[Fred Douglass]

Bob,
That was a terrific post. I have an interesting anecdote for you. When I lived in Fort Lauderdale as a teen-ager, I did so aboard a gorgeous 1929 65' house-boat (like a Trumpy---a yacht with a stack, tenders, etc., not a "trailer on a raft". Anyway, my classmates and I had begged our Dads to take us to the 1956 Sebring. We didn't get to go, but my friend's Dad covered this by promising to take us to HAVANA the following winter (1957---I think). Again---no go for me, but several neighbors with fast yachts DID go to Cuba. During this time, the Havana race was nsomething like a "formula libre" event (I think) but Fangio was going to drive a Mercedes. His countryman and sometime rival, Froilen (?) Gonsalves was also due to drive. All I know is the people came back all bummed out. Fangio had BEEN KIDNAPPED by anti-Battista rebels led by you-know-who. This is a true story, but I have now way of corroborating it, other than appealing to you and the other more knowledgeable types aboard this peerless site. Keep sending! PS the "insurrectos" later released Fangio, but too late for the race.