The only woman in a male-dominated environment, Monica Zanetti has earned respect and esteem in the Scuderia Ferrari. From her years in the workshop under the eye of the Drake to celebrations overseas, her story is a journey of tenacity, pride, and love for the cars that have made history.
I’m retired now but I would have a lot to tell–in Modenese dialect, with your funny expression?
Bravo, quelch word — la dev scaper! And she laughs touching her wavy honey-blond hair all ‘frisé’.
Getting into the meat of the matter… I was a mechanic-car mechanic for Ferrari – Auto from 1979 to 1989, dealing since 2001 also with the track with the MC12 project for about 15 years. Definitely quite an accomplishment since it was certainly not easy to go right there in the field to the crackling roar of the engines. And that was under the protective wing of Enzo Ferrari, called ‘The Drake’ although for me he was Commendator Ferrari.
Also known for his glasses…
We’re getting there. It was he who triggered within me this great passion for the automobiles he thought of and wanted. He who with the mechanics enjoyed an insane determination to achieve his goals. And it happened then that his trusted man Dino, who was then also his driver, told me that Mr. Ferrari wanted to talk to me.
With my heart racing, all hesitant, I entered his office while a chair was waiting for me. Oh my God, I remember being literally petrified as in a white shirt with suspenders, Franco Gozzi, one of his trusted little men, said to me in dialect, “Safet an al salutet menga?” said clearly to break the air of the moment. Everything. Everything knew about me, even when as a child-teenager I went to the ‘Cavallino’ waiting for him to get his autograph in the school diary.
When he received me in his office, the commendatore, with his peculiar look and handsome smile, asked me what he could do for me, “Here … I would like to go to Formula 1,” I replied, hearing myself coming, “Now is not the time!”
’83-ish times. And I insisted that I wanted to see Formula 1 racing, so, he gave orders for me to attend Formula 1 races and practices, even to the pits, to work in the racing department when there were presentations of such jewels.
Eh…how lucky I was, I used to go crazy with joy with the photos – his gift – signed with his pen with a special ink color, it looked like a light purple. He always signed with that color, I went crazy with happiness without being able to hold back such joy.
We now come to the glasses.
Very simple. For him to go from dark to light was a strong attestation of esteem to those who were with him when he made that gesture, and so very proud of that change, even now I get chills when I think about it! Osteria!!!
More on the mythical ‘Drake’?
Yes.
And he is almost moved by seeing him again with affection as one would want to a father.
It was 1988 and he made dinner for us on that February 18 by sending us to work at 6 a.m. and then letting us out late since we had to set up the workshop as a restaurant. There were no caterers in those days; the Neri family, his trusted men, did everything. We were 1780 people in an environment with no journalists and no TV operators, by his choice. He only wanted us, we who would always do everything for him and his machines.
I see him in the center of the round table and…and then that speech that made us realize that he was going to leave us soon, in fact in August of the same year after a few months he left us. A tremendous blow for all of us, an indescribable blow. I still get chills despite the fact that 40 years have passed. And it will always be like that.
Attending an all-male environment, did much machismo exist?
I would say so. It was ’79 and the local mentality was definitely outdated as the very few women present worked in ‘Finishing,’ Upholstery, administration and as secretaries in the offices. Those who went above and beyond had to put in crazy physical strength. Everything was done by hand and there was no technology to alleviate fatigue.
It was tough being women. And here I return to the commendatore: Passion and much, much, much love for what is performed. As a matter of fact, I went above and beyond despite the sneers of the men next door, for the burdens and fatigue were many. However, given my careful application with so much result, we eventually created a very good working team. Without them I would never have made it, it didn’t seem real to me to see, in 1979, the world’s most famous and talented mechanics teaching me everything. And so I owe them so much.
You also have to give as much of your own with humility in their respect, and show them that you can do it if they give you the means to do it.
So she liked to get her hands dirty.
Definitely, just recently I fixed ‘the doors,’ the doors of a ‘Ferrari’ I was making then. That’s what they say in the jargon, doing it with great enthusiasm, love and passion.
We read that she was honored at the “Simply Woman Award” in Castiglion Fiorentino.
That’s right two years ago, returning then the following year to speak before schoolchildren at the San Sepolcro school. The kids were extremely attentive as I explained that these blessed ‘pink quotas’ have not been achieved. I, as mentioned, the only woman in a male-dominated and macho environment on the auto body assembly line, with great effort and tenacity, was able to make a ‘station’ in three days because of my manual dexterity, while the others in 10-15 days!
Were there also questions from pupils?
