Motorsport Stories: Fangio
When you mention Fangio, most people remember his kidnapping in 1958, in Cuba, and his 5 world titles with 4 teams. There's more.
He came from the land of Asado, Mate and Tango but he probably never actually danced once, because he was fundamentally shy and because he was bowlegged.
Juan Manuel Fangio, 5-time world champion, like Lewis and before Lewis and, some would say, in an F1 world that was tougher than the one Lewis is experiencing. But that's speculation because there is no way to assess whether this is better than that, or whether that was harder than this. This has been discussed over and over again, talking about glory and resume, but perhaps this isn't about honours and titles, it's more about nostalgia.
Fangio was born in Balcarce, Argentina, in dire straits, and he grew up wanting to play football. He was left-footed and very good at it, he knew how to "bend it". He gave up his studies to work as a mechanic and he never actually took part in any race until 1938, aged 27, when he race a Ford V8 at the "Turismo Carretera", a touring car rally series in Argentina.
Fangio had a complicated relationship with Enzo Ferrari, the two of them never really got along. Fangio was fast and silent, never really outspoken and always reluctant to give in to levity. They shared incredible success but they never really warmed each other's heart.
ph: getty
He debuted in Formula 1 in 1950, aged 39. He came, he won, he left. Retiring just 8 years after, in 1958, after he'd seen too many colleagues and friends die at the wheel during those years when F1 was indeed a dangerous sport. He set several records, many of which still stand today. Oldest world champion at 46, highest percentage of wins and poles. But we don't remember him for the records. We think of him as a legend.
He died, aged 84, in his hometown in Balcarce, in 1995.
ph: IMDB
Now, in 2018, what we're left with is memories and photographs, and a museum, in Balcarce, in his honour.
Fangio was the product of a world that doesn't exist anymore and he raced in environments that have changed. He didn't have a million buttons on his steering wheel and when the practice was done, he exchanged words with his mechanics, not engineers, because the F1 he lived in and raced in and won in was more mechanical and less technological.
It was Fangio and the car and the car and Fangio. Not much else. And I guess that's why we still love him today.
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Comments (21)
And we've got quotes.
true, but I'm always wary with quotes because oftentimes they were either exaggerated or invented. The one by George Best is probably one of the most famous quotes that were actually never said. "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast...
Read moreYes, some untruths are just beautiful.
I heard a story from a man who drove Fangio to an 80th birthday celebration in Italy. He said he was driving on the Autostrada at 80 miles an hour . After a while Fangio asked if he could drive. The fellow said yes and pulled into a rest area. Fangio got behind the wheel and drove at 120 mph the rest of the way.
well it might as well be true and accurate. Italy's take on speeding has always been lenient
Now you can recreate that feelings, that Fangio had.
woah! Now that's something. Where was this?
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During a trip to Havana I visited the hotel he was kidnapped from.
A truly great driver.
I heard about that. I heard about a plaque and yes, apparently there really is one
It’s understandable, but no one I talked to in Havana knew anything about him.
Kind of sad.
#motorsport #formula1 #enzoferrari #juanmanuelffangio #fangio #speed #f1fans