There are many good pilots, but “my father had something more, he was a stage animal”. In the words of his daughter Ledya lies the reason why the name Holer Togni – the king of stunts who died in Milan yesterday – has been synonymous with reckless driving for at least a generation. The ones he, born into the famous circus family, imported from America with his brother Divier in the early 70s. Together they left the circus and gave life to the touring show “Stunt Cars”, which then toured Italy and Europe for over three decades, attracting up to a million spectators a year, from the major stadiums to the Monza circuit, the reproduction of the I Experience The ruthless feats only possible in the cinema. Spectacular numbers like two-wheelers on cars, trucks and even tractors, in non-stop rhythm shows centered around themes like the Blues Brothers film, the drivers’ favourite. The fame was then reinforced by television and even cinema, where Togni and his unmistakable form with a shaved skull were the protagonists of the most acrobatic scenes on 4 wheels.
A popular icon, its shows fill the stadiums and become the most awaited moment at major events such as the Bologna Motor Show. In one of his shows, he even involved Gianni Agnelli in an evolution on board a Fiat 131, convincing the entrepreneur to become a sponsor of his shows. With no limits to risk and creativity, Togni entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 for driving a three-wheeled inclined truck. “My father – says the daughter – wants to be remembered for what he did. He kept working until the end because he was a showman, it was in his blood. There are few characters like him, maybe only Uncle Darix, the “Tiger tamer: you were the most charismatic in the family”. In addition to his charisma, “my father was ahead in everything, he was the first to introduce the PC to the circus , he was very curious and had a great talent for dealing with cars and trucks”. On a personal level, however, “he taught me to live: today I can speak without fear and find myself in front of everyone because I know what I’m talking about . Being with him was a great life lesson, dad will miss him so much because – he stresses – he’s a lot of stuff”. To the fans who found themselves after the shows with mopeds or apecars to do the number on two wheels, he, who grew up to be an acrobat, always said: “To do certain things you don’t need bravery, you need brains, you have to have courage, but most of all – concludes his daughter Ledya – you have to be so clear “..
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