Driver of the Week: Alessandro Cagno (1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race)
This week's Driver of the Week is Italian Alessandro Cagno who drove the #12 Itala to a seventh place finish in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Courtesy of the book "The First American Grand Prix" by Tanya A. Bailey
Cagno driving the #12 Itala during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Cagno at the wheel of the Itala at the 1908 American Grand Prize in Savannah (courtesy of John and Ginger Duncan).
Comments
A detail not written in the book is that he was the rider mechanic of Vincenzo Lancia in the 1903 Paris-Madrid race. This was the very first international race he took part, followed by the Ardennes Circuit one month later - but this time, as official FIAT driver. In the belgian race he arrived 3rd (not 2nd) in the light car class, 10th overall.
Sad note: Alessandro committed suicide two days after his wife’s death, at age of 88.