The Life and Work of Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari born in Modena in Italy on February 20, 1898 started as a car driver and went on to become the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix Motor Racing team. He became famous as manufacturer of the Ferrari car. His childhood was spent in Modena where he received very little education. However, even in those early years he had a passion for car racing.

Ferrari joined the Italian Army as a muleskinner during the World War I. However, he contracted severe flu and was discharged from service in 1916. He returned to Modena to resume his family business. Meanwhile his father had died while Enzo was still in the army and the family-business too failed. Young Enzo applied for a job at the FIAT Car Company. He was rejected. Eventually he found employment with a company called CMN that made small cars out of trucks. In 1919, Ferrari joined the CMN racing team but enjoyed limited success only.

He was able to secure a job with Alfa Romeo in 1920. Racing a modified production car, Ferrari finished second. In 1923, he won the Sivocci Circuit at Ravenna. He impressed Francesco Baracca, the legendary ace driver and the latter presented him his son's badge. The greatest victory for Ferrari about this time was the Coppa Acerbo in Pescara in 1924. For some strange reason, Ferrari did not compete until 1927. Meanwhile he continued to work for Alfa Romeo. In 1929, he founded and raced the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, for Alfa. The partnership soon ran into difficulties because of the financial problems faced by Alfa. The company turned down Ferrari's suggestion for phasing out the old engine for a new one. In addition, Ferrari did not relish working under a new boss once the team was attached to the Alfa. Therefore, he resigned and founded a new company-Auto-Avio Costruzioni S.P.A. The first of its sports cars labeled AAC 815s raced in 1940 and may be regarded as the first Ferraris

After WW II, Ferrari designed his own Grand Prix Car which could have won the Monaco GP, but for the last minute experimentation. Ferraris participated in major events like Le Mans, the Targa Florino and the greatest victory came in theMille Miglia. During the 1950s, Ferrari dominated the Formula 2 car racing stage. Two-time world champion Alberto Ascari won nine races. Then for some time, the British teams were able to challenge Ferrari. The Gran Turismo car produced by Ferrari won the long distance car race at Le Mans. Niki Lauda won for Ferrari many world and Constructor titles. However, accidents, early retirements of many of his drivers and problems with the chassis brought about a temporary decline to Ferrari's success rate.

Enzo Ferrari died in 1988. There were many more successes to come for his car driven by Michael Schumacher. Ferrari received many honors and prizes in his lifetime- Cavaliere del Lavoro (1952), Hammarskjöld Prize (1962) Columbus Prize (1965), and De Gasperi Award (1987). In 1994, he was posthumously inducted into the International Motor sports Hall of Fame.

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