Crashing a Diablo

Crashing the first Lamborghini Diablo allowed out of captivity should have ended my attempt to work in Europe. Long before the career move from Australia began to pay dividends such public humiliation – try keeping an event like that quiet in an industry that thrives on ever more exaggerated gossip – could, rightly, have meant being denied access to supercars, the bedrock of any job based on driving and writing about fast cars while living in Italy.

Instead, the cover story of Australia’s Wheels magazine (December, 1990) instantly became the stuff of legend. Somehow, despite such a setback, my career blossomed. Lamborghini’s wonderfully forgiving reaction helped.

‘It is not the first time, and certainly won’t be the last…if you drive.’ Ubaldo Sgarzi, Lamborghini’s director of sales, told me, after he learned of the accident.

‘It happens. You could always go by train.’

Sgarzi, a legend at Lamborghini before he retired, went on to work part-time for Pagani and we used to catch up at motor shows. Ubaldo, who died in 2015, understood the supercar business like few others and I shall always be grateful for his tolerance.