Ferrari's at Cuba G.P.

I have John Kilborn as driver of 0558 LM for the 1957 Gran Premio de Cuba, while Carroll Shelby drove the car in practise.

 

I have some knowledge about the Cuban GP's. I am very close to Armando Garcia Cifuentes (lunch 2 or 3 times a month), who is thankfully in great shape. Armando unfortunately had a serious accident during the 1958 Cuba GP, driving the TRC #0690 MDTR, resulting in a number of spectator fatalities. He is my living reference of the glory days.

My father, Julio Batista Falla, was on the organizing comittee for the 58 GP. The TRC #0698 MDTR was purchased by my father from Enzo in 57 and raced by him during the season, and was later sold to the Cuban Racing Team in 1958.

If anybody has seen the "Malecon" in Havana, you can imagine what a great spectator race the Cuba GP must have been. I have many period documents of that time, tell me if you are interested in anything in particular, I might be able to help.

Cheers,

Julio

 

Hi, please post what you have on the Ferrari entries. I have files on the Ferrari cars involved and would very much like to add information not so far available. You may also contact me at tongascrew@msn.com. Please let us hear from you. Thanks much. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

Hello Julio,

I could not find any picture of Armando Garcia Cifuentes to enter my database of drivers of all times,a picture as a driver,can you help me?

Pannos

 

There are a couple of contemporary pics of Armando and the 500 TRC # 0690 on this Autosport thread :-

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=100110&view=findpost&p=4225722

Sadly the car is now alleged to be powered by a V12 from a 250 GT Lusso !

Best

Art Tidesco

http://psychoontyres.blogspot.com/

 

I finally found some pictures of Armando. Here is his car after the accident at the Cuba GP, 60 years later he can be seen sitting with me in 0217el, and finally he can be seen signing a print of 0690.

My father raced him once at the Nassau speed week, with his own 500 TRC, 0698.

I spent a great day with Armando! He currently lives in Madrid.

Cheers,

Julio
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Julio,
Love the story and pictures. Please don't hesitate to post more. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

George

 

... for sharing those photo's

Like George says if you have any more Cuban GP pix please share them

Best

Art

http://psychoontyres.blogspot.com/

 

Julio, thank for the pictures and info. Do you know much about that print of 0690 he is signing? Is it a limited edition? How many were made? Who the artist is? Where i might be able to find one?
Thanks

James

 

Hi Julio.

Your father's car at Cuba 1958 in a quite dramatic photo with an injured person on the hood.

Best
Boudewijn
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Great picture Boudewijn!

Here are a few more from Havana in 1957. Let's try to identify cars or drivers.
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Great pictures... You can identify cars & drivers with the list in post #1.

 

Peter Collins 500 TR 0654MDTR n°38

Masten Gregory/Wolfang von Trips 500 TR 0652MDTR n°42

Piero Carini 375 Plus 0396AM n°78



what race exact, please

"I finally found some pictures of Armando. Here is his car after the accident at the Cuba GP, 60 years later he can be seen sitting with me in 0217el, and finally he can be seen signing a print of 0690.

My father raced him once at the Nassau speed week, with his own 500 TRC, 0698"

 

#24 Jaguar D-type XKD503 Alfonso Gomez Mena

 

Julio,
Do you know much about that print of 0690 Armando is signing? Is it a limited edition? How many were made? Who the artist is?

James

 

I am very curious about this D-Type, or possibly another, as my father in law imported one to El Salvador. He was the Jag dealer at the time, and it was white. The car did go to Cuba, raced by Trintignant as the owners weren't allowed to race it due to lack of proper licensing.

Trintignant, for some reason, was available to race it, after attacking the perspex with a hacksaw as too high for his rather low stature.
Uncertain about which year though.

It eventually went back to Coventry for damage repair, before, or after Cuba, and came back red (as the original burned down in the factory fire) with the same chassis numbers. This D-Type was sold in Miami around 61-63.
If anyone has more info, I would appreciate it.

Regards, Alberto

 

Hi James,

The print is part of a limited series dedicated to Spanish racing drivers, comissioned by a motor racing historian who is a good friend and lives in Asturias. I don't know who the artist is. If you wish I can ask him if he wouldn't mind if I PM you his Email. I have another print of Armando and my father racing at the Nassau speed week, but I have just discovered that it might descibe an "imaginary" situation.

Julio

 

Please see my previous post. I know my father raced at Nassau and so did Armando, but now I am not sure that they ever raced there at the same time. I will keep looking and will share my conclusions.

 

Hola soy Arturo González-Pola, soy familia lejana de Julio Pola y estuve en el homenaje que le hicieron en Oviedo. A este homenaje asistió Armando García Cifuentes y estuvimos hablando con él. Se editó un libro sobre el automóvil en Asturias de Fernando de la Hoz donde hay un amplio reportaje, tanto de Julio Pola, como de Armando Cifuentes. No sé cómo puedo subir fotos o documentos en este blog, pero si alguien está interesado no tiene más que escribirme a mi e-mail arturogpola@gmail.com.
Saludos

 

Hola Arturo,

Desgraciadamente yo no pude acudir al homenaje, soy buen amigo de fernando de la Hoz, que ha estado varias veces en mi casa viendo mis coches. El libro de Fernando es muy bueno, y su labor admirable.

Saludos,

Julio

 

Thanks Julio! That would be great.. PM me his email. That print looks very, very nice..

James

 

Many thanks to everyone involved in this thread. This is just the kind of stuff that I love to see. Copies of pix and text will go into the files on each of these MDTR cars. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

The Carreras car at Cuba probably was 0678MDTR, not 0698MDTR.
This colored photo comes from the Barclay Boys website and shows 0678MDTR at Sebring 1958, one month after the Cuban race.
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