The story behind Ferrari's first win

[Meiga]

I found this article http://www.f1aldia.com/12494/silverstone-1951-que-hiciste-pepe/ which I very much liked, and decided to post it here for those of you who are hooked into the Ferrari history - I am sure that RedArmySoja can tell us how accurate the description of the events is! ;-)

Since it is in Spanish and Google translator is a mess, i have given a go at translating it myself. As usual, any contributions towards making the translation more intelligible in English are more than welcome!

It is rather long, so apologies if I split it in several posts.

F1 HISTORY AND LEGENDS
Silverstone 1951: What did you do, Pepe!

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/007_small.jpg

My name is José Froilán González, but everybody calls me Pepe. I was born in Argentina, in a place called La Colonia, nearby Arrecifes; in this city, my father had bought the Chevrolet dealer, so I spent my childhood among cars, helping the mechanics at the workshop. I was a very poor student, I never managed to learn any mechanics; but I was crazy about cars, so when the dealer closed at night I would stay back and take one of the clients’s cars to drive around the city. I was very young and everything was going very fast; I started to race at clandestine night races in Arrecifes, we called them "picadas" (note: could be translated as “challenges”), then I moved onto competitions on dirt tracks, then to Buenos Aires to race on tarmac, and there I was when I was called by the Automóvil Club de Argentina. They told me that President Perón was going to sponsor the trip of a group of drivers to Europe so that they could compete in the newly-created F1 World Championship, and I had been chosen for the group. So I got into the plane together with Fangio himself, being a young guy of 28 – Fangio was 39 already!

That first F1 season, 1950, was a disaster for me. I raced for the Achille Varzi private team driving a Maserati, and I only managed to qualify for two races, Monaco and France, but I could not finish either of them. Fangio, of course, did much better, he had signed for Alfa Romeo; he was close to win the Championship, but in the last race Nino Farina run away with it. Back in Buenos Aires once the season was over, I signed with Ferrari to drive in some races there; I managed to win ahead of the Mercedes and that cought Enzo Ferrari’s attention, who sent me a personal telegram, congratulating me. The next year, 1951, I went back to Europe to race with a private Talbot; the truth is that I did not expect much out of that season, but it ended up being the most important one in my life. Specially, I will never forget that year’s British GP, run at Silverstone… but let me tell you the story of that race.

[Meiga]

.- A test with Ferrari

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/001_small.jpg

I am at the Reims track, about to start the French GP practice session; it was the fourth race of the World Championship, and out of the other three races I had only managed to qualify for the very first one, Switzerland, but I did not finish the race; in the other two ones I did not get the minimum time to participate. So now, looking at myself in the mirror as I shave, I am wondering if the French track would suit my Talbot, and if the engine would hold for the whole race in case I manage to qualify. One of the mechanics knocks at my door:
.- Pepe, someone is asking for you. It is Nello Ugolini, Ferrari’s Sports Director.

Caramba! I wipe the soap from my face, I put on my shirt and get out immediately.

.- Signore González, I have an offer for you.
.- I accept!
.- Before knowing what I am going to offer?
.- Yes.

I already knew what Ugolini was going to offer to me. His fourth driver, Serafini, had just had an accident at the Mille Miglia and was to be wearing a plaster for months; and his third driver, Taruffi, had arrived to Reims in a rather poor condition, with a high fever, so it was clear that Ugolini wanted me to drive for them on that GP, so that they could have as many cars as possible available on track in case their official drivers, Ascari and Villoresi, had a breakdown. For them I wasn’t much more than a spare tyre or radiator, but for me they were the chance to prove that with a good car I could drive like the best.

.- It will be just for this race
.- Very well.
.- You will have to give your car to any of our other drivers, in case of breakdown.
.- Agreed.

Qualy wasn’t bad for me, taking into account that it was the first time I was driving the Ferrari. I was to start 6th, with Fangio starting 7th because of a problem with his Alfetta. The two first positions were for the Alfa Romeo of Fagioli and Farina, followed by the two Ferraris of Ascari and Villoresi. I was on seventh heaven on the starting grid; off we went, wheel to wheel in the first turns… I drove calmly. With each turn I was feeling more comfortable in the Ferrari; the long straights of Reims and its open turns allowed me to extract full value out of its powerful engine. Without even realising, I was lapping at the same times tan the best; when I got to Villoresi, I mercilessly overtook him; then I saw that Ascari had a problem and went into boxes, Farina had gone off track and was trying to get back in, and in Alfa Romeo the stopped Fagioli so that he could give his car to Fangio, who had had a breakdown. Almost effortlessly… I was leading!

At that very moment, mid-race, they called me to boxes so that I could give my car to Ascari; when Alberto went back on track he still held first position, such was the advantage I had over my rivals. He was later overtaken by Fangio, but I was delighted to get onto the second step of that podium together with Ascari – and I was yet to finish my first F1 race! When we step down of the podium, Nello Ugolini came looking for me:

.- Don Enzo wants to see you on Wednesday at Maranello. We are leaving in a couple of hours, you will come with us.

[Meiga]

.- The first time I went to Maranello

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/002_small.jpg

I remember how surprised I was as I watched the land surrounding the town of Maranello from a Ferrari truck. Fields and fields of wineyards, perfectly aligned, gave the impression of it being a rural town, of agricultural economy. Nothing to do with the industry-oriented Milan, which I had known when I went to visit the Alfa Romeo Factory, invited by Fangio, and which was a conglomerate of factories of all sectors, the mechanical one among them. I asked the truck driver:

.- Ah, the wineyards! Maranello is in Modena, doesn’t it ring a bell?
.- No, I don’t know about the Modena wines.
.- No wonder! Because the Modena wine is so poor that it is only worth it to make vinegar – but the best vinegar in the world indeed!
.- And that’s all? Maranello’s worth is in the vinegar?
.- Ah, no! It is in Ferrari too. You’ll see.

