Photo: Fondazione Negri
Brilio.net/en - It seems as though history has a knack for making women disappear. At least those women that play with mens toys, such as airplanes and Ferraris.
Anna Maria Peduzzi lit up the racetracks in Italy from the 1930s until the 1950s. The Italian woman, nicknamed La Marocchina meaning the Moroccan for her dark complexion, was the first woman to have raced for Scuderia Ferrari, the most successful racing team in history. She participated in the greatest races in Italy, including the famous Mille Miglia and the 1000km Giro di Sicilia. Although she never won a championship, she did win her class on several occasions and achieved multiple podium placements. It should not be forgotten that at this time racing was very much a blood sport as the vehicles were ill equipped for accidents and had relatively little to no protection for the driver, with seat belts relatively absent from most sport scars. There was no power assisted steering or brakes on these high velocity machines, further attesting to the sheer strength of the drivers.
Photo: Fondazione Negri
Now, one of Peduzzis most famed cars is up for grabs. The iconic Fiat 8V Elaborata with coachwork by Zagato has been brought out of the shadows and fully restored to its one time glory. It was one of just five ever constructed. It will be auctioned off at Bonhams Annual Auction of Classic Cars in Scottsdale, Arizona where it is estimated that it could fetch $2 Million.
While the 1953 rare car that Peduzzi races has been found, but little is knows of the driver herself. Not even her death date can be confirmed. The pioneer of womens racing seems to have vanished into this air. Her life was always an enigma, as she chose the simpler races in her native Italy even though she could easily have raced internationally. Even finding good portraits of her is no easy task.
(Reported by Ivana Lucic)
(brl/tis)
