Race car driver for Enzo when Scuderia Ferrari used to race Alfas - 1933. Has been called the best driver of all time!
I work with a little Italian lady from Como. She tells the story about her uncle Franco, walking on the road to Piani Resinelli, a hairpin straight-up drive from Lecco and her relatives, not having cars at that time, were hoofing it. Tazio drives by and stops to give them a lift. They in turn invite him to dinner and have a wonderful evening sharing family stories and talking all things motorsport. Such a remarkably simple time.
http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/nuvo_bio.htm Excerpt: After serving in the Italian Army as a driver he started racing motorcycles seriously when he was 28. He raced Nortons, Saroleas, Garellis, Fongris and Indians. His riding was noticed by the powerful Bianchi team and he became a member and eventually Italian champion. At the Monza Grand Prix for motorcycles he crashed during practice. This resulted in two broken legs. After doctors put plaster casts on both legs he was told that it would be at least one month before he could walk again let alone race motorcycles. The next day he started the race having himself tied to his bike. He required his mechanics to hold him upright at the start of the race and to catch him at the end.
Nuvolari actually did drive for Ferrari in a Ferrari 166 in 1948, towards the end of his career. He was old, but still fast. Mr. Ferrari was hesitant to hire him because he had walked out on the Scuderia/Alfa Romeo team years prior. But, he was a living legend by this team and Enzo needed a driver. He did drive a Ferrari for a few races, not sure if he was contracted for a whole season though.
Thats a cool story!! Nuvolari will always rank imo as a true legend and I miss reading about his racing conquest in Road & Track 25+yr's ago if not more.
He was indeed the greatest driver of all times. No matter if four wheels or two wheels - the "FLying Mantovanian" still stands out of all the magnificent racers of the past (and evern more so presen!) Some of the most remarkable races ever, as the German Grand Prix in 1935 - possibly the greatest race ever, are part of the real heritage of motor racing. Still today ask any Italian pedestrian, they know about the man in the yellow pullover with the turtle.
I watched an interesting RAI Sport 2 program on Nuvolari and Nannini. Tazio was seen as the greatest driver of all time, racing everything from motorcycles to everyone's cars, including an MG Magnette in the TT. What I found interesting was he lost 2 sons, and his wife shared with Laura Ferrari their losses, Tazio's wife with two, and Laura with Dino. Tazio's wife took the deaths with her faith, but Laura had a very difficult time. If you get a chance to see the program, its great !!!! And a comic from the 50s where a fictions character like Enzo and Tubolari (re Nuvolari) had a very serious discussion about sabotage of Tubolari's car.
Did not know he flew his own airplane. Someone posted this on the Vintage Road Racing Archive (pre 1980's). Image Unavailable, Please Login