And I did see. As I said, I had been at Alfa Romeo in Milan; and there I saw a big factory, in the new American line-work style that Ford had implemented, with workers doing repetitive tasks in immense workfloors which produced hundreds of cars each day. But what I did not see in Milan were the town people, which I saw in Maranello, coming out as the Ferrari trucks went by to cheer on us, forming a human line all the way to the factory. The factory… let’s say an enhanced workshop, nothing to do with the Alfa Romeo premises in Mila. At the Ferrari factory I still could see bits and pieces kept in old oil cans cut in half to be used as containers, and the workers amble from here to there, without a fixed position in an assembly line. I understood then that Alfa Romeo was the “urban Italy”, that of the industrial and financial power site in Mila, that could pay for the best Italian driver of that moment, Farina, and the greatest international figure, Fangio; while Ferrari would be the “rural Italy”, the one that was fighting to come back after the disaster that the Second World War had been hanging to the land, the agriculture… and used to make money last as long as possible; the Italy that had to do with hiring an Argentinean driver who had yet to finish an F1 race.
In truth, Ferrari did not look like a very rich Factory, not one to be the economic center of a region, not even of a town. Had I been fooled by the truck driver? Or maybe I had not understood him, because Ferrari was obviously not the industrial engine of Maranello… but it was its heart; the whole town beat to the sound of the roaring of its engines. We trained every day, and since there was no nearby track where we could do it, we raced on the town’s streets; I remember that when the Factory doors opened and the single-seaters went out, the Ferrari hooter would sound five times; it was the warning for all citizens of Maranello to clear the streets and take away the few motor vehicles and many horse wagons. The Ferrari were out training! We crossed the town at high speed, among the joy of its people, who looked at us from their doorways and windows and applauded us, screamed at us, cheered on us. We tested the engines in the town, and the brakes and suspensions on a nearby mountain pass, on the first foothills of the Apeninos, coming down like crazy… yes, that wasn’t Alfa Romeo, it wasn’t Milan, it wasn’t the Monza track… but what the hell, I wasn’t Fangio either!

.- González, this is your contract. Sign it on the last page.
.- Thank you very much, mister Ferrari.
.- Aren’t you going to read it?
.- It is not necessary, I trust you.
.- OK, I’ll summarise it for you. You will earn 150.000 liras, half than Ascari, since the season is already half way through. I don’t know if I will be able to pay you, it is on writing because the Unions demand so. If I couldn’t pay you, you will be given a car at the end of the season. Any prizes you win we will go 50/50. You will be the fourth driver, and will race with the material we give you, including tyres… by the way, Ascari and Villoresi prefer Pirelli to Englebert and are always fighting about it, do you have any preferences?
.- I never worried about the tyres of the cars I drove, I couldn’t tell one from the other.
.- It’s better that way... and finally, you will give your place on the race to whichever of the two first drivers of the team who have a breakdown that forces them out of the race. Any questions?
.- Will I race with an insurance policy?
.- All our drivers race with an insurance policy. (note: this could be poorly worded in the original Spanish article, and talk about having a guaranteed race seat, rather than an insurance policy!)
.- Fine then.

[Meiga]

.- The first time I went to Maranello

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/002_small.jpg

I remember how surprised I was as I watched the land surrounding the town of Maranello from a Ferrari truck. Fields and fields of wineyards, perfectly aligned, gave the impression of it being a rural town, of agricultural economy. Nothing to do with the industry-oriented Milan, which I had known when I went to visit the Alfa Romeo Factory, invited by Fangio, and which was a conglomerate of factories of all sectors, the mechanical one among them. I asked the truck driver:

.- Ah, the wineyards! Maranello is in Modena, doesn’t it ring a bell?
.- No, I don’t know about the Modena wines.
.- No wonder! Because the Modena wine is so poor that it is only worth it to make vinegar – but the best vinegar in the world indeed!
.- And that’s all? Maranello’s worth is in the vinegar?
.- Ah, no! It is in Ferrari too. You’ll see.

And I did see. As I said, I had been at Alfa Romeo in Milan; and there I saw a big factory, in the new American line-work style that Ford had implemented, with workers doing repetitive tasks in immense workfloors which produced hundreds of cars each day. But what I did not see in Milan were the town people, which I saw in Maranello, coming out as the Ferrari trucks went by to cheer on us, forming a human line all the way to the factory. The factory… let’s say an enhanced workshop, nothing to do with the Alfa Romeo premises in Mila. At the Ferrari factory I still could see bits and pieces kept in old oil cans cut in half to be used as containers, and the workers amble from here to there, without a fixed position in an assembly line. I understood then that Alfa Romeo was the “urban Italy”, that of the industrial and financial power site in Mila, that could pay for the best Italian driver of that moment, Farina, and the greatest international figure, Fangio; while Ferrari would be the “rural Italy”, the one that was fighting to come back after the disaster that the Second World War had been hanging to the land, the agriculture… and used to make money last as long as possible; the Italy that had to do with hiring an Argentinean driver who had yet to finish an F1 race.
In truth, Ferrari did not look like a very rich Factory, not one to be the economic center of a region, not even of a town. Had I been fooled by the truck driver? Or maybe I had not understood him, because Ferrari was obviously not the industrial engine of Maranello… but it was its heart; the whole town beat to the sound of the roaring of its engines. We trained every day, and since there was no nearby track where we could do it, we raced on the town’s streets; I remember that when the Factory doors opened and the single-seaters went out, the Ferrari hooter would sound five times; it was the warning for all citizens of Maranello to clear the streets and take away the few motor vehicles and many horse wagons. The Ferrari were out training! We crossed the town at high speed, among the joy of its people, who looked at us from their doorways and windows and applauded us, screamed at us, cheered on us. We tested the engines in the town, and the brakes and suspensions on a nearby mountain pass, on the first foothills of the Apeninos, coming down like crazy… yes, that wasn’t Alfa Romeo, it wasn’t Milan, it wasn’t the Monza track… but what the hell, I wasn’t Fangio either!

