One spring day in 1961, two boys gazed enraptured through a light post-and-rail fence at a fantastic motor race that was going on only yards from where they stood. The older one, 15-years old, had ridden his bicycle 15-miles to watch this race, and his younger friend well over 10-miles, but it was worth it for the spectacle they were enjoying. Two very different racing cars were duelling for the lead, a thoroughbred Ferrari Tipo 500/625/750 and the remarkable Eldred…

His signature sky blue helmet firmly strapped to his head, Alberto Ascari poses for a Pirelli publicity picture before the 1952 Italian GP at Monza.
Photo Pirelli