1：Introduction
Enzo Anselmo the Commendatore Ferrari (February 18, 1898 – 1988) was the founder of Ferrari automobiles. Like Benz, Ford, and Porsche, he held a prominent reputation in the automobile industry, often referred to as the "Father of Racing." Throughout his life, Enzo Ferrari was committed to improving the performance of racing cars, aiming for continuous victories. He was a reclusive individual but managed to inspire everyone around him to work towards his goals. His hometown, in many ways, has become the capital of high-performance cars worldwide.
2：Personal Experience
Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898, in Modena, Northern Italy, into a small sheet metal factory owner's family. A heavy snowfall delayed the registration of his name by two days after his birth. His father, Alfredo, was not only a skilled ironworker but also an ardent "racing enthusiast." At the age of ten, Enzo was taken to Bologna by his father to witness a car race. The thrilling atmosphere deeply attracted him, fostering a dream to become an accomplished race car driver.
At 13, he managed to convince his father to let him drive a car, beginning his lifelong passion for automobiles. In 1916, his father died from illness, and shortly after, Enzo was drafted into the army due to the war, where his brother also lost his life. After World War I, a 20-year-old Enzo faced financial difficulties, as his family's steel workshop closed down. His dream of joining Fiat was dashed by a harsh rejection from the company. Instead of being disheartened, his passion for racing propelled him to join the Costruzione Meccaniche Nazionalia race team, experiencing the exhilarating world of motorsports.
At the age of 22, he secured the second place in a Grand Prix and caught the attention of the boss of Alfa Romeo, becoming a test driver who "played with life." Under his leadership, Alfa Romeo reached several milestones in the world of racing. Enzo Ferrari made significant contributions to establishing Alfa Romeo as a leader in the racing car industry.
In 1947, Ferrari established his car manufacturing plant. His first car was named after him - Ferrari Tipo125, with the Prancing Horse logo. Over the next three years, several models were produced, and they participated in various car races to test and promote their vehicles. Under Ferrari's brand, these cars achieved numerous victories.
On August 14, 1988, the luminary of the automotive world, Enzo Ferrari, passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind an indomitable legacy and the artistic Ferrari cars.
3：Logo Story
According to Enzo Ferrari's own explanation, the Prancing Horse has its own tale. In 1923, after a victory at the Savio track near Ravenna, he was recognized by the mother of Francesco Baracoa, a war hero. Baracoa was a legendary air force pilot who shot down 34 enemy planes and had a Prancing Horse on his aircraft. Baracoa's mother, the Duchess Polina Baracoa, presented Ferrari with her son's Prancing Horse emblem, suggesting that it would bring him good luck if he put it on his cars. Ferrari agreed, and indeed, cars with the Prancing Horse emblem consistently won races. The emblem became the official logo for Ferrari cars.
However, towards the end of the war, Baracoa tragically died in a plane crash in the Montello Valley. Consequently, Ferrari fixed the Prancing Horse emblem in black. The yellow background of the emblem represents the official color of Modena, where Ferrari's company is headquartered.
