Enzo Anselmo Ferrari and the Rise of the Ferrari Empire

Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898 in Modena, Italy. He did not have a strong education, but at the age of  ten he went to his first race. His father took him to the race on via Emilia in Bologna. After seeing this race, he was even more drawn to the world of racing. In 1916, Enzo’s father and brother died. When they died it left Enzo to provide for the family. Enzo went to work in the lathing school at the fire service workshop in Modena. In 1917, Enzo joined the army and fought in the first World War.

Before the war ended, Enzo became ill and had to undergo two operations before he was given an honorable discharge. In 1918 Enzo looked for work and obtained a job as a test driver at a small company in Turin. He worked there for almost a year then he moved to Milan to work for a company called Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionale (C. M.N.). He started out as test driver, but with his expertise, he made his debut as a racer and came in 4^th place in his first ever race.

By the next year, in 1920, Enzo Ferrari became the head of the Alfa Romeo racing division. In 1923 Enzo won his first race and met Countess Baracca. She gave him a signed photo of her son’s prancing horse and allowed Enzo to use it as his car’s emblem.

The Ferrari emblem

In 1929, Enzo founded the Scuderia Ferrari racing group in Modena, his hometown. His motto or purpose for his company was to allow owner-drivers to race. With his overwhelming skill in racing and education on cars, Enzo easily took over as the face of the Alfa Romeo brand. By the time 1931 rolls around Enzo put down his racing gear to maintain the work load as leader of Scuderia and a new type of life. On January 19^th, 1932 his son Alfredo Ferrari was born.

Around 1937 the Scuderia foundation buillt the “Alfa Romeo 158- Alfetta.” This car quickly began to dominate the racing scene. Seeing his potential and dreaming for a better design Enzo left Alfa Romeo in 1939.

By 1945 Ferrari began work on their first independent Ferrari car model. Enzo wanted to base his cars with the V12 engine because of its versatility. On March 12^th, 1947 he test drove his first car on the open road. His new model car was called the 125-S. After 1956 when his son died, he named all models of the 1500 cc V6 engine after Alfredo.

Through the years Ferrari made a whole line of racing and luxury cars. In 1970 Enzo Ferrari was presented with a gold medal for culture and art by the president of Italy. Enzo gave back in multitudes to the racing community. In 1971 Enzo buillt the Fiorano circuit which officially opened on April 8^th, 1972. In 1987 the “F40” was created. It was the last car created under Enzo’s management.

On August 14, 1988 Enzo Anselmo Ferrari died at the age of 90.

Sources:

"Enzo Ferrari." Ferrari.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013.

"Enzo Ferrari." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 July 2013. Web. 08 May 2013. 

by Rasool Adkins