TO JUDGE A LAMBORGHINI // VALENTINO BALBONI

Valentino Balboni, a man that has had the privilege of test driving nearly every Lamborghini produced by the Sant'Agata factory to date, will be judge and jury at this years Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance. Balboni began his career with Lamborghini in 1968 as an apprentice, and was soon promoted to test driver and quality control. Having taken his first test drive for the company in a 1973 Miura SV, on September 5, 1972, Balboni has a storied career, one to make even the most well sorted motorsport enthusiast jealous. Of his first drive in the Lamborghini Miura, Balboni said:

“I didn’t realize exactly what was going on, I thought it was not really me driving a Miura by myself past the company gate. I remember the feeling I was approaching curves too fast, but I wasn’t at all. I was so respectful yet afraid of the car’s performance, but the engine’s sound was making me smile the whole time.”

“They say you never forget your first love, and that Miura was truly my first love. It was personal to me because the car symbolized and embodied Ferruccio Lamborghini’s philosophy. It was an honor to drive it and still it is. The Miura is an icon in sports car history.”


Currently the chief test driver and head of restoration and customer service, Balboni will lay his eyes (and hands) on a handful of rare Lamborghini's during this years concourse. Cars such as the earliest known 350GT and Miura, as well as several one-off coach built Lamborghini's. Photo's from Pebble Beach to follow. Stay tuned // 08.13.2008