Yeah, right! And I would gladly answer like that question about today’s cars. Beautiful, for goodness sake, but it lacks the human care we used to put and the love in the work you did. And when you heard them rolling, you would say to yourself, “I’m in that car too,” and there was a soul in that car for us. No it was just an object. Kids need emotions like I and my generation had.
In the course of your profession have you noticed envious looks?
Envy among women is woman! Yes, even if employed in other fields … very few, veh! The glances were not pretty. Then, little by little, they began to observe me benevolently. Difficulties were to be reckoned with, it was up to us to pursue even when you were blamed for faults not your own. With dignity, humility without anger, I would explain my reasons properly and the waters calmed down.
With my experience I could solve so many problems. Never be touchy, you have to get into subtle games and make your point since if you work well you waste less, and then comes the satisfaction for the good work done. And then, frankly, all I needed was the esteem of the commander, his mechanics, engineers and staff. Al rest, an couta menga!
Did unhinged moments exist? Maybe quietly…in a hurry away from the ‘padroun’?
Ah, l’è bella! Clay Regazzoni was a pure fool, agh piasiva semper scherzer! L’è mort zoven puvrein! We all loved him very much, and he was a very fast and very good driver.
We come to ‘America and the awards won.
Two. The first in October 22 in Las Vegas for the “Concours d’Elegance” to mark the 35th anniversary of the Ferrari “F-40.” And that was because Stuart Sobek – the Chairman of the Prize and the Concours d’Elegance in Las Vegas, had read my story. We were supposed to go there that year with a Formula 1 but, “No, I want her!” Stopping the whole event and having a Ferrari F-40 arrive, I received “The Elena Word 2022,” dedicated to pioneering women who have made a real impact in the automotive industry and paved the way for that profession.
I remember being honored along with Carroll Hall Scelby, an American automotive designer involved with the production of the AC Cobra and Mustang for the Ford Moto Company, and the representative of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, one of the world’s largest car museums.
The following year I was honored at the Monte Rey 2023 Italian Competition in the Lifetime Achievement Hall Fame with “La bella macchina Award ” and initiation into the Hall of Fame.
They wrote about me: “Monica Zanetti, also known as ‘Lady F40’ made automotive history as the 1st woman mechanic to join Team Ferrari. She was not only the first, but also the only woman among the four mechanics who had the honor of personally taking care of the legendary ‘F40’. Her pioneering contribution broke new ground in the world of automobiles, continuing to this day with her work, at the Scuderia, so much so that she was invited to Palm Beach ‘Casa Ferrari’ by a well-known collector of ‘Ferraris,’ next to the Awards, as they say.”
Definitely good overseas experiences.
Well…the first one is in my heart as I really did not expect it. Talking about all these things never told to anyone, held tightly even though those who had seen me do them…, logically knew about them!
Dear Stuart Sobek whom I love dearly, a wonderful and knowledgeable person, after discovering this about me, wanted me there and so he is a figure who will remain eternally in my heart. Ditto for the second since there is nothing more important in the world like being invited and awarded in Monterey and being sent to Palm Beach, to those “World’s Most Important Car Concours d’Elegance,” with massive presence of collectors. Believe me, to be there, with my name imprinted, was a tremendous satisfaction, even today it doesn’t seem true to me, I was only a ‘mechanic – coachbuilder’ to be part of history.
And he smiles proudly recalling the thousands and thousands of sacrifices to be later made.
A comparison between Italy and the ‘States’?
“Do I really have to say it?”
Mandatory!
There, from them there is real collecting, cars they highly believe in. From us there is more commerce, the Americans on the other hand are more ‘into’ such realities so much so that they have a real cult of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti. In short, brands and manufacturers that have left their mark.
“Mamma mia dammi cento lire che in America voglio andar”…and Zanetti with shiny eyes continued… “Cento lire io te le dòò, ma in America no, no, no!”
Would separate songs go there?
In a hurry! As I stand here talking to her, I see California again, Monterey, Palm Beach, and Las Vegas that is etched in my heart. From them there is real passion, real cars, and for an enthusiast like me, there is no better place.
Dreams that I don’t feel like I’ve lived yet and many, many other places that fascinate me to no end. Again, the real collecting is there with all my wonderful friendships that I think about all the time.
But I cannot since my life is in Maranello with my family, my mother, my husband and my two children. And still my wonderful grandson who fills me with joy just talking about it. Fortunately, he is as passionate as his grandmother about Ferrari as well as all the cars that have made history. Actually, Filippo plays looking at books with cars.
Heaven at this point can wait.
The article Monica Zanetti tells her story: interview with “Lady F40,” first woman Ferrari mechanic comes from TheNewyorkese.