.- González, this is your contract. Sign it on the last page.
.- Thank you very much, mister Ferrari.
.- Aren’t you going to read it?
.- It is not necessary, I trust you.
.- OK, I’ll summarise it for you. You will earn 150.000 liras, half than Ascari, since the season is already half way through. I don’t know if I will be able to pay you, it is on writing because the Unions demand so. If I couldn’t pay you, you will be given a car at the end of the season. Any prizes you win we will go 50/50. You will be the fourth driver, and will race with the material we give you, including tyres… by the way, Ascari and Villoresi prefer Pirelli to Englebert and are always fighting about it, do you have any preferences?
.- I never worried about the tyres of the cars I drove, I couldn’t tell one from the other.
.- It’s better that way... and finally, you will give your place on the race to whichever of the two first drivers of the team who have a breakdown that forces them out of the race. Any questions?
.- Will I race with an insurance policy?
.- All our drivers race with an insurance policy. (note: this could be poorly worded in the original Spanish article, and talk about having a guaranteed race seat, rather than an insurance policy!)
.- Fine then.

[Meiga]

.- The secrets of the Silverstone track

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/003_small.jpg

The first race I was going to drive for Ferrari under a proper contract would be the Great Britain GP, at the Silverstone track – an old Second World War aerodrome turned into a racing track. I was to travel with the Ferrari team, and before I left Maranello I got a phone call; it was Juan, as in Juan Manuel Fangio:

.- Pepe, when do you arrive to England?
.- Wednesday morning.
.- Good, I’ll wait for you at the track at around five. Come on your own. At the hangar entrance.
.- I’ll be there.

And of course there I was. Juan was awaiting for me by an Alfa Romeo truck; when I arrived they were unloading one of their sports car, a two-seater like the one they used for the endurance races, in which Fangio was taking part too.

.- Get in, we are going for a few laps.

It is well known that Juan always prepared for the races in that way, getting there one day prior to the teams arriving at the track to get to know it and practice at it; what I could not imagine was that this time he would take me as co-driver. And we started doing laps and laps and more laps… Fangio took notice of all details: the bumps, the areas with sand, where the wind was blowing… and he tried different racing lines, different braking and acceleration points, in which turns you could slide and in which ones you couldn’t.. I had never done anything like that, I just got in the car and tried to drive to the finish line as fast as possible. And when he reached a conclusion, he would tell me:
.- Maggotts, full throttle, no problem. But stick to the apex. You’ll be able to do so with the Ferrari.
.- Did you see the bump in the middle of the hangar straight? Don’t take it.
.- Careful at Copse, brake hard when you are at the level of that bush, did you see it? Then accelerate without fear and let it backslide.
.- Here you can overtake; in Abbey you can attack the turn from the middle of the track, there is no need to go to the extreme. You place yourself parallel to the other car and pass it.

That was a full lesson, and Juan was a great teacher. I listened to him and tried to remember everything he was saying, as if I were learning the multiplication tables – I think I never made an effort at school like the one I made at Silverstone on that day! When Fangio finished the lesson, we went back to the Alfa Romeo truck. I didn’t know what to say, Alfa Romeo’s number one driver and WDC leader had just explained all the secrets of the Silverstone track to Ferrari’s fourth driver; I remember I clumsily tried to thank him and wish him good luck for the race… Juan replied with his usual laconism:

.- Here you guys will win.

I took it as a compliment, not as a forecast; Alfa Romeo had won all the F1 races that had taken place to that date, both the previous year and the current one, except for the Indianapolis 500 Miles, the US GP, in which they did not participate. But Fangio knew what he was talking about, after having studied the track in-depth he was able to detect which car would do better there, because he knew the Ferrari almost as well as he knew the Alfetta. During the Friday practice sessions I tried to remember everything Juan had told me, I tried to take the racing line he took, I remembered the braking and acceleration points and practised the sliding when exiting the turns… everything went as Fangio had told me it would go. On Saturday I got pole, Fangio would start second, Farina third and Ascari fourth; Juan was one of the first ones to congratulate me; he gave me a big hug, and whispered in my ear:

.- I told you, Pepe. Here you guys will win.

For years it was discussed whether Fangio helped me on that Wednesday selflessly or because he wanted me to finish ahead of my teammate Ascari, his main rival for the WDC. Whoever defends the second theory does not know Juan; he was incapable of thinking that another driver could help him beat a rival and also he was perfectly aware of the fact that in case of a breakdown Ascari would take my place. Juan helped me for more simple reasons: because I was a rookie who had to earn his seat at Ferrari, because I was Argentinean… and because I was his friend.

[Meiga]

.- From Fangio’s nobility to Ascari’s

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/004_small.jpg

On race day I was far more nervous than on qualy; starting from pole had made me feel a huge responsibility, and although the Ferrari team had tried to calm me down and told me to do what I could, I knew I could have a good race, even more, I knew that I could win. I walked up and down the grid trying to look calm, but deep inside I was shaking like a leaf. When the time to get into the car came, something got loose inside me and I had to rush to the restroom; I jumped the low wall between the track and the pits and run towards the first door with a WC sign. I rushed in loosening my belt and trousers, and when I raised my eyes looking for a free cubicle… I saw a group of women looking at me with puzzlement and fear. I had rushed into the ladies’s restroom! But there was no time, so I went through the first open door and closed it behind me. When I was done I left with as much dignity as possible; there was nobody in the restroom, but plenty of curious people at the door; lowering my head and redder than my Ferrari I went to the starting grid.

