Gran Primio de Cuba 500km magnet with the date
February 25th on it. (The Tomaso Collection)
As no Jokes about Lions, Tigers, Cheetah’s, alligators,
Crocodiles, or other “spotted” critters here, Oh Never Mind!
Like countless stories stuck upon Ye Driftwood
here upon thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville Mateys! This one’s been high-centered
quite awhile…
As prior to Christmas, 2021, former Florentine
F1 Spotter Jeannie “innocently” asked me if there had ever been a Cuban Grand
Prix? To which I said I don’t think so? Even though I vaguely knew that El
Maestro’, aka Juan Manuel Fangio had been Kidnapped in Cuba. Being held captive
briefly in 1958 during the Castro revolution…
Thus try as I might briefly before Christmas, I
couldn’t find anything confirming that an actual, honest to goodness Formula 1
Grand Prix had ever been held in Cuba! For which perhaps some of you are way
ahead of me, Ci?
As little did I know I was being “teased” over
my awesome Christmas presents that year, when Jeannie & Jonathan, and
Beverlee gave me an awesome assortment of eight vintage racing magnets, which
proudly adorn my “Icebox’s” (refrigerator) side. And naturally, one of them is
for the Gran Primio de Cuba!
Since indeed, there would be a total of three
Cuban Grands Prix held between 1957-60, with the first two back-to-back being
run on the streets of Havana! While the third and final event was held on a
military base in 1960.
As the Bitchin’ magnet denotes the Gran Primio de Cuba being a 500km
race held on February 25th. For which amazingly, I just found the following
2007 story commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the inaugural Cuban Grand Prix
below. Although be aware that it’s obviously dated now, since All of the Star
names have passed away, i.e.; Fangio, Phil Hill, Carrol Shelby, etc.
Whilst the author also notes that the official
poster was printed with the wrong date upon it! Since February 25, 1957 was a
Monday and the race was most definitely held upon Sunday, February 24, 1957
instead! Meaning my reproduction magnet also contains this mistake upon it…
As it’s a fairly long article, but full of
vintage photographs of the various racing drivers participating, along with
some of the race circuit’s surroundings, and worth a read.
Havana-May
1950-Nov 1960: Gran Premio de Cuba - 1957 (havana5060.blogspot.com)
As the author notes that the races two main protagonists
were Juan Manuel Fangio driving a Maserati 300S vs. Alfonso de Portago behind
the wheel of a Ferrari 860 Monza! Hmm, why do I recognize the latter’s name? Oh
yeah, because I’ve previously pointed Y’all to my No fenders story about the
man who died during the 1957 Mille Miglia, recently portrayed in Michael Mann’s
excellent movie Ferrari. Which fortuitously I got to see the final showing here
in Bumfiddle’ Florence Wayback in mid-February!
http://www.nofenders.net/2017/05/de-portago-who-lost-formula-1-bobsledder.html
Interestingly, the 860 Monza was one of a multitude of
Ferrari Monza Sports Cars built between 1953-57, with reportedly only three 860’s
being built. Culminating with a triumphant 1-2 finish in the 1956 12 Hours of
Sebring. Where Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti won ahead of Ferrari teammates
Luigi Musso and Harry Schell. Although interestingly, the Monza models were
fitted with inline four cylinder engines vs. la Scuderia’s then traditional twelve
cylinder lumps’.
As noted above, other Big Name racers included the likes of
Phil Hill, Eugenio Castellotti, Carrol Shelby and apparently a rather snobbish
Stirling Moss! With Fangio winning after De Portago retired with a blown engine
on lap-68.
The ’58 race was filled with much Hijinxs. Most notably the
Kidnapping of Fangio in order to draw Attenzione to Castro’s revolution.
Although the Five-times F1 World Champion went unharmed and was returned to the
Cuban Embassy following the conclusion of the race.
Reportedly the second race drew some 200,000-plus spectators
and was another Ferrari v Maserati scrum. With such notable drivers as Hill,
Moss, Shelby, Wolfgang von Trips, Masten Gregory, Jo bonnier, Harry Schell and
Bruce Kessler participating. Whilst Maurice Trintignant was drafted in as
Fangio’s replacement.
Yet a local driver in a Ferrari spun on an oil patch and
crashed into the crowd lining the streets, killing six spectators! With the
race being Red-flagged and ultimately completed on lap-6! With Stirling Moss
being declared the winner, driving a Ferrari 4.1-litre V-12 335 S racecar ahead
of Masten Gregory.
Gregory initially planned to protest the outcome. Before
Moss convinced Him to pool the first place ($10,000) and second place ($7,500) prize
money and split it evenly. And Hightail it out of Cuba before a revolution
erupted!
Ironically, the 335 S is the very model that De Portago
crashed and dide-in during the ’57 Mille Miglia…
While Y’all can read about that and more of the second race
in the Sports Car Digest articled titled The infamous 1958 Cuban Grand Prix…
The ’59 event was cancelled due to Castro’s revolution being
in it’s final stages, before the event returned to be run upon support roads at
a military Airfield. As Stirling Moss won again, this time driving a privateer
Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage ahead of Pedro Rodriguez in a Ferrari and Masten
Gregory in a Porsche 718 Spyder.
As Bruce Kessler appears to be the only Yank’ living who
participated in thosewild street races in Havana! And is a most colourful
Chap’. Who just so happened to be Pals with the late Lance Reventlow, and
reportedly is the last living person to see James Dean alive…
As All three of these Sports Car races featured many of the
days top Formula 1 drivers, it was a much different era back then. When F1
drivers were not only allowed to dabble in other events, they were expected to
do so driving for their respective marques!
Thus as Y’all can “See”, the words Grand Prix have been
ridiculously overused for any and All motor races! A practice that IndyCar
continues doing today! Like is it really the Grand Prix of Alabama? Not to
mention its newest edition, the Grand Prix of Arlington.
Since when I hear the words Grand Prix, I immediately think
of formula 1, not Indy Cars, MotoGP or Sports Cars, Oh Never Mind!
Photograph c/o J&J Images