GP Habana - Cuba

[SL]

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban GP 1957 - 1962/3 ??

I met the official photographer on my last visit to Havana, he has a 1957 programme (in Spanish) signed by almost all the drivers, Moss was the one of the few missing. I do have a photocopy if anyone is interested. Signatures include:-
Fangio, Shelby, de Portago, Gendebien, Droga, Gregory, Castellotti, P Hill plus a few more yet to be worked out. It includes a map of the circuit but not the entry list.

From the Autosport 1957 I know that Fangio won from Shelby and de Portago (FL) but apart from that I have little info.
It sounded a very interesting race with a lot of cars being impounded by customs and drivers scratching around for cars plus Fangio being kidnapped by anti Castro supporters (He still won, what a man !!) Was this the last race de Portago finished before he was killed ??

I spoke with Phil Hill at Goodwood and he recalls it with a laugh saying that it was chaos, hotel rooms changing overnight, suspicous men with big guns to keep, the drivers from the girls or the girls from the drivers ?? (Phils words not mine) etc.

All, any info welcome

Simon

[TimD]

Hi Simon,

Hope you got the PM about the title of the American Racing book. I checked Motor Sport - not a peep about the 1957 race, and because it wasn't a championship-counting round, the bible of WSC results doesn't mention it either.

A programme with no list of entrants! Oh well, I suppose it was a product of the sheer unpredictability of who was going to turn up at all.

I think that when my other PC comes back - the one with my database program on it - I'll be able to answer your de Portago question, but as for other entrants, I'm still searching.

[SL]

Tim,

Received your message, thanks very much.

I will have a crisp £10 note at the ready at Goodwood in Sept.

Simon

[Joe Fan]

SL, the Cuban GP that I think Phil Hill was talking about was the 1958 one where death threats were made--that the winning driver would be shot and killed! Castro's Guerillas were accused of oiling down the track during the race and a Cuban driver spun on the greasy track and crashed, killing five spectators and himself late in the race. When this crash happened, panic struck the crowd and people flogged the track. Masten Gregory was comfortably leading the race ahead of Stirling Moss when this happened. Both had to drive about 15mph and weave through the spectators on the track. Masten slowed up because he seen the red flag come out but Stirling was able to pass him through all the spectators and crossed the finish line ahead of Masten for the win. Masten was quite mad about this and threatened to protest the results but Moss said that wouldn't do any good because the prize money would never be seen again when the dispute was resolved and after Fidel Castro came into power. So Stirling offered to pool the first and second place prize money and then split it between himself and Gregory.

[Peter Mallett]

Just s'pose it was now, and it was Mickey-the-shoe and Mika H we were talking about.

[Joe Fan]

Oh Peter, you devil!

It is hard to imagine a race where even if you drove to perfection, stayed out of on-track trouble, you still could be killed. There is little doubt in my mind that Masten Gregory was one of the bravest drivers of all-time, if not the bravest.

[Peter Mallett]

One of them certainly. There are so many drivers who we tend to forget unless the "bravery" or "genius" tag is used. Masten ranks up there but lets not forget Archie Scott Brown who overcame appalling physical difficulties to achieve a high standard in Europe. Perhaps if the authorities hadn't been so short-sighted he may have achieved world-wide greatness before his untimely death.

Talents cut short before achieving what should have been their right include Collins, Donoghue, Pryce, Cevert and so many more.

But back to the thread.

Well if I were lying second and with the threat hanging over me if I were to win, I doubt that I'd be brave enough to overtake. However, it was certainly a generous gesture by a true sportsman (which is really why I mentioned our two current WDC protagonists) to offer to split the purse(s). Can't see any of the current lot doing that can you?

[jarama]

Hi, SL:

Here's a little stuff concerning the Cuban G.P.

There were only three editions -'57,'58 & '60- 'cause the third Cuban G.P., set for February, 1959, was not to be due to political reasons.

On 2-25-57, I Gran Premio de Cuba, the winner was certainly Fangio, but his kidnapping wasn't those days, but in the '58 edition, when he saw the race on T.V. as a guest of Fidel Castro's revolutionaires.
1st.) Juan-Manuel Fangio, Maserati 300S
2nd.) Carroll Shelby, Ferrari 410 S
3rd.) Alfonso de Portago, Ferrari 857 S
4th.) Peter Collins, Ferrari 500 TR
5th.) Olivier Gendebien, Ferrari 500 TR
6th.) Alfonso Gómez Mena, Jaguar D-Type
About De Portago, after the Cuban G.P. he raced and finished at the Sebring 12 Hours, where he and Luigi Musso shared the seventh placed Ferrari.

