My Ardit Car: Ferrari

Enzo Anselmo Ferrari was born in 1898 just outside on Modena on February 18, 1898 but his birth is registered two days later due to heavy snow.

Ferrari logotype.

At the time, Enzo's father owned a small engineering company employing about 30 people. They built bridges and roofs for the state railways.

In 1916, the Ferrari family was hit by a double tragedy as both Enzo's father and brother passed away. This forced Enzo to give up his studies and find work as an instructor in the lathing school at the fire services workshop in Modena.

In 1917, Enzo served in the Italian army in the 3rd Alpine Artillery Division during the first world war. He became seriously ill and was honorably discharged.

After regaining his health, Ferrari attempts to get a job with Fiat in Turin in 1918 but is unsuccessful. At the end of that year, he does find work as a test driver in a small company in Turin that builds the much sought after Torpedos which were built on a light truck chassis.

In 1919, Enzo moved to Milan to work for C.M.N. (Construzioni Meccaniche Nazionali) first as a test-driver and then later as a racing driver. He made his competitive debut in the 1919 Parma-Poggio di Berceto hill-climb in which he finished fourth in the three-liter category driving a 2.3 liter 4-cylinder CMN 15/20.

On November 23rd of the same year, he takes part in the Targa Florio but looses over 40 minutes after his car's fuel tank develops a leak.

In 1920, after a series of races in which he enjoys mixed fortunes at the wheel of an Isotta Fraschini 100/110 IM Corsa, Enzo finishes second in the Targa Florio in the 6-liter, 4-cylinder Alfa Romeo Tipo 40/60. This marks the start of a 20-year collaboration with the marque that will see Ferrari do everything from test-driving to racing to dealing, before finally being appointed as head of the Alda Corse racing division, a position he holds until September 1939.

In 1921, Ferrari competes in several races as an official Alfa driver, delivering some impressive finishes such as fifth position in the Targa Florio in May and second at Mugello in July. He also had his first major accident in September that year when he goes off the road on the eve of the Brescia Grand Prix trying to avoid a herd of cattle blocking the race route.

In 1923, Ferrari wins the first Circuito del Savio and meets Count Baracca, father of the famous Italian First World War pilot Francesco Baracca. He later meets Countess Baraca who gives him a signed photograph and invites him to use her son's Prancing Horse emblem as mascot on his cars.

In 1924, Ferrari is made a Cavaliere (Knight) for his sporting achievements. His passion for journalism sees him become one of the founders of the famous Corriere dello Sport newspaper in Bologna that same year.

In 1927, Ferrari is made Commendatore by the Italian state and on the 5th of June, wins the first Circuito di Modena in an Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 SS.

On May 20th, 1928, Enzo wins the 2nd Circuito di Modena, once again at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 SS.

In 1929, Ferrari founds the Scuderia Ferrari in Modena. The main aim of this racing stable is to allow owner-drivers to race. It's foundation marks the start of a burst of frenetic sporting activity that leads to the creation of an official team. The Scuderia fielded both cars (mainly Alfas) and motorbikes. In time it becomes a technical racing outpost of Alfa Romeo and effectively takes over as its racing department in 1933.

Enzo completes his final race as a driver at the Circuito Tre Province on August 9th, 1931 due to the impending birth of his son Dino and his growing workload as the head of the Scuderia.

In 1937, The Scuderia Ferrari build the Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta, which goes on to dominate the international racing scene.

The Scuderia Ferrari is wound up at the end of the 1937 and at the beginning of 1938 Enzo Ferrari takes up his new position as head of Alfa Corse and moves to Milan.

On September 5th, 1939, Enzo Ferrari leaves Alfa Romeo under the provision that he not use the Ferrari name in association with races or racing cars for at least four years. From that moment on, beating Alfa Romeo in one of his own cars becomes a passion.

On September 13th of 1939, Ferrari opens Auto Avio Costruzioni on Viale Trento Trieste in Modena, the headquarters of the old Scuderia Ferrari.

In 1940, Auto Avio Costruzioni two versions of what Ferrari calls the 8-cylinder, 1500cc 815 on a Fiat platform for the last pre-war Mille Miglia.

At the very height of the war in 1943, Auto Avio Costruzioni moves out of Modena to Maranello where the first part of what would later become the Ferrari factory is built. The factory is then bombed in November of 1944 and then again the following February but is quickly rebuilt.

Ferrari begins work on designing the first Ferrari in late 1945 with a V12, an architecture that would become a fixture throughout the company's entire history. In 1946, Ferrari releases the specifications and drawings of his new car to the press. On March 12th of 1947, he takes the car, now known as the 125 S out for its first test drive.

Having won its first Mille Miglia in 1948, its frist Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1949 and its first Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix in 1951, Ferrari becomes world Champions for the first time in 1952 thanks to Alberto Ascari who repeats his feat the following year.

In 1956, Enzo's son Dino dies of muscular dystrophy. The Ferrari 1500cc V6 and all Ferrari V6s are named in his honor.

In 1960, Ferrari becomes a Limited Liability Company.

In 1963 Enzo Ferrari build the professional industry and artisanship training institute in Maranello, which is also dedicated to Dino.

In 1965, Enzo Ferrari wins the Columbus Prize.

After realizing that he need a powerful partner in order for the company to continue to develop, Ferrari signs an agreement with Fiat Group giving them a 50% stake in company shares.

In 1971, Enzo Ferrari decides to build the Fiorano Circuit which officially opened on April 8th, 1972.

The Ferrari F40 is unveiled in 1987 and becomes the last car to be created under Enzo's management.

In 1988, Enzo Ferrari dies on August 14th at the age of 90.

(source: Ferrari)