Ferrari Aptitude Test?

Incorrect.

 

There is 11 hours to go in this competition. I am going to make this a two point question. One point for the driver, another for what the photos depicted. That will mean that potentially Patrick and Jeff will have a chance to beat Grant for the number one spot and win the coveted prize. Best of luck!

 

OK, I'll now guess that the photographs depicted Ferrari's Grand Prix drivers for 1955, Trintignant and Farina.

 

i am hitting a brick wall too...
so.... putting on my Magnum PI Detroit Tigers Baseball cap (no 308, so the hat will have to do).....

since Ferrari was NOT hiring him, he must have been disuading him from racing.
2 events that had great emotional impact in Italy were the seperate racing-deaths of these 2 men, the second of which occured in 1955. Ergo... i will say the photos were of these 2 drivers:
Antonio Ascari
and his son:
Alberto Ascari (who was racing for Ferrari at the time).

As for who Enzo sent them to... no idea... been searching frantically all morning but to no avail. Alberto's son Tonino would be a theatrically dramatic prospect... but he was too young then... around 12 or so i think...

GT

 

Nope

 

You are wrong as well my friend on both counts

 

OK, how about Alfonso de Portago as the applicant?

(I really have no clue )

 

ferrariartist - 8 points
PSP - 8 points
Miltonian - 7 points
Gerald - 5 points
vur - 4 points
FarmerDave - 4 points
NNO - 3 points
Wayne - 3 points
peteskie - 2 points
Darkhorse575 - 2 points
Pranucci - 1 point
BlackRX7Turbo - 1 point
iceburns288 - 1 point
Webby - 1 point
scuderia15 - 1 point
thepinkumbrella - 1 point
YellowbirdRS - 1 point

Alfonso de Portago wanted to be a Ferrari driver in 1955 but Enzo Ferrari did not want him and subsequently sent him two photographs as his response. For the final point of the game, what did the photographs depict?

 

This could either be a three way tie, a two way tie, or a clear-cut winner..should be interesting.
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Since I hit the bullseye with the first guess, I'm going to press my luck and guess again....

The photographs were of his 2 children, Andrea and Antonio

 

A Ferrari F1 1954 demolished it at the International Trophy at Silverstone

 

So far nope.

 

OK, what about a picture of his crash at Silverstone and the Ascari crash at Monza

 

Neither are correct, though are guys ARE on the right track.

 

Mercedes crash at Le Mans?

 

Actually I take that back, the reference is out there. I found it in multiple sources now. Be specific .

Le Mans is incorrect.

 

Another guess: When Ferrari rejected Portago's request for a team drive, he still wanted him as a customer, so he gave him a "semi-works" drive in a 750 Monza (0428MD) with Maglioli at Sebring, and sold him a Formula One 625 (0540). I'm guessing that the pictures are these two cars.

 

Are any of these sources online? I've spent over 8 hours chasing this down and have found nothing. Portago was strictly a guess based on his "rich playboy" persona - are these references in books only? I haven't had time to go to the library....

 

OK, I give up - what were the pictures?

 

This question is still active..will wait until answered. There is a reference online.

 

After ANOTHER 3 hours of searching every possible combination on several different search engines, I FINALLY found one reference to Enzo and photos, but it is in Spanish - and it doesn't seem to translate well....

On http://www.elenaferrari.net/portago.html , there is this passage:

Volvió a escribir a Ferrari pidiéndole un volante oficial. ..y recibió como respuesta unas fotos suyas dando un monumental trompo.

which Babel Fish translates as:

It returned to write to Ferrari being requested to him an official steering wheel. ..y received as answer photos hers giving a monumental one I spin a top.

Another one translates it as:

It wrote again to Ferrari asking him an official steering wheel. .. And it received as answer some its photos giving a monumental one trompo.

Trompo also translates as gyroscope or a toy top

Enzo sent pictures of a spinning top?

 

I also looked for several hours trying to find a definitive answer to this, but I failed, so I guess I have to wear the scarlet "L" on my forehead.

PSP, I would think that the "official steering wheel" translation is probably something like "a factory team drive", and "monumental one I spin a top" is making a reference to a huge spinout in one of his cars during a race. So perhaps the photos show Portago in the act of losing control of his car. What car, at what event? You find out, you must be close to the answer.

I wonder if this incident with the photographs is related on Portago's "Memorial Tribute" recording on Riverside Records??

Congratulations to the winners, I'll get you next time! Now I'm going back to bed!

 

So far neither is correct. As I said earlier you guys were on the right track with the Sebring and Mercedes crash at Le Mans (note the similarities). The reference I found about it is in English.

 

OK, last try before I hit the road for Vegas....

Could it be photos of his Osca that he rolled in the Grand Prix of Germany at the Nurburgring?

 

AND PATRICK FOR THE WIN!!

In 1955 Alonfso de Portago asked through a friend why he was not on Ferrari's team. In response Enzo mailed him two photos of his OSCA during the 1954 500KM race at the Nurburgring of him in a ditch. Shortly thereafter Enzo forgave him and allowed him to be on the team, and the rest is history.

Patrick, PM me your mailing address and I will have the mug shipped out to you.

Congrats and thank you to everyone who participated. We will have to arrange a similar competition again!


Here is the final scoreboard..

PSP - 9 points
ferrariartist - 8 points
Miltonian - 7 points
Gerald - 5 points
vur - 4 points
FarmerDave - 4 points
NNO - 3 points
Wayne - 3 points
peteskie - 2 points
Darkhorse575 - 2 points
Pranucci - 1 point
BlackRX7Turbo - 1 point
iceburns288 - 1 point
Webby - 1 point
scuderia15 - 1 point
thepinkumbrella - 1 point