Description
Vintage Car Racing Poster
The 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba, held in Havana on February 25, 1958, and a race distance of 500 Km, was famously won by Stirling Moss driving a Ferrari 335 S. The event is primarily remembered for the dramatic events surrounding it rather than the race itself.
Key Events of the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix
Fangio's Kidnapping: On the eve of the race, five-time Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped from his hotel by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement rebels. The rebels intended to use the high-profile event to draw international attention to the Cuban Revolution and embarrass the government of Fulgencio Batista. Fangio was held for just over a day and released unharmed after the race, reportedly developing a friendly rapport with his captors.
Tragic Accident: The race proceeded despite the kidnapping, but was tragically cut short after just six laps due to a major accident. Inexperienced local driver Armando Garcia Cifuentes lost control of his Ferrari on an oil slick and ploughed into a large crowd of spectators lining the street circuit on the Malecón, killing seven people and injuring many more.
Race Results: The race was red-flagged following the crash, and Stirling Moss was declared the winner based on the standings at that point.
The event quickly became a significant moment in both motorsport history and the Cuban Revolution, highlighting the political instability in the country.
Poster Design: The original 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba poster was designed in Italy by an artist working for the De Tomaso company, but the specific name of the designer is unknown in the search results.
The posters were intended to be shipped to Havana by air, but they were mistakenly sent by ship and arrived two weeks after the event had concluded. As a result, the organizers ended up using a simple reprint of the previous year's 1957 poster to advertise the 1958 race, and the unused 1958 posters were reportedly burned.
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The 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba, held in Havana on February 25, 1958, and a race distance of 500 Km, was famously won by Stirling Moss driving a Ferrari 335 S. The event is primarily remembered for the dramatic events surrounding it rather than the race itself.
Key Events of the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix
Fangio's Kidnapping: On the eve of the race, five-time Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped from his hotel by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement rebels. The rebels intended to use the high-profile event to draw international attention to the Cuban Revolution and embarrass the government of Fulgencio Batista. Fangio was held for just over a day and released unharmed after the race, reportedly developing a friendly rapport with his captors.
Tragic Accident: The race proceeded despite the kidnapping, but was tragically cut short after just six laps due to a major accident. Inexperienced local driver Armando Garcia Cifuentes lost control of his Ferrari on an oil slick and ploughed into a large crowd of spectators lining the street circuit on the Malecón, killing seven people and injuring many more.
Race Results: The race was red-flagged following the crash, and Stirling Moss was declared the winner based on the standings at that point.
The event quickly became a significant moment in both motorsport history and the Cuban Revolution, highlighting the political instability in the country.
Poster Design: The original 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba poster was designed in Italy by an artist working for the De Tomaso company, but the specific name of the designer is unknown in the search results.
The posters were intended to be shipped to Havana by air, but they were mistakenly sent by ship and arrived two weeks after the event had concluded. As a result, the organizers ended up using a simple reprint of the previous year's 1957 poster to advertise the 1958 race, and the unused 1958 posters were reportedly burned.