On the start Farina was close to winning the lead from Fangio and myself, but when entering the first turn I was still ahead; on lap 10 Fangio overtook me, precisely in Abbey – as if I didn’t know that he would do it exactly on that point! But I stuck to him, with Farina and Ascari behind me. I was following Juan’s racing line, knowing exactly where he would brake and where he would accelerate, and in all fairness the guy in the Alfa Romeo didn’t do anything unexpected, each lap had the precision of a Swiss watch. When Fangio pitted for new tyres and fuel he was barely 5 secs ahead of me; I knew that was my opportunity, because Ferrari had abandoned the turbo engines to go back to the atmospheric ones, which translated into a lower peak speed, negligible in Silverstone’s short straights, and also into a lower fuel consumption. The Alfa Romeo needed to take some 300 litres, which would take in between 40 and 50 secs, while the Ferrari would reach the finish line with just 220 litres, and we could take that in about 25 secs, or at least so we had been practicing. Fangio’s stop lasted 48 secs, so I thought that I could overtake him when I pitted.

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/005_small.jpg

But something went wrong: on lap 53 Ascari had to abandon because of a broken gearbox. I was called into boxes a couple of laps later, and I pitted immediately, I wanted to give the car to the Italian on P1 and ready to win the race. I was not upset about giving him my seat, he was Ferrari’s number 1 driver, the one who could challenge Fangio for the WDC, plus I had already done so in France and he kindly invited me to join him on the podium. So I was not surprised to see Alberto waiting for me in the garage; as I braked I stood up when I felt a hand on my shoulder that didn’t let me get out of the car; it was Ascari

.- This is your race, bambino. You win it.

I don’t know if Alberto took the decision on his own or if he had previously checked with Enzo Ferrari, but at that time I didn’t even think about it; I sat down again and accelerated to return to the track – we had done a 23-secs stop and I was first! The race was 90 laps long, so there was still a long time to go, and I focused on remembering everything I had seen Fangio do; in those first laps my Ferrari was much lighter than his Alfetta, so the time difference went up, but when the fuel weight started to get equal the Alfettas started to fly; Farina hit the fast lap for the race, but fortunately for me he had a breakdown on lap 75 and had to retire.

I had been racing for over two hours and I was already enjoying the track; my Ferrari danced on the tarmac, taking advantage of our lower peak speed I could brake less on entering the turns and exit them faster, so I managed to stabilise the time difference with Fangio, whom I could not even see in my mirrors. In fact, winning that race, the first F1 race I managed to finish, was much easier than I could have imagined. I crossed the finish line 51 secs ahead of Fangio’s Alfa Romeo, after 2 hours and 42 minutes of racing. When I got off the car the first person to congratulate me was Ascari, the man who could by right have taken my place and who let me win; the second one was the master, my friend Juan Manuel Fangio:


.- See Pepe, I told you, that you would wipe the floor with us here.

I saw myself surrounded by fans who asked for my autograph and barely let me walk. They were asking me, Pepe Gonzalez, for autographs in the presence of Fangio, Ascari or Farina! When I arrived to the garage I saw Enzo Ferrari crying; I thought that it was because of the emotion, the happiness of the first win for one of his cars. We all knew that Ferrari had learnt everything he knew in the Alfa Romeo racing team, which he left to create his own Scuderia, leaving there his friends, his colleagues, his teachers. But Don Enzo’s tears were of true sadness; when he finally overcome his feelings, he told those around him:

.- I feel a great pain inside. I feel as if I had killed my mother.

[Meiga]

.- From Fangio’s nobility to Ascari’s

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/004_small.jpg

On race day I was far more nervous than on qualy; starting from pole had made me feel a huge responsibility, and although the Ferrari team had tried to calm me down and told me to do what I could, I knew I could have a good race, even more, I knew that I could win. I walked up and down the grid trying to look calm, but deep inside I was shaking like a leaf. When the time to get into the car came, something got loose inside me and I had to rush to the restroom; I jumped the low wall between the track and the pits and run towards the first door with a WC sign. I rushed in loosening my belt and trousers, and when I raised my eyes looking for a free cubicle… I saw a group of women looking at me with puzzlement and fear. I had rushed into the ladies’s restroom! But there was no time, so I went through the first open door and closed it behind me. When I was done I left with as much dignity as possible; there was nobody in the restroom, but plenty of curious people at the door; lowering my head and redder than my Ferrari I went to the starting grid.

On the start Farina was close to winning the lead from Fangio and myself, but when entering the first turn I was still ahead; on lap 10 Fangio overtook me, precisely in Abbey – as if I didn’t know that he would do it exactly on that point! But I stuck to him, with Farina and Ascari behind me. I was following Juan’s racing line, knowing exactly where he would brake and where he would accelerate, and in all fairness the guy in the Alfa Romeo didn’t do anything unexpected, each lap had the precision of a Swiss watch. When Fangio pitted for new tyres and fuel he was barely 5 secs ahead of me; I knew that was my opportunity, because Ferrari had abandoned the turbo engines to go back to the atmospheric ones, which translated into a lower peak speed, negligible in Silverstone’s short straights, and also into a lower fuel consumption. The Alfa Romeo needed to take some 300 litres, which would take in between 40 and 50 secs, while the Ferrari would reach the finish line with just 220 litres, and we could take that in about 25 secs, or at least so we had been practicing. Fangio’s stop lasted 48 secs, so I thought that I could overtake him when I pitted.

