On Women's Day, our 'Lady in Alfa red', Elvira Ruocco, gives us a curious story about two women, two mothers who have made history: the mothers of Francesco Baracca and Enzo Ferrari.
In his book: My Terrible JoysEnzo Ferrari recounts:
"When I won the first Savio Circuit in 1923, I met Count Enrico Baracca, father of the hero Francesco Baracca. From that meeting came the next one, with his mother, Countess Paolina. It was she who told me one day: Ferrari, put my son's prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you luck. I still have the photograph of Baracca, with the dedication of his parents entrusting me with the emblem,' Ferrari concludes. 'The little horse was and has remained black; I added the canary yellow background, which is the colour of Modena.
According to authoritative accounts, Enzo Ferrari's choice was based on his love of Giovanni Pascoli's poem 'La cavalla storna' and his admiration for the Ace of Aces, which he developed during his adolescence..
Perhaps not everyone knows that there is a link between Ferrari and Alfa, and the link is Enzo Ferrari, who was a racing driver for Alfa Romeo and later sales representative for Emilia Romagna and Marche. On 1st December 1929, he founded the Scuderia Ferrari in Modena and Alfa entrusted him with its cars, which were developed and prepared for racing by Alfa technicians at the team's headquarters, collecting 225 victories in eight seasons.
On the occasion of Alfa's 75th anniversary, Ferrari wrote: "I still have for our Alfa, rest assured, the adolescent tenderness of first love, the immaculate affection for mother! Believe me, your Enzo Ferrari.
Elvira Ruocco, historical memory of Alfa Romeo, thanks to her more than twenty years of experience at the Alfa Romeo Centro di Documentazione Storica, has become part of the Museum team and in the column "Elvira Racconta" she will share curiosities and anecdotes that you may not know or remember. We will retrace the legendary history of Alfa Romeo with her.