FATE AND AN F1 HERO

LET’S RETURN TO THE PIRELLI ALBUM OF MOTOR RACING HEROES, assembled by John Surtees, himself a Drivers’ World Champion.

Pirelli Album of Motor Racing Heroes, by John Surtees, Motorbooks International, 1992.

This time around, tidbits gleaned from the book focus on the uncanny fate of Alberto Ascari.

The Ascaris, Papà e Figlio. Antonio Ascari, father of Alberto, “was one of the great Italian drivers,” John Surtees writes. “On 26 July 1925, he died after an inexplicable accident during the French Grand Prix at Montlhéry. He was 36.”

Surtees continues, “At the time, Alberto was only six years old. He was 17 when he started his own racing career on motorcycles.” As noted in our first encounter with the Pirelli Album, Surtees and Ascari together with Tazio Nuvolari and others started their racing careers on two wheels. This, of course, was long before go-karts….

Alberto Ascari wearing his lucky light blue helmet. This and other images from Pirelli Album.

The Ferrari 815. Surtees writes, “Alberto’s first four-wheeled race car was in 1940, when he drove Enzo Ferrari’s first car, the 815, in the Mille Miglia which that year was held over nine laps of a triangular 165-km (103-mile) course running from Brescia to Cremona and back.”

Post-War Resumption. “Encouraged by the veteran Italian driver Luigi Villoresi,” Surtees says, “Ascari resumed his racing career in 1947. After a couple of years driving private Maseratis, he joined his friend and mentor Villoresi, at Scuderia Ferrari in 1949.”

Ascari carried his racing kit, including that light blue helmet, in this traveling bag. In those days, a top driver visited 40-50 venues a year.

Early Drivers’ World Championships. “The 1950 season saw the birth of the Formula One Drivers’ World Championship,” Surtees notes. “In 1951, Ascari, with two Grand Prix victories, was runner-up to Fangio.” Indeed, in 1952 and 1953 Ascari won the world championship. 

Monaco 1955. Ascari and his Lancia D50 leads his teammate Castellotti up the hill towards Casino. 

An Escape at 1955 Monaco. “At half-distance,” Surtees recounts, “Ascari had only to pass Stirling Moss in his stricken Mercedes to take the lead, but somehow he clipped the kerb at the chicane and plunged into the harbour. The Lancia disappeared into the sea in a cloud of spray and steam.” 

Surtees continues, “Happily, to the relief of the vast crowd of spectators, Ascari, still in his blue helmet, bobbed to the surface and swam to a rescue boat.” His only injury was a broken nose; doctors advised him to take a few days rest.

Four Days Later…. Surtees recounts, “On Thursday 26 May, Ascari, wearing a suit and tie, arrived at the Monza autodrome to watch Eugenio Castellotti, his co-driver, practice their 750S Ferrari.” 

“After Castellotti had returned to the pits,” Surtees describes, “Ascari unexpectedly decided to take the car out for a few laps…. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘I’ll drive slowly.’ ”

Surtees notes, “Ascari was a superstitious man who regarded his light blue crash helmet as a lucky charm, so everybody there, including his old friend Villoresi, was amazed to see him put on Castellotti’s white helmet.”

And Then…. “He drove one lap slowly,” Surtees recounts. “On the second, he forgot his promise and clocked within a few seconds of Castellotti’s fastest time that morning. On the third lap, the Ferrari swerved and left the ground. As it overturned, Ascari was flung out.” 

Surtees observes, “Both [father and son] died when they were 36, on the 26th day of the month, in an unexplained accident that took place four days after a miraculous escape.” 

Concluding the sad tale, Surtees notes, “Away from the track, he was mild-mannered and devoted to his wife and two children. He had won a special place in Italian hearts.” ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025