LAB
LAVORAZIONE ARTIGIANA BERNA in MELEGNANO
The company was called Berna after the mother of the Conca brothers. They ran the business and they designed and built the cars themselves; one of them was Mario Conca. In 1966 LAB began building cars for Formula 875.
The car featured an innovation: the tubular frame was embedded in the glass fibre and resin body. A description from 1968 calls this construction very robust and of excellent stability.
The cars were successful. In 1967 Luigi De Negri won the drivers’ title of the Trofeo Cadetti on a LAB, in 1973 Aldo Cavallini with 42 points. In the same year LAB also took the constructors’ title with 52 points, ahead of Repetto with 47 and Melesi with 36. The engines were prepared by Franco Alloni – in 1968 Alberto Colombo’s, in 1973 and 1974 Cavallini’s. In 1968 Colombo’s engine produced 31 hp at 7200 rpm, the most powerful in the field; the others reached 28 hp, and 25 to 26 the year before.
Alongside Mario Conca, Gianluigi Garrone is named as a builder. That the firm made its living from fibreglass work explains the construction — the skill was in the house. Alloni, who prepared the engines, was based in Como. Gianluigi Garrone died in early February 2018.
The wins
Nine drivers won on a LAB, twenty races in all.
| Driver | Wins |
|---|---|
| Luigi De Negri | 4 |
| Alberto Colombo | 4 |
| Aldo Cavallini | 3 |
| Francesco Leopardi | 2 |
| Roberto Vidori | 2 |
| Romeo Maestri | 2 |
| Sergio Ravaglia | 1 |
| Angelo Sonvico | 1 |
| Franco Bosio | 1 |
The same sheet lists LAB’s placings in the Trofeo Cadetti Agip and the Coppa C.S.A.I., but gives no years.
The known chassis are listed in the Register. The Period photos are on a separate page.
Franciacorta 2012
Melegnano 2025
In the first race, May 1965
The entry list of the 1ª Coppa Cadetti 875 Monza of May 1965 shows one car under this make:
| No. | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Luciano Pavesi | — |
Documented appearances
| Year | Occasion | Driver | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Final championship standings | A. Colombo | 2 | 50 |
| 1968 | Final championship standings | D. Panzeri | 8 | 6 |
| 1970 | Round 7, 1st heat | Benso | 6 | |
| 1970 | Round 7, 1st heat | Guanziroli | 14 | |
| 1970 | Round 7, 3rd heat | Borghetti | 15 | |
| 1970 | Round 7, final | Benso | 9 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 1st heat | Panzeri | 7 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 1st heat | Bionda | 8 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 2nd heat | Ravaglia | 2 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 2nd heat | Maggioni | 3 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 2nd heat | Mario Benusiglio | 9 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 2nd heat | Maestri | 12 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 3rd heat | Benso | 3 | |
| 1972 | Final round, 3rd heat | Renato Benusiglio | 10 | |
| 1972 | Final round, final | Maggioni | 3 | |
| 1972 | Final round, final | Ravaglia | 8 | |
| 1972 | Final round, final | Mario Benusiglio | 11 | |
| 1972 | Final round, final | Benso | 12 | |
| 1972 | Final championship standings | Ravaglia | 3 | |
| 1972 | Final championship standings | Maggioni | 8 | |
| 1972 | Final championship standings | Bionda | 10 | |
| 1972 | Final championship standings | Panzeri | 10 | |
| 1972 | Final championship standings | Maestri | 23 | |
| 1973 | Round 9, final | Aldo Cavallini | 1 | |
| 1973 | Round 9, final | Panzeri | 2 | |
| 1973 | Final round, final | Aldo Cavallini | 1 | |
| 1973 | Coppa Costruttori | 1 | 52 | |
| 1973 | Final championship standings | Aldo Cavallini | 1 | 46 |
| 1973 | Final championship standings | Panzeri | 7 | 14 |