Escudería" from now on we will have teacher as a reference.

 

 

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Written by javier romagosa

My name is Javier Romagosa. My father has always been passionate about historic vehicles and I have inherited his hobby, while growing up among classic cars and motorcycles. I have studied journalism and continue to do so as I want to become a university professor and change the world ... Read more

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