Dinner with Racers

As relations between Cuba and the U.S. continue to transform, Ryan and Sean decide to visit the one-of-a-kind “classic car culture” the country is known for. With the political landscape creating some of the most resourceful gearheads on the planet, our hosts learn just what Cuban ingenuity really means. Most importantly, Cuba has a unique place in motorsport history, which our hosts are about to uncover.

Continuing our hosts’ journey through Cuba, we take our first of a four-part look at the famed kidnapping of Juan Manuel Fangio. A five-time Formula One World Champion by 1958, the Argentine Grand Prix driver arrived at the burgeoning Cuban Grand Prix looking to repeat his previous year’s victory. Fate, however, would have other plans as Fidel Castro and his revolutionary 26th of July movement sought to publicly embarrass Cuba’s President, Fulgencio Batista, by kidnapping the event’s biggest star. In this episode, we take a look at the origins of each character… through song?

In this installment we take a look at the famed kidnapping of Juan Manuel Fangio. A five-time Formula One World Champion by 1958, the Argentine Grand Prix driver arrived at the burgeoning Cuban Grand Prix looking to repeat his previous year’s victory. Fate, however, would have other plans as Fidel Castro and his revolutionary 26th of July movement sought to publicly embarrass Cuba’s President, Fulgencio Batista, by kidnapping the event’s biggest star. In this episode, we examine the kidnapping itself, including interviews with some of the people who were there.

Having been successfully kidnapped by Cuban rebels during the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix, this episode takes a look at his multiple hideouts that Juan Manuel Fangio was kept at during the ordeal. Transported to three different locales in order to evade the authorities, our hosts’ journey through Cuba takes them to see the actual locations, in addition to expert commentary on just what happened.

With the kidnapping of Juan Fangio successfully completed and the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix over, our final installment of the series looks at the returning of the champion back to the authorities, and the resulting fallout.