Froilan Gonzalez. Ferrari first victory in Formula 1, 60 years ago. Video Clip.

Exactly 60 years ago, in 1951 at Silverstone, Ferrari won its forst Formula One Grand Prix Race. The man who delivered such historic victory, Froilan Gonzalez. In this video clip taken 3 weeks ago, he proudly remembers that day, with some amazing behind the scene stories. Clip is in Spanish with translation below.

http://youtu.be/ZumGZs-ldYM
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

..." I was very lucky to win that race, not only because it was Ferrari first victory, but also because in 61 years of Formula one, it was the only time the Queen attended a race. That was a very important victory for us (Ferrari) because we've been battling the powerful Alfas, with headquarters in Milano, and us in Marenello. We were so small back then, that The Commendatore (Enzo Ferrari) did not even have enough $$ to pay for the gas and our salaries. We had a small group of people who supported us, Ferrucci Group, and Count Mazotto who helped pay the salaries and bonuses.
Ferrari first racing car was made in 1947. Enzo barely had money to finish it, so he put a FIAT transmission and rear end in order to complete it. He fabricated the 3.0 liter engine, which was the same block used in the car I won at Silverstone"...

 

Great way to end the race 60 years later. Thanks for sharing, forza Ferrari

 

There is some massive inaccuraces above. The first Ferrari race car used to FIAT engines joined together to make a straight 8.

Also the first v12 race Ferraris were 1.5 litres and supercharged and thus could not possibly be the same engine that Gonsales used for Silverstone which was a completely new engine designed by Lampredi, not Colombo who designed the first fully Ferrari made race cars.

Should join this thread maybe with this one (Alonso driving an old Ferrari (assume F1) at Silverstone ...) I raised.
Pete

 

He's driving without a seat belt..shame on him! Luckily he's too deaf to hear that bloody annoying alarm!

 

You must be thinking of the Autoavia 815. Built by Ferrari, but not a Ferrari.

 

Amazing way to pay homage to the victory 60 years ago!!!!

Brilliant race by the greatest team in F1.... Scuderia Ferrari!!!!

 

Correct.

But even if we look at the first Ferrari F1 car which was designed by Columbo, itwas 1.5 litres and supercharged, called the 125 and was a failure. Lampredi designed the engine for the 375 which is what Gonzales won in and thus not possibly the same block as the 125 so my point is the story that apparently Gonzales says cannot be true, whether Gonzales was wrong then or it has been recorded incorrectly, or his memory is playing tricks on him.

Ie this part of the story is cannot be correct:

Also the only FIAT transmissioned car would be the Autoavia 815 ... the 125 GP car would have blown a FIAT road car transmission apart, and Ferrari did not make a 3.0 litre engine until 1952 (http://www.classicargarage.nl/english/garages/history/ferrari-histo.htm). Also this site (http://www.f1carstoday.net/sida/Cars/Ferrari.htm) lists all Ferrari F1 cars and the there were no 3 litre cars made before the 375 series was made. 3.3 litres (275 model) yes, but that was definitely not Ferraris first racing car.
Pete