The '58 edition was marked by the kidnapping of Fangio and the race was crash-ridden; amongst other incidents a car went into the crowd killing several people.

On 2-28-60 the III Cuban G.P. was held.
1st.) Stirling Moss, Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
2nd.) Pedro RodrÃ*guez, Ferrari 250 TR 59
3rd.) Masten Gregory, Porsche RSK
4th.) Huschke von Hanstein, Porsche RSK
5th.) Colin Davis, Cooper-Maserati
6th.) Maurice Trintignant, Maserati 300S

[SL]

Thanks for all the info, a lot of good leads.

I have just brought the book mentioned by Tim, it is well worth the £9.99 I paid at Brands. Loads of candid photo's and action shots of all the forgotten races of the 50's & 60's. I even found the Puerto Rican GP photo's, a race held just the once.

Joe Fan you are correct, thank you, 58 was the year Fangio was kidnapped. Most of my info came though a translator (A smouldering Spanish Beauty I might add !!) who was not at all interested in motor racing facts got slightly blurred.

I am amazed at the information that has been posted, I expected a few vague comments.

Once again thank you all, I am still looking for any further info as the races in Cuba sound amazing, film stars, Castro, Moss, Shelby, De Portaga etc Merc's, Jags, Ferrari's & MG's. Port strikes, revoloutions, road circuits, Millions of Mafia $$. Makes today's races seem like play school

Regards

Simon

[Manel]

Originally Posted by jarama

Hi, SL:

Here's a little stuff concerning the Cuban G.P.

There were only three editions -'57,'58 & '60- 'cause the third Cuban G.P., set for February, 1959, was not to be due to political reasons.

On 2-25-57, I Gran Premio de Cuba, the winner was certainly Fangio, but his kidnapping wasn't those days, but in the '58 edition, when he saw the race on T.V. as a guest of Fidel Castro's revolutionaires.
1st.) Juan-Manuel Fangio, Maserati 300S
2nd.) Carroll Shelby, Ferrari 410 S
3rd.) Alfonso de Portago, Ferrari 857 S
4th.) Peter Collins, Ferrari 500 TR
5th.) Olivier Gendebien, Ferrari 500 TR
6th.) Alfonso Gómez Mena, Jaguar D-Type
About De Portago, after the Cuban G.P. he raced and finished at the Sebring 12 Hours, where he and Luigi Musso shared the seventh placed Ferrari.

The '58 edition was marked by the kidnapping of Fangio and the race was crash-ridden; amongst other incidents a car went into the crowd killing several people.

On 2-28-60 the III Cuban G.P. was held.
1st.) Stirling Moss, Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
2nd.) Pedro RodrÃ*guez, Ferrari 250 TR 59
3rd.) Masten Gregory, Porsche RSK
4th.) Huschke von Hanstein, Porsche RSK
5th.) Colin Davis, Cooper-Maserati
6th.) Maurice Trintignant, Maserati 300S

Actually, later on, "Fon" de Portago, won easily "La Coupe de Vitesse" or "Coupe U.S.A." , held a Montlhéry on April the 7th, 1957, at the wheel of his personal 250 GTL... to be disqualified one week afterwards apparently because Fon had one of few "notorité" sport driving licences (the nowadays known as Superlicences), held by top racing drivers and, consequently, ought not be accepted on that privateer's race.

[Manel]

Originally Posted by SL

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban GP 1957 - 1962/3 ??

I met the official photographer on my last visit to Havana, he has a 1957 programme (in Spanish) signed by almost all the drivers, Moss was the one of the few missing. I do have a photocopy if anyone is interested. Signatures include:-
Fangio, Shelby, de Portago, Gendebien, Droga, Gregory, Castellotti, P Hill plus a few more yet to be worked out. It includes a map of the circuit but not the entry list.


Simon

Hi Simon, are you sill there?
I do am interested to have a copy of the signed programme. Hope to to identify the signatures now.
Tks beforehand
Manel