Back in 1962 a group of retired Grand Prix drivers led by the great Juan Manuel Fangio and Nino Farina formed the Club Internationale Des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix Formula One, to organize events where they and other former Grand Prix drivers could meet. In turn, organizers of race meetings around the World invited the club members to their events so that enthusiasts could both meet and greet some of their heroes of the past.
In recent years the club has shortened its name to the Grand Prix Drivers Club, but the spirit of friendship is as strong as ever. This was demonstrated recently when the Club held its Annual General Meeting in Maranello on the invitation of Ferrari. Many of the members who attended were alumni of Scuderia Ferrari, led by 1964 World Champion John Surtees.
The Club used the occasion to elect Ferrari Vice President Piero Ferrari an Honorary member of the club, an event that took place in the legendary Cavallino restaurant opposite the original factory gates on the Via Abetone.
Club President Howden Ganley welcomed Piero Ferrari and presented him with, among other things, his club tie. With a laugh, Piero took off the silk tie he was wearing, replaced it with his new tie and spoke of the pleasure he had to meet so many Grand Prix drivers whom he had not only known, but who had raced for his father, Enzo Ferrari.
Over four days the members visited the production line, the competitions department and even the new Modena Autodrome, a test track built outside Modena, where Maserati provided examples of the quickest cars in its range.
Perhaps the most exciting moment came on a Saturday morning when the members visited the Ferrari Museum. As it was Saturday it was packed with visitors, and news slowly filtered around that some of Ferrari’s former drivers like Patrick Tambay, David Piper, Tim Schenken, John Surtees, Derek Bell and Richard Attwood were with them. There was a rush of camera-toting tifosi when John Surtees found a life-size cardboard portrait of himself and struck an identical pose. Then they rushed to see Derek Bell posing beside a 512M.
Another touching moment took place on the Sunday when a special memorial service to the late Maria Teresa de Filippis was held at the church of Santa Catherina in Modena where the priest is Don Sergio Mantovani. Don Sergio used to attend all the races with both Maserati and Ferrari, and is well known within the Grand Prix and racing fraternity. He was a close friend of Maria-Teresa, and it was touching when a group of members of the Maserati Mechanics Club joined the members of the Grand Prix Drivers Club to pay tribute to the club’s former President.
The Grand Prix Drivers Club not only continues to bring together old racing friends, but is invited to many International racing events where the fans can meet drivers face to face rather than watch them flashing by in racing cars.
