Posted
on February 18, 2015
Enzo
Ferrari loved race cars. From age 10, he wanted to be a race car
driver. He had to overcome a lack of education, a lack of
opportunities, the flu, and two wars to succeed in the car world –
but he followed his bliss and made it!
Born
on this date in 1898 in Modena, Italy, Ferrari saw a dangerous and
exciting car race when he was ten years old. He decided right then
and there that race car driving was what he wanted to do.
World
War I found him in the artillery division of the Italian Army. Flu
pandemics killed his father and a brother, and Enzo Ferrari became
seriously ill as well—so ill, he was discharged from the army. He
came home to find his family's business had collapsed.
Ferrari
took on a series of car-related jobs ranging from redesigning used
truck bodies into smaller cars to managing the development of race
cars. In the meantime, he also entered competitions and local races.
He raced from 1919 to 1932, with some success, and he also built up a
team of over forty race car drivers.
Ferrari
started his own company, eventually – but then another World War
interceded. Ferrari was forced to do war production for Mussolini's
fascist government, and it was only after the war that Ferrari could
start making cars bearing his name.
At
this point, Ferrari started to really take off. His cars and drivers
succeeded in many races – his cars sold – he was able to sell
part of his company to Fiat yet remain in control of the racing
activities – and Ferrari himself managed to live to age 90.
 |
| This prancing horse logo came from the fuselage of a wrecked plane of an Italian WWI ace pilot. |
There
is controversy surrounding Ferrari and his management and leadership
style, and of course auto racing isn't the safest of occupations or
hobbies. However, it is interesting to learn about a boy with few
prospects but a passion following his dreams to success.
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