Born in Naples, Caflisch was a successful private driver who competed in numerous motorsport competitions in Italy and Switzerland in Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz. His victories included the kilometre race in Naples in 1928, the Coppa Gallenga and Sorrento - Sant'Agata hill climbs in the same year, the Coppa Tullio Leonardi in 1930 and the Walzenhausen - Rheineck hill climb in Switzerland a year later