Ghigo Fabbrini

Coming from a family of auto mechanics outside Portofino, Ghigo grew up a rough and tumble kid with an affinity for motorcycles. His father, who was always in and out of the garage, fostered a very loving relationship with his son taking him just about everywhere and allowing him to help out while he worked. Ghigo's favorite thing to do with his father was after the shop closed on weekends: when he and his buddies would get together to race their motorcycles and place bets. Though far too young to parttake in this at the time he adored watching his father make everyone else eat his dust. His family would joke about him "being born with a wrench in his hand" due to how quickly he took to mechanics. He had a natural eye for them and with the help of his father who fostered his growing interest, every day after school Ghigo would eagerly join him in the garage where he would only become more interested in how these machines worked.

By the time WWII rolled around, Ghigo had taken over his father's place in the garage after he got enlisted. He and his mother continued business as usual, till 1944 when 16 year old Ghigo received the news his father had been killed in action. Both were extremely torn up about it but he and his mother persisted, stepping up full time to run their family's business. He had a deep admiration for her and her strength through hardship but as the new man of the house found himself the confidant as well, which unfortunately left him exposed to things he should not have been at that age. His mother became very reliant on her son, actively seeking him out for emotional support he didn't exactly know how to give her. Her bipolar tendencies were tough to navigate, Ghigo wanted to support her and be there as best he could, but for his own sake he had to take a step back.

Ghigo began working on his father's old bikes and racing them amongst friends as a sort of escape, all behind his over-protective mother's back as she was adimant about keeping one of her boys alive. Despite this, he continued under the guise that he began working a second job in order to help with money (and explain coming home with large amounts of cash). In 1950, Ghigo came forward and told her after entering in the Motorcycle Grand Prix over in Milan, she was initially beside herself but he managed to win her over fairly easily despite her still preferring he go into a safer profession.

Initially everyone thought he was entering as a joke, but this was soon proved incorrect when he finished 3rd. Thus started the privateer leg of his racing career, where he racked up quite a few wins under no sponsor. Ghigo eventually switched over to motorcar racing in 1952, where he would finally begin taking his career more seriously. With the camera presence of a god, Ghigo managed to accidentally cultivate a large following as the independent, happy-go-lucky motorboy.

In 1954 after part-taking in the Mille Miglia Ghigo signed under the sponsor Pasquale Campagna, a man who had close ties with big name companies like Ferrari and Maserati, where he would then race on his team. Getting to know the much more seasoned racers was challenging in the beginning, but eventually the five of them clicked on and off the track. Ghigo was particularly fond of Ashley Barker, and the two quickly became close friends.Things came to a brief halt in 1956 when Ashley's brakes failed, and he died in a horrendous crash that made headlines. Later the same year after the dust had settled, Ashley's replacement was signed and Ghigo would attempt to make peace with this certain newcomer.