The "Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti" traces its origin back to an old competitive tradition of car races on mountain roads. In 1898 the first "Corsa della Alpi del Tirolo Meridionale" was held by the Automobile Club of Vienna. In 1914 the race became "Trofeo delle Alpi" organized by the Austrian Automobile Club. The first edition of the "Coupe des Alpes" (later called the Rallye des Alpes) took place in 1929. In the pre-war editions, it would only drive through the Dolomites. The nearest past history of the "Coppa delle Dolomiti" probably dates to the "Coppa delle Venezie", organized by the Automobile Club of the Tre Venezie and back to an uphill from Cortina to Passo Tre Croci, both held in 1929 in the Dolomites. Witness of these races can be found only in the Minute Book of the Automobile Club of Belluno Executive Board. The International Trophy of the Dolomites (named Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti from the 1951 edition) was born in 1947 from an Idea of the then President of the Automobile Club of Belluno, Mr. Ferruccio Gidoni.

Right after the end of second World War, when will would win over reason, Mr. Gidoni organized a race of International allure right in the Dolomites.

Tazio Nuvolari (2nd on the left) is to be considered the prestigious god of the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti. He has been a champion for the Alfa Romeo and later for the Auto Union. The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti has been conceived by Mr. Ferruccio Ghidoni, President of the Automobile Club of Belluno (1st on th right).