Ferrari celebrates 126 years since the birth of Enzo Ferrari

The Italian automotive world and especially Ferrari today celebrates 126 years since the birth of the founder of the brand, which has become truly legendary. We have already explained why all encyclopedias indicate that Enzo Ferrari was born on February 20, 1898, and in Maranello they count his biography from February 18.

Ferrari has created a stylish video clip especially for today’s event and an article about Commendatore has been published on the company’s corporate website. Although this was not his only nickname: Ferrari was also called Il Drake (“The Dragon”), L’Ingegnere (“The Engineer”), and in the last stage of his life – Il Grande Vecchio (“The Great Old Man” ).

Here are a few excerpts from this text entitled “Enzo’s Dream”.

“Enzo Ferreri’s passion for motor racing began when his father, Alfredo, took him and his brother to the Coppa Florio race in Bologna in 1908. That day Enzo’s life changed forever. Although he did not excel academically, he distinguished himself for his creative approach, and when he worked in his father’s workshop he showed excellent practical skills.

Working as a mechanic only fueled his passion for powerful machines – cars, tractors and other self-driving equipment, which helped him develop his capabilities and motivate him to achieve ambitious goals…

In 1919, at a very young age, Enzo took part in a race for the first time: in Milan he drove a CMN car designed by Ugo Sivocci. Ferrari was then invited to act as a test driver.

The following year he raced several times in an Isotta Fraschini, but Enzo achieved his most impressive results in Alfa Romeo cars, taking class victories in races such as the Targa Florio and at events in Giallarta, Mugello and Aosta. In 1923 he won the overall championship for the first time, and it was that success that led to a series of events that irreversibly changed Ferrari’s life.

After that victory he met Count Baracca, the father of pilot Francesco Baracca, a hero of the First World War. A little later he introduced him to his wife, Countess Paolina Baracca. It was she who suggested using the image of a prancing stallion on his racing cars – the exact same emblem was on Francesco’s plane.

“This will bring you luck,” the Countess then said. And her prediction really came true.

Only true great love could force Enzo to give up racing – this happened after the birth of Dino, his eldest son. When Dino was born, Enzo Ferrari retired from motor racing and finished second in a race around Bologna and Modena on August 9, 1931.

Since 1932, Enzo has devoted himself with the same passion to his work at Scuderia Ferrari, his own sports company. The team was founded in 1929 and from 1932 the emblem in the shape of a prancing stallion adorned Alfa Romeo cars. Racing remained a priority for Ferrari, but his view of motorsport changed.

While Enzo was still alive, he personally selected every driver commissioned to drive his cars in Formula 1 and endurance races. At the same time, he showed astonishing insight – this was exactly the case with Niki Lauda and Gilles Villeneuve. It is enough to remember just these two names to understand: only someone who had his own real racing experience could see such a talent in a driver.”