The race would be long past its scheduled starting time. What happened? How long to wait? What if the race takes place without him? In so many ways, this aura of uncertainty surrounding a motor race would be a microcosm of what was happening in the country at large. However, in just a few moments, all of that would not matter at all. And, the cause for the unfortunate events would be a certain Ferrari 500TR, chassis 0690 MDTR.
In many respects, a trip to Havana at the end of February seemed just the answer before a season filled with racing. The trip to Havana was to also hold some answers for one of motor sport's biggest names and ambassadors.
Juan Manuel Fangio had just finished the 1957 season where he had driven on the limit, and often beyond it, to earn his fifth, and perhaps most dominant, World Championship. The remarkable comeback in the German Grand Prix would suggest there was still a lot of life in the Argentinean, despite being 46 years of age at the time. But the season would take a lot out of the champion. The title had come at a price. Furthermore, Maserati was out of Formula One. Many other teams were clamoring for his talents. This only added confusion and stress to the situation.
Unfortunately for Fangio, the 1958 would come around before he could really make a decision. Therefore, he would take part in the first round of the World Championship in his native Argentina, along with a sportscar and non-championship event. Though success was harder to come by with the older 250F, El Maestro would still come away with good results in the other races.
Even though he would never tire of being behind the wheel, it was obvious to those who knew him that he was agitated about the whole dilemma. Therefore, the trip to Cuba offered an opportunity to keep doing what he liked, but also, to perhaps have a moment to make the important decision to keep racing or not.
In addition to the great Fangio and the other top-flight drivers in the field, there would also be smaller privateer entries. One of those entries would be the Cuban Racing Team. In spite of the fact the team was a small privateer team they would be very serious in their intentions having a Ferrari 500 TR at their disposal. The team's driver would be young Armando Cifuentes. Armando was a capable racer, but only known around Cuba. Unfortunately, by the end of the weekend, his name would be in the newspapers throughout the country and practically around the world.
Though much of Cuba was adrift in revolution, President Fulgencio Batista would do his best to present to the world that all was normal and idyllic in beautiful Cuba. It would be this eagerness to put on a pleasant face that would lead to Fangio and his manager being invited to a special reception hosted by General Fernandez Miranda, Batista's minister of war. Fangio was apolitical, but his presence was seen by the administration as the perfect ambassador to confirm the Batista government.
Somewhat isolated in Havana, the rebel uprising would not be seen as a serious endeavor. In fact, a joke would be played on Fangio's manager during the course of the evening. The whole idea was that they would take Fangio's manager 'hostage' and force him into some rather compromising situations while Fangio himself looked on. The whole staged event would earn a laugh from Fangio. His manager would be left to put on a good face as there were none feeling sorry for what he was going through. The whole episode seemed innocent, if not childish. However, when Fangio arrived in the lobby of the hotel the next morning reality would come crashing home.
Fangio would arrive in the lobby and would be met by a young individual that would brandish a weapon pointed at point-blank range at Fangio. Initially, Fangio thought he was being paid back by his manager for the events of the evening before. However, when he witnessed the nervous, shaking young man and heard him say 'On behalf of the July 26 movement' he knew the situation was for real.
Fangio would be disguised slightly and would be led out of the hotel. Fangio would be treated politely and would even ask what the point of the whole episode was. Faustino Rodriguez, one of Castro's lieutenants, would lead the kidnapping. One of his men would explain the situation and the purpose of drawing attention to the movement throughout the world. Fangio quickly realized nothing would happen to him as it would actually hurt the cause instead of help further them. Therefore, the Argentinean settled in. The race organizers began to panic.
Racing's biggest star was nowhere to be seen and it was clear, by then, that he had been kidnapped. Everyone involved in the race tried to determine what to do. It was decided that the race would be postponed slightly to see if Fangio would be returned in time to start the race.
When Fangio awoke the next morning he would be greeted with a large breakfast. It would become evident very quickly that he would not make the race. The organizers did not know this and held out hope.
The start of the race would be delayed by a half an hour. As Fangio listened in, Maurice Trintignant would be given the task of taking his Maserati to the grid for the race. Though the Frenchman didn't know it at the time, Fangio would wish him good luck and would listen in to hear the events.
Up until this point, the whole affair had been nothing but political intrigue, two political forces sparing-off against each other. While the rebels were trying to make their point, Batista's officials and race officials would try and make a point of their own by carrying on with the event after a short delay.
Castro's forces believed that by taking the racing world's biggest name hostage the Batista's regime would receive the kind of backlash needed in order for the administration to be toppled from inside and outside pressure. However, as the cars headed around the circuit for just the sixth time, Armando Cifuentes' Ferrari 500TR, chassis 0690 MDTR, would provide much more tragic attention. As Fangio's tuned in to the race on the radio the political statement would quickly turn into a tragic one, and at the heart of the unfortunate events would be 0690 MDTR.
To finish the rest of this story and to read more stories surrounding some of the most exceptional and captivating automobiles in the world, check out 'Collectible: A Gathering of the Exceptional and Captivating'.
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The scene in and around the island nation of Cuba in 1958 would be that of sheer tension. Uprisings led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were more annoying to Batista's reign than anything else, but still, they fueled a feeling of insecurity and hatred all throughout the country. The beautiful city of Havana appeared a refuge from the storm with the sea sitting off in the distance and the warm temperatures and cool breezes offering respite from the worries of the winter months.
Fangio would be entered in the race and would take part in practice driving Jim Kimberely's Maserati 300S. He would later take part in qualifying with Temple Buell's Maserati 450S. The event would be filled with other top drivers such as Stirling Moss, Carroll Shelby, Jean Behra, Phil Hill and others. In spite of his indecision, and the presence of other great drivers, Fangio would still come through practice in the 450S to set the fastest lap. Immediately, the odds for victory would be in Fangio's favor.
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