From Style to Safety - Part 1: The Evolution of Racing Shoes Through the Decades

"He's got shoes, he's got shoes, he's alive..." Until the 1950s, the marshals or first responders of drivers who had been in bad accidents and were lying motionless on the ground, finding them with their shoes on, knew that the contraction that accompanies traumatic death had not occurred. Indeed, in many cases, it was true; even though they were apparently lifeless, they were alive.

Today, we begin a small series of stories about drivers' gear, which will be followed in the coming weeks, with an accessory that might seem secondary. Yet, in the reality of different eras, shoes have played an important and significant role. Custom-made racing shoes were uncommon, but there were famous cases, like that of the Targa Florio shoemaker. In Cefalù, Sicily, Ciccio Liberto, as he was known, had drivers lining up at his shop during the Targa Florio era. They favored his custom-made shoes for their ability to make shoes as soft and comfortable as gloves, yet with solid soles, perfect for applying pressure hundreds of times to the pedals, as would be the case over the 60-kilometer-plus lap of the famous race.