From the archives of Bob Montgomery, motoring historian
ENZO FERRARI BEHIND THE WHEEL: There is so much legend surrounding the Ferrari marque that it comes as a surprise to discover that Enzo Ferrari himself had a significant racing career. For one not noted for his modesty it is surprising this career is hardly mentioned in his own memoirs.
His first race was also Italy's first race after the first World War, in October 1919, and was the Parma-Poggio de Berceto, a mountain race in which he finished a worthy 11th out of 37 starters. Following this he finished 9th, in the Targa Florio of the same year. His third race was the 1920 Parma-Poggio and this time he finished 3rd.
His promise led to Alfa Romeo taking him on a back-up to the team's star driver, Giuseppe Campari. Going into the final lap, Ferrari was told he was in second position and gave his all in an attempt to catch the leader, Meregalli, in a Nazzaro. Despite setting fastest lap on his final tour, Ferrari could only finish second and wept when he learned of the result.
Further excellent placings followed but it was the difficult Circuito di Pescara on which the prestigious Coppa Acerbo was run in 1924 which brought him his greatest victory. This 10 lap 159 mile race was open to both sports and racing cars and took place over very poor unpaved road surfaces. Driving a P2 Alfa, Campari led the first lap but then retired with a broken gearbox.
For Enzo, however, this was to be his day-of-days as he comfortably out drove the opposition coming home in first place ahead of a blown 2 litre Mercedes. It was a great victory and together with his second place in the 1920 Targa Florio was to be the highlight of his racing career.
Alfa Romeo also took note of their new star and announced that their team for the Grand Prix of Europe at Lyon would consist of Ascari, Campari, Wagner and Ferrari.
On the threshold of a Grand Prix career Ferrari practiced for the Grand Prix of Europe but suffered some sort of nervous collapse and is said to have retired for a while to a retreat in the Appennines.
Enzo Ferrari did not return to racing until 1927 when he limited himself to minor circuit events. His return to racing was on the Circuit de Alessandria and Ferrari took an easy win. Strangely, Alessandria, 130 miles from Modena, would be the furthest he would travel from his home for the remainder of his racing career.
By now Enzo was also preparing Alfa Romeo racing cars for wealthy clients but the fact that he continually beat his clients in the races must have curbed their enthusiasm. His last race in 1929 marked a turning point. This was the Circuit delle Tre Province which was in reality a mountain road race of the sort so beloved by Italians. Rather than his normal racing overalls, Ferrari turned up to drive in a suit and tie and dropped out for unexplained reasons while his customers went on to place third, fifth and sixth. Ferrari himself claimed that the idea of Scuderia Ferrari dated to this race and was set up with the financial backing of his gentlemen clients.
Enzo Ferrari's last race was the Tre Province in August 1931 when he fought an epic battle with Tazio Nuvolari, both driving Alfa Romeo 1750s. At the finish, Ferrari was just 32.8 seconds behind the great Nuvolari achieving a worthy end to his career as a racing driver. Never one to be modest, he summed up his career in his memoirs thus "I don't think I behaved really badly, as a racing driver."
Indeed, it was a career he could be proud of, and one which was to lead to even greater things.