A very warm congratulations from all Lamborghini enthusiasts to Valentino Balboni, legendary test driver for Automobili Lamborghini SpA for decades, and these days a valuable representative for the Raging Bull make.

Mr Balboni has been with Automobili Lamborghini SpA for 40 years now, that's right, almost as long as the company exists, in fact on April 21. 1967 none other that the late Ferruccio Lamborghini himself engaged Valentino to work at Sant'Agata.

It is safe to say that Valentino Balboni has been test driving most of the models that left the gates at Sant'Agata the last 40 years, and he 'rubbed shoulders' with the most important customers in the history of the Raging Bull company, but Valentino didn't start as a test driver at Lamborghini.

Even when still going to school, the young Valentino rode his bycicle along the factory to admire those amazing automobiles that were parked outside, and finally, during the summer vacation he was able to start working on the assembly department, after graduating he was able to get a mechanic job at Lamborghini. This latter allowed him to drive the cars in various state of finish from one area to another, knowing Valentino he frequently pressed the accelerator a bit too deep ... resulting in a loud roar from the V12 and spinning rear tires.
His fellow workers and the engineers didn't really enjoy this, but Ferruccio did, and he personally asked Valentino if he would like to become an official test driver for Lamborghini ... he didn't have to think twice about this and gladly accepted this offer, which made him work for the legendary Bob Wallace, the latter took on Valentino as his apprentice and together they fine tuned many Bulls over the following years ...

Back in those early days of cars like the Miura, Valentino and Bob were the only two test drivers at the factory, together they drove around in pre-production prototypes and reported back to the engineers like Stantani, Bevini and Pedastri with engine related issues, or Dallara when it was related to the chassis setup, as always, Ferruccio had the last word on all Lamborghini models, but Valentino and Bob turned his visions into road cars.

Today Valentino has 20 fellow test drivers, from various countries, including Germans naturally, they drive the cars both on the open road and on enclosed circuits, back in the late Sixties and Seventies, cars were driven on the roads around Sant'Agata, seven days a week and even during the evening, just because there was no time to waiste, Lamborghini had to sell cars, so Valentino and Bob had to make sure the customer would receive a car he could handle.

Today Valentino Balboni is Chief Test Driver at Automobili Lamborghini SpA, but he's also present during the most important Lamborghini related events all around the world, as an ambassador for the company, because he is one of the very few people that remain who actually enjoyed the growing up of the factory, or should we say : 'who had the privilige to experience this'

He's a walking encyclopedia for everything related to Lamborghini.


They should name of one the future bulls "Balboni" to honour him

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Nice post, thanks a lot.

Guy is so awesome, I would enjoy meeting him one day.

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If one's going to live, live well.


*Looking Forward to my first Lamborghini, whenever I shall have her!*

He is definitely one of the nicest people that I have met! I think that a Balboni Edition of any model would be the best selling model in the company's history!!

Valentino is definitely THE person who represents Lamborghini in the entire world, all managers can be exchanged without someone outside the factory will remark, BUT Valentino is just inreplacable.

I had the luck to get test drives with him in the Diablo VT6.0 and the Murci, men once you experienced this you know that you drive like a snail... well I'm a fast snail but still

Picture from the opening of Lamborghini Zurich:

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RaymondQV
Countach QV Ex-Mimran #GLA12997, Urraco P300 #20530 sold in August 2008, Jalpa #FLA12203 sold in May 2006
www.countach.ch
www.jalpa.ch

When Frank Sinatra got his Miura S in 1970, he said: “If you wanna be someone, buy Ferrari - If you are someone, you own a Lamborghini”.

Met him once and he does give all he can to Lamborghini. Looking forward meeting him again.

Hazim

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95' Diablo

Nice post. What a guy.

My Pleasure

Balboni For President!

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Exclusive street race:
Saleen S7 vs. Lamborghini LP640 vs. Ferrari Enzo!!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i8O-szIV-OE

He has my vote.

I would say that Valentino wouldn't be comfortable as President, his actual Job as Chief test driver is his joy and joice, he can do what he loves since 30 years, drive every bull like mad

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RaymondQV
Countach QV Ex-Mimran #GLA12997, Urraco P300 #20530 sold in August 2008, Jalpa #FLA12203 sold in May 2006
www.countach.ch
www.jalpa.ch

When Frank Sinatra got his Miura S in 1970, he said: “If you wanna be someone, buy Ferrari - If you are someone, you own a Lamborghini”.