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/005_small.jpg

But something went wrong: on lap 53 Ascari had to abandon because of a broken gearbox. I was called into boxes a couple of laps later, and I pitted immediately, I wanted to give the car to the Italian on P1 and ready to win the race. I was not upset about giving him my seat, he was Ferrari’s number 1 driver, the one who could challenge Fangio for the WDC, plus I had already done so in France and he kindly invited me to join him on the podium. So I was not surprised to see Alberto waiting for me in the garage; as I braked I stood up when I felt a hand on my shoulder that didn’t let me get out of the car; it was Ascari

.- This is your race, bambino. You win it.

I don’t know if Alberto took the decision on his own or if he had previously checked with Enzo Ferrari, but at that time I didn’t even think about it; I sat down again and accelerated to return to the track – we had done a 23-secs stop and I was first! The race was 90 laps long, so there was still a long time to go, and I focused on remembering everything I had seen Fangio do; in those first laps my Ferrari was much lighter than his Alfetta, so the time difference went up, but when the fuel weight started to get equal the Alfettas started to fly; Farina hit the fast lap for the race, but fortunately for me he had a breakdown on lap 75 and had to retire.

I had been racing for over two hours and I was already enjoying the track; my Ferrari danced on the tarmac, taking advantage of our lower peak speed I could brake less on entering the turns and exit them faster, so I managed to stabilise the time difference with Fangio, whom I could not even see in my mirrors. In fact, winning that race, the first F1 race I managed to finish, was much easier than I could have imagined. I crossed the finish line 51 secs ahead of Fangio’s Alfa Romeo, after 2 hours and 42 minutes of racing. When I got off the car the first person to congratulate me was Ascari, the man who could by right have taken my place and who let me win; the second one was the master, my friend Juan Manuel Fangio:


.- See Pepe, I told you, that you would wipe the floor with us here.

I saw myself surrounded by fans who asked for my autograph and barely let me walk. They were asking me, Pepe Gonzalez, for autographs in the presence of Fangio, Ascari or Farina! When I arrived to the garage I saw Enzo Ferrari crying; I thought that it was because of the emotion, the happiness of the first win for one of his cars. We all knew that Ferrari had learnt everything he knew in the Alfa Romeo racing team, which he left to create his own Scuderia, leaving there his friends, his colleagues, his teachers. But Don Enzo’s tears were of true sadness; when he finally overcome his feelings, he told those around him:

.- I feel a great pain inside. I feel as if I had killed my mother.

[Meiga]

.- Back to Maranello

http://www.f1aldia.com/photos/12400/12494/006_small.jpg

We went all together back to Maranello after the race. When the big red Ferrari trucks were in sight of the town, we were greeted by the chime of the bells from the bell tower of the Marano castle, which could be heard in the whole countryside. People left their work and came by the road, forcing the convoy to reduce its speed to finally adjust to the pace of the townfolks. That was a triumphal entrance indeed, men and women hug me, kissed me, I could see tears in their eyes… On that day I understood that I had entered the history of Ferrari. Ever since that first race, every time a Ferrari wins a GP the bells of the castle ring again so that the whole town of Maranello knows.
Almost 21 years later, at the Argentinean GP that opened the 1972 season and which took place in Buenos Aires, I remember that they took me to the starting grid to greet the drivers. Most of them were youngsters who barely knew who I was, until I saw one of them come running to me; he was the later 3-WDC, Jackie Stewart. When he got up to where I was he gave me a big hug. I was a bit surprised, because I didn’t know the Scottish driver personally.
.- Señor González, I have waited for a long time to finally meet you in person!

I was half confused, half embarrassed. Stewart probably noticed, because he gave me a naughty smile, reached into his pocket and took out an old pic of me, with my signature.
.- Do you remember this pic? I was 12 when I saw you win at Silverstone. I fought with many other fans to get to you after the race and get your autograph. If I am an F1 driver today is in a great part thanks to you. What a great victory that one was!

The day after we arrived to Maranello, Enzo Ferrari called me to his office. I saw he had a big pic of me crossing the finish line at Silverstone on the wall behind his desk. He showed to me a pile of papers.
.- González, this is your new contract. Sign it on the last page.
.- Thank you very much, mister Ferrari.
.- Aren’t you going to read it?
.- It is not necessary, I trust you.
.- OK; I’ll summarise it for you. You will earn 6 million liras per year, you will be able to choose the tyres you want on each race,… and you will not have to give your place on the race to any other driver in case of breakdown.
.- Thank you very much, mister Ferrari.
.- Thanks to you, González. Trust me if I say that I will not forget you for as long as I live.
.- Not at all, mister Ferrari, it is me who has to thank you. Trust me if I tell you that Ferrari will become a great team and whole books will be written telling your history, counting wins and more wins. I will just be Pepe Gonzalez, the Argentinean driver who will take the first row of that list of wins.

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

Thank You, Very Interesting Read :)

[Nova]

Fantastico..Gracia.

[REDARMYSOJA]

:thumb

[sagi58]

I found this article http://www.f1aldia.com/12494/silverstone-1951-que-hiciste-pepe/ which I very much liked, and decided to post it here for those of you who are hooked into the Ferrari history - I am sure that RedArmySoja can tell us how accurate the description of the events is! ;-)

Since it is in Spanish and Google translator is a mess, i have given a go at translating it myself. As usual, any contributions towards making the translation more intelligible in English are more than welcome!

