Most Lancisti know that Vincenzo Lancia became an employee of F.I.A.T. on the formation of the company in 1899. His initial role was as test-driver, in which capacity he displayed outstanding driving ability. This led to his promotion to what would later be known as "Works Driver". As such, he drove for F.I.A.T. in events like the Gordon Bennett races, the infamous Paris - Madrid of 1903 and two Vanderbilt Cup races in the USA. While out-right victories tended to allude Vincenzo (blocked fuel pipe, 1904 Gordon Bennett; stone-damaged radiator, 1905 Gordon Bennett; broken valve gear, 1908 French G.P.), he was noted for often achieving the fastest lap time. (1905 Gordon Bennett; 1905 Vanderbilt Cup; 1906 Coupe de Auto; 1908 Florio Cup)

One event he did win for F.I.A.T was the 1904 Florio Cup, a two-lap road race between Brescia, Cremona and Mantua starting and finishing at Brescia, later to become well known as the Start/Finish of the Mille Miglia. The two laps involved 370 Km, which Vincenzo covered in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds, recording an average speed of 115.7 KPH, or 71.88 MPH.

To demonstrate the driving skills of Vincenzo Lancia, just imagine trying to average similar a speed for 370 Kilometres on un-sealed dirt roads, in your modern car after the following modifications:

Here in Australia, with almost one hundred years of progress in automotive and road design, we are not even allowed to "touch" 115 KPH on our Freeways, let alone average such monstrous speeds!

Good on you, Vincenzo!