Enzo Ferrari: Biography and Story of the Founder Ferrari Cars
Enzo Ferrari is known as the founder of Ferrari, a luxury and sporty car manufacturing company from Italy. The history of Ferrari, which has the prancing horse logo, was founded in 1947. Ferrari is one of the most well-known luxury car brands in the world, apart from being a sporty model, it also has high speed. No wonder Ferrari is identified with luxury. What is the biography of Enzo Ferrari and the history of Ferrari itself?
Enzo Ferrari Biography
His full name is Enzo Ferrari, who was born on February 18 1898 in Modena, Italy. His father’s name is Alfredo Ferrari and his mother’s name is Adalgisa Ferrari.
Enzo grew up in Modena, but he grew up without receiving a formal education like other children. Young Enzo Ferrari had a passion for racing cars.
It is known that Enzo started driving racing cars from a very young age and decided to become a racer at the age of 10.
Enzo became interested in the automotive world when his father Alfredo Ferrari took him to watch the races at the Bologna Circuit in 1908.
Enzo Ferrari then started watching a lot of racing competitions in Italy after that, in his mind racing competitions were an interesting challenge for him.
In 1914, Enzo worked as a teacher at the Lathe Operator School in a firefighting workshop in Modena, Italy.
Bad luck befell Enzo when World War I raged. In 1916, he lost his father and brother who died due to a flu epidemic in Italy. Stay up-to-date with Deltsapure! Provide accurate and updated news for readers.
Joining the Military
In the same year, Enzo Ferrari joined the military during World War I and was assigned to the Third Alpine Regiment, Val Seriana. However, at that time he was hit by a flu epidemic in 1918, which caused Enzo to leave the military when World War I was almost over.
After leaving the military, Enzo Ferrari received a letter of recommendation from the Italian military authorities at that time. Enzo then applied for a job at the Fiat company in 1918. Unfortunately there were no vacancies there at that time.
But, he then got a job as a test driver in the city of Turin, Italy for a motorbike company. In 1919, Enzo started working for a company called Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali, in the city of Milan as a test driver.
Starting the First Race
His driving skills meant that Enzo was immediately promoted as a racer. In 1919, Enzo Ferrari made his first racing debut at the Parma-Poggio race in Berceto.
He finished in 4th place in the race. He also participated in the Targa Florio race in the same year but had less than satisfactory results due to problems with the fuel tank.
In 1920, Enzo Ferrari entered the Targa Florio car race once again. He drove an Alfa Romeo, and finished in second place. This victory was the beginning of his 20 years of experience with the Alfa Romeo team.
In 1921, Enzo took part in many races as a driver for the Alfa team. He had his first crash that same year at the Brescia Grand Prix.
Formed the Scuderia Ferrari Racing Team
Ferrari’s history began when in 1923, Enzo met Count Baracca, Francesco Baracca, and Countess Baracca. They gave their “Prancing Horse” logo as the mascot on Enzo Ferrari’s racing car.
In 1929, Enzo then formed the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix racing team which became part of the Alfa Romeo racing team.
1931 was Enzo’s last year as a racer. His last race was at the Three Provinces circuit where he finished second driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM.
After that he left racing that year. In 1933, due to financial constraints, Alfa ended its relationship with the Scuderia Ferrari racing team formed by Enzo Ferrari.
Alfa then took over racing in 1937 and Enzo was placed as Sports Director. In 1939, he left the Alfa Romeo team with an agreement that he would not use the name ‘Ferrari’ in connection with racing cars for the next four years.
In the same year, he founded his own company called Auto Avio Costruzioni in Modena. He started his company in a garage on Viale Trento e Trieste.
Founded the Ferrari Company
In 1940, Enzo Ferrari then designed a racing car for the Mille Miglia. That same year Enzo’s company was forced to produce cars for Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Government as World War II raged.
In the history of Ferrari, it is known that he also designed the first Ferrari car in 1945. After World War II ended, Enzo Ferrari officially founded the Ferrari company in 1947.
Winning the Grand Prix First Time
Then in 1951, the Enzo company won its first Grand Prix with Jose Froilan Gonzalez at the Silverstone circuit. This championship was the Ferrari company’s first victory.
That year was also the time when the Ferrari company began selling sports cars of its design and the proceeds were used to finance its participation in racing tournaments.
In the biography of Enzo Ferrari, it is known that in 1957, Ferrari and Englebert, who were tire manufacturers, were accused of murder when Mille Miglia and Alfonso de Portago, driving a Ferrari, died along with his partner when one of his tires exploded. At that time nine people from the audience also died. However, the lawsuit was discontinued in 1961.
In 1969, Enzo sold about 50% of his shares to the Fiat company but Enzo had full control in organizing races for Ferrari. Even though at that time Ford was the first company to make an offer to Ferrari, he decided not to continue the offer.
In 1974, Enzo chose to retire from the position of managing director of Ferrari. He then promoted Luca Cordero di Montezemolo to Formula One team manager and asked him to represent him at all races.
Making Various World Class Cars
In 1982, Ferrari made a car that had a sturdy chassis and chose a world-class driver. Although Ferrari remained involved with the Scuderia until his death, there were no more championships for Enzo Ferrari.
Enzo Ferrari Dies
Enzo Ferrari died on August 14 1988 at the age of 90. His death was announced two days later. During his life, Enzo Ferrari was known as a private person, almost never appearing in public or giving interviews to journalists. Enzo is also known as a hard worker.
In his personal life, Enzo Ferrari is known to have married Laura Dominica Garello Ferrari in 1932. They had a son named Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari. However, his son died of muscular dystrophy in 1956.
In the previous year, namely 1945, Enzo Ferrari had a second son named Piero from his girlfriend, Lina Lardi, but in 1975 he only recognized Piero as his legitimate son, after Lina Lardi’s death.
Ferrari Company After the Death of Enzo Ferrari
After the death of Enzo Ferrari, the Ferrari company became one of the world’s most famous racing and sporty car manufacturing companies. Ferrari production cars are known for their elegant and luxurious designs. Ferrari also still participates in Formula One racing tournaments around the world.