It is rather long, so apologies if I split it in several posts... Wow!! Thank you so very much for doing this!!
It's quite informative and oh, so very interesting!! :-D

[steelstallions]

In truth, Ferrari did not look like a very rich Factory, not one to be the economic center of a region, not even of a town. Had I been fooled by the truck driver? Or maybe I had not understood him, because Ferrari was obviously not the industrial engine of Maranello… but it was its heart; the whole town beat to the sound of the roaring of its engines. We trained every day, and since there was no nearby track where we could do it, we raced on the town’s streets; I remember that when the Factory doors opened and the single-seaters went out, the Ferrari hooter would sound five times; it was the warning for all citizens of Maranello to clear the streets and take away the few motor vehicles and many horse wagons. The Ferrari were out training! We crossed the town at high speed, among the joy of its people, who looked at us from their doorways and windows and applauded us, screamed at us, cheered on us. We tested the engines in the town, and the brakes and suspensions on a nearby mountain pass, on the first foothills of the Apeninos, coming down like crazy… yes, that wasn’t Alfa Romeo, it wasn’t Milan, it wasn’t the Monza track… but what the hell, I wasn’t Fangio either!

Wow really brings it into perspective how humble beginnings can flourish. The area surrounding the now massive factory has not changed that much, neither has the town. The Ferrari factory still seems hidden from view retaining that town atmosphere.

[Ferrari2183]

Thanks for this. Enzo cried because he beat the Alfa's and likened it to killing his mother.

Pure emotion.

[Kingdom Hearts]

Love the conversations, thanks :-D

[racingbradley]

That is such an amazing story. :-) Thank you for posting and translating.
Well done.:clap

[scuderiafan]

:clap :thumb. i loved that line Enzo made about beating the Alfas.

Brilliant read.

[sav_pap]

I wish one day someone to make a film for this story.

[Ant Raikkonen]

Wonderful stuff. Thankyou Meiga for translating & posting this :thumb

[NJB13]

I love reading this stuff, thanks heaps Meiga

[Fiondella]

Great Job Meiga. Fantastic Read.:thumb

Damn you Enzo, if you hadn't have been so successful my Alfa would be worth so much more :-( ... Just think we'd all be supporting Alfa Romeo. Don't all crap on me at once :-D

[sagi58]

...Damn you Enzo, if you hadn't have been so successful my Alfa would be worth so much more :-( ...
:lol

[raylinds]

That was a great story. Thank you so much for the fine translation.

[zeus2]

Awesome post Meiga, really enjoyed that.

[Liscia]

How nice of you Meiga to post this wonderful article which I thoroughly
enjoyed. I've read Enzo Ferrari's comment that he'd 'killed his mother'
many times over the years but didn't know (or forgot?) that he'd said it
after Gonzalez' maiden win for Ferrari at Silverstone. Thanks again for
going through all the trouble to post this article and translate it so that
it would be so elegantly readable. Cheers to you and FORZA FERRARI!

[Richred]

:ferrarifl Ferrari is passion and Argentina is part of it. As it is now Spain! :ferrarifl GRACIE Fantastic Read !!!

[Ken]

A terrific article Thank you :)

[Fiondella]

Surely this should be a sticky? :ferrarifl

[epiclyaddicted]

:thumb :love Wow Meiga, thanks for translating and posting this. Fantastic read, absolutely heart-warming stuff!

:ferrarifl :ferrarifl :ferrarifl

[Ferrarichamp]

Meiga, you put in some work there :bow

[siberianlady]

Meiga is a true gift! Thanks for that gal!
But just keep on the lookout....the guy that made the Senna film's next project is FERRARI from 1951 on......should be out sometime next year so let's hope he does a good job!

[Meiga]

Thank you all for your kind words http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs001.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php) - all we need now is to have a perfect ending for that film on Ferrari, by winning this year's Championship! :-D

[sagi58]

... all we need now is to have a perfect ending for that film on Ferrari, by winning this year's Championship! :-D Hey!! What if you be the screenplay writer http://nusseymagazine.com/phpBB3Next/images/smilies/smiley_emoticons_schriftsteller2.gif and I'll be the director!! http://forum.bravofleet.com/images/smilies/director.gif

[Alessandra]

I finished your excellent translation of a great story with a lump in my throat! I'm not sure why.............I must be getting to be a real Ferrari fan:-D Thank you so much.

Did the bells of the castle ring out last weekend in Maranello?

[M.K]

Great story! Thanks for translating this for us :bow


By the way can anyone suggest some books about Ferrari and also about Gilles?

[815]

Being a new member, I have looked through a lot of the posts here, but this has to be one of the best. Many thanks Meiga for all the work and a fascinating read:clap.

[SilverSpeed]

wow awsome post!!! Thanks for the translation.

[steelstallions]

José Froilán González is now 88 years old and the most recent interview i can find was last month. Here is what he had to say: -
http://www.motorsport.com/#/f1/news/ferrari-interview-with-jos-pepe-froil-n-gonz-lez/


Gonzalez: “Ferrari is always in my heart”


Silverstone, 10 June – In four days time there will be an evening in celebration of Pepe Gonzalez, organised in Buenos Aires, by the Ferrari Club of Argentina, in memory of his British Grand Prix win. However, today is also special because the actual car driven by “El Cabezon” to record the first of Scuderia Ferrari’s 215 victories to date in the Formula 1 World Championship, will be back in action at the Silverstone circuit.


We got in touch with Gonzalez in Buenos Aires and asked him some questions which have come in over the past few days from Prancing Horse fans through the www.ferrari.com site. Here is that exclusive interview.
What do you remember of that day in Silverstone?


“I was very nervous before the start. Fangio told me he felt I could win and I knew I was in with a chance. There were four cars on the front row: the two Alfas of Fangio and Farina, Ascari’s Ferrari and my 375 F1. All four of us got wheelspin at the start and those on the second row passed by easily, so that I found myself fourth at the first corner, with Fangio and Ascari behind me.

