Is it true Fangio challenged and won Argentine Traffic Bureau in a race?

[SeanBlue]

I just read this bit from Wikipedia: " He returned to the spotlight in 1994, when he publicly opposed a new Province of Buenos Aires law denying driver's licences to those over 80 (which included Fangio). Denied a renewal of his card, Fangio reportedly challenged Traffic Bureau personnel to a race between Buenos Aires and seaside Mar del Plata, a 400 km (250 mi) distance, in two hours or less, following which an exception was made for the five-time Grand Prix winner."

Is it true? Does anyone have any more information?

[Vitesse]

Challenged - maybe. Run - almost certainly not, given that the speed limit in Argentina is 130km/h.

[Angus Theape]

Iirc, Fangio was granted a personal dispensation of the law by the Argentinian president.

[manuvira]

Yes it was true, the didn't accepet the challenge...but:

Some people say that in Germany he obtained his driver's licence.

That is the luck of flexiblitiy laws are... they don't allow Fangio with 80, but any other common granpa of 79 can drive hahaha!

PD: I bet that 80 years old Fangio would won the challenge!

sorry my englishhhh

[Belatti]

Whats true is that Fangio challenged them. Obviously the race didn´t occur, but the fact he raised his voice helped to change the law.

My grandpa is 80 y.o. and he still works 4 hours a day: he delivers spare parts in a utility vehicle here in Buenos Aires. He has to renew the license once a year though.

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by Belatti

Whats true is that Fangio challenged them. Obviously the race didn´t occur, but the fact he raised his voice helped to change the law.

My grandpa is 80 y.o. and he still works 4 hours a day: he delivers spare parts in a utility vehicle here in Buenos Aires. He has to renew the license once a year though.

My Father is 80y.o. But he has a sore shoulder. He hurt it 2 months ago doing press ups!!!!!

[D-Type]

I have a relative who kept driving well into his eighties long after he should have stopped - he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He was too stubborn to listen to the family and only stopped once his doctor realised how bad he was.
In the light of this experience, I feel that drivers over a certain age, 80 or possibly even 75, should have to renew their licences on a year-by-year basis after an assessment. We all "slow down" but at different rates and in different ways - reactions, sight, hearing, spatial awareness etc, but are unaware as the change is gradual. An assessment would weed out the worst cases.
I am sure that Fangio would have passed such an assessment with flying colours. but would every 80-year old?

[Bosse L]

In Sweden we have one of our old racing heroes from the 50 and 60 with around 10 champinship wins collected in the period stil racing sucessfuly today in historic racing in a Escort BDA. This year he have his 85:th birtdayparty....
Still on the podium some times. 6-7 years back he was a regular winner in the Group 2 saloon class. So about the invidial skills as driver when getting older...

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Bosse L

In Sweden we have one of our old racing heroes from the 50 and 60 with around 10 champinship wins collected in the period stil racing sucessfuly today in historic racing in a Escort BDA. This year he have his 85:th birtdayparty....
Still on the podium some times. 6-7 years back he was a regular winner in the Group 2 saloon class. So about the invidial skills as driver when getting older...

There is huge variation in the way our skills change with age.

A friend of mine is involved in assessing elderly and disabled drivers to determine if they are fit to keep their licenses. Of course only people referred by there doctors as possibly unfit get tested.

Some years ago they were doing research on the process and I did the test myself as part of a control batch of "normal" drivers. It was a very interesting experience and completely different to the driving test you pass to get your license!