Then I got past Villoresi, Bonetto and Sanesi and, by the end of the second lap, I was in the lead. But Fangio was right behind me and then he overtook. I did not lose heart, because I knew Juan had to stop sooner or later to refuel whereas maybe I would not need to, so I stayed close for around 30 laps. When Juan pitted, I went by. In the Ferrari pits, they were worried I could run out of petrol so at one point they called me in and stuck 20 litres in the tank: but I still managed to get back on track with more than 50 seconds in hand over Fangio and, in the end I did not have to push so hard to the line and I won the race.”
What does it mean to you to be the first person to win a Grand Prix for Ferrari and therefore be such an important part of the Prancing Horse story?


“I only realised what winning this race really meant on the Wednesday after, when I met Don Enzo at Maranello. In his office hung a big photo of the win right behind his desk! He asked me to sign it and describe the race down to the smallest detail and then he gave me a gold watch with the Prancing Horse on its face. Only three days later did I really understand that it was a special victory.”

What does Ferrari mean to you? Are you still a fan?


“Ferrari is the very top level of motoring. For me, it’s always been a matter of pride to have managed to take this first win, especially when you consider what the marque has done in the past sixty years all over the world.”
Do you like the Formula 1 of today?


“Yes, there are some truly great drivers, even if everything is very different to my day. I always watch every Grand Prix on television.”
Even here there are so many differences: the progress made in terms of car technology is incredible

Would you change something about this Formula 1?


“It’s hard to say, because I see it from the outside, as part of the general public and I don’t see all the details.”
What difference do you see between the drivers of your era and those of today?


“Back then, we were amateurs! If at the start of your career, you didn’t have a helmet, you raced with something that kept your hair in place but did not protect you at all…Today, a lot of work goes into physical preparation, they all train on the simulator: we had no idea about that sort of thing.”
And comparing the cars?


”Even here there are so many differences: the progress made in terms of car technology is incredible. In my day, we only had the steering wheel, the gearlever, one for the brake and the pedals and nothing else. The most important thing is that today’s cars are much safer…”
What message would you like to send to all fans of the Reds?


“Ferrari is the top: it is always in my heart and it’s a passion that can be felt and experienced around the world.”

:clap

[Meiga]

I found some other details about the race:
- apparently there is a mistake in the article: at the French GP 1951 Fangio was on pole, it was Fagioli's Alfa Romeo that was starting 7th
-as Steelstallion said, on the start of the British GP 1951, the front row drivers were momentarily overtaken by those on the second row - but by the second lap they were back up front. Some comments indicate that the front row guys were concerned of potential penalties on the start, which made them be over-cautious.
- also, I have read elsewhere that the bells that toll for Ferrari's wins are the ones at the church of San Biagio - no idea if that is the same as the Marano castle the article talks about, maybe somebody could confirm this point. Edit: OK, this description may shed some light "Within the fortified enclosure (Maranello castle) lies the church of San Biagio, long deconsecrated, built in the 18th century on the ruins of a former religious building and flanked by a slender bell tower, probably adapted from one of the original towers of the castle."
- ENzo Ferrari gave Pepe Gonzalez a gold watch as a present for his win; it seems Ferrai had been promising for a long time that he would do so for his cars's first win.

To complete the story, I found a few pics pics of the 1951 British GP:
http://www.inforace.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/copertina_silverstone780.jpg http://www.converyauctions.com/Catimages/0006/A23.jpg

http://www.elconfidencial.com/fotos/noticias_2011/2011070610ferrari-d.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQbzIn4oh3c/Th97kWKdbtI/AAAAAAAACXA/a6X3jjCqa9Q/s1600/Primer+triunfo+de+Ferrari+Silverstone+1951+pilotos .jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UvPVA5xZ08/Th97jVUcxYI/AAAAAAAACW8/NjR02rubYQw/s640/Primer+triunfo+de+Ferrari+Silverstone++clasificaci on1951.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dm-AVPN_vNI/TiBSed03ZDI/AAAAAAAACXs/9DFXC9FqgF4/s640/Jose+Froilan+Gonzalez+GP+Great+Britain+1951.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tr4aNDCihSo/ThX4SK7n6TI/AAAAAAAAEug/ba60hBxh-wg/s400/GP+GRAN+BRETA%25C3%2591A+1951+-+GONZALEZ+1%25C2%25BA.jpg

The podium: Gonzalez (Ferrari), Fangio (Alfa Romeo), Villoresi (Ferrari)
http://www.jmfangio.org/inglaterra51podio.jpg

http://perezloizeau.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/froilan16_alt.jpg?w=590

http://perezloizeau.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/froilan3.jpg?w=590

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4l09HOZeRf4/TiBWmIxKfmI/AAAAAAAACXw/PejsZhQknJo/s400/Jose+Froilan+Gonzalez+Great+Britain+Grand+prix+195 1.jpg

And a signed one by Pepe Gonzalez:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0vQee8oZXq8/S_4DVtGhOLI/AAAAAAAAQ5k/obW5Ex9yc04/s1600/1f9.jpg

Other:
http://perezloizeau.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/froilan4.jpg?w=590

And a more recent one:
http://perezloizeau.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/froilan8.jpg?w=590


Other pics here http://perezloizeau.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/froilan-gonzalez-a-60-anos-de-la-hazana/ and here http://www.jmfangio.org/gp195105inglaterra.htm

[scuderiafan]

wow. thanks very much. :thumb

[gvsnraju85]

Really good reag...every Tifosi shold read this.....

[sagi58]

...And a signed one by Pepe Gonzalez:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0vQee8oZXq8/S_4DVtGhOLI/AAAAAAAAQ5k/obW5Ex9yc04/s1600/1f9.jpg

Isn't this the car that Alonso drove at Silverstone?? :-E WoW!! :-E What an incredible honour!!:-E
Did I read somewhere that Ecclestone now owns it??:-E

[NJB13]

Hey!! What if you be the screenplay writer http://nusseymagazine.com/phpBB3Next/images/smilies/smiley_emoticons_schriftsteller2.gif and I'll be the director!! http://forum.bravofleet.com/images/smilies/director.gif

If there's room for an oldish Bondish actor who's aspirations are slightly confused with his abilities then I'm your man

[sagi58]

That's great, NJB!! You're first in line of people to call.
Anyone else interested? You can even create your own role!!:lol

[F1si]

Really amazing stuff, thank you really much! :thumb

[Corey]

Isn't this the car that Alonso drove at Silverstone?? :-E WoW!! :-E What an incredible honour!!:-E
Did I read somewhere that Ecclestone now owns it??:-E

Never heard that he owns a Ferrari, but I gotta say that F1 cars back then didn't look too bad

[sagi58]

Never heard that [Ecclestone] owns a Ferrari... Found it!! ;-)
...[Alonso] will be at the wheel of the actual 375 F1 car that José Froilan Gonzalez drove to give the Scuderia its maiden win at the highest level of motor sport, when he won the 1951 edition of this race. The car is now part of Bernie Ecclestone’s private collection... (http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formula1/News/Headlines/Pages/110709_F1_Alonso_tries_another_Ferrari_on_track_to morrow_Silverstone.aspx)

[sv_godspeed]

this is beautiful, thank you for posting!

[Hornet]

Wow, I had no idea that car that Alonso drove at Silverstone had much more significance to it than just one of our legendary cars :-E

Thanks for sharing. Amazing stuff :thumb

[Ste]

Awesome and thanks very much for translating Meiga. I enjoyed reading that.

[RockyRaccoon]

Thanks so much Meiga for putting this thread together, I enjoyed reading it so much!

[sagi58]

Meiga, I'd like to thank you, once again, for translating and posting this fascinating piece of Ferrari history!!
After the race, I heard about the significance of the Ferrari win at Silverstone; but, until I read about Gonzalez
and that first win, until I saw all these great pictures you've posted, and until I read the recent interview with
him, I really had not appreciated what I should have heard with my heart!!

Here, as a tribute to the past ever being a part of the present, are the two winners of Silverstone:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4l09HOZeRf4/TiBWmIxKfmI/AAAAAAAACXw/PejsZhQknJo/s400/Jose+Froilan+Gonzalez+Great+Britain+Grand+prix+195 1.jpghttp://www.avatarhosting.net/pics/46748/alosilver2011.gif

[Fiondella]

Meiga, I'd like to thank you, once again, for translating and posting this fascinating piece of Ferrari history!!
After the race, I heard about the significance of the Ferrari win at Silverstone; but, until I read about Gonzalez
and that first win, until I saw all these great pictures you've posted, and until I read the recent interview with
him, I really had not appreciated what I should have heard with my heart!!

Here, as a tribute to the past ever being a part of the present, are the two winners of Silverstone:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4l09HOZeRf4/TiBWmIxKfmI/AAAAAAAACXw/PejsZhQknJo/s400/Jose+Froilan+Gonzalez+Great+Britain+Grand+prix+195 1.jpghttp://www.avatarhosting.net/pics/46748/alosilver2011.gif

So, when was the last F1 race where laurels were awarded after a race? :Hmm

[Mr Alcatraz]

Thanks for the read. Great stuff!! http://www.thescuderia.net/forums/images/smilies/ferrariflag2.gif

[sagi58]

So, when was the last F1 race where laurels were awarded after a race? :Hmm
Maybe when some of the drivers started sitting on theirs?? :angel
__________________________________________________ _

Seriously? I just found this:


"Could you tell me when, in the history of Formula One, was the last traditional laurel wreath for the podium celebrations? Who was the driver to get it? What year? Jose" (http://www.atlasf1.com/2003/spn/faq.html)

As mentioned in a previous F1 FAZ, the laurel wreath disappeared gradually during the 1980s.
Meanwhile, I've seen a few more photographs and the latest I've found now would be the 1985 Italian Grand Prix,
where Alain Prost was presented with the laurel wreath after winning the race.

http://www.atlasf1.com/2003/spn/faq2.jpg


And, from the previous F1 FAQ mentioned:


"what ever happened to the traditional laurel wreath for the podium celebrations? I see them draped around many a winning driver in Grand prix podium pictures from yesteryear, but the ritual seemed to have disappeared in recent times." (http://www.atlasf1.com/2000/aut/faq.html)

The traditional laurels indeed have been long gone. At some time during the 1980s it gradually disappeared. I have been looking through a few books on Formula One history and the most recent winner with laurel wreath I came across was John Watson when he won the USA-West Grand Prix at Long Beach in 1983. The reason for getting rid of this tradition? Probably money, since the wreath kept quite a few sponsors' names out of view.

[watto2]

That is absolutely fantastic I have read it twice so far and will do so again. Thank you so very much for sharing it with us.

[Greig]

Thanks Meiga brilliant read :-)

[F1NAC]

brilliant post ! Great job!!! Thank you

[Suzie]

Thank you Meiga :-)

[racingbradley]

Thanks for posting. This is just amazing stuff and to have it translated for us as well. Mega stars for you Meiga. :clap :-D

[Greig]

Have copied your posts Meiga and made them sticky in the Enzo forum :-)

http://www.thescuderia.net/forums/showthread.php/29136-The-story-behind-Ferrari-s-first-win

[Meiga]

Have copied your posts Meiga and made them sticky in the Enzo forum :-)

http://www.thescuderia.net/forums/showthread.php/29136-The-story-behind-Ferrari-s-first-win

Thank you, Greig - I feel very honoured! :-)

[TheProdigalSon]

Thankyou Meiga that was a good read and very insightful :thumb