Journal of Motorsport Culture & History Volume 1 Issue 1 Article 5 2019 Automovilismo Cubano – Cuban Motorsports: A Brief 20th and 21st Century Cultural and Political History Tom Adamich Monroe County Community College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.una.edu/jmotorsportculturehistory Part of the Latin American Studies Commons, Other Political Science Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Adamich, T. (2020). Automovilismo Cubano – Cuban Motorsports: A Brief 20th and 21st Century Cultural and Political History. Journal of Motorsport Culture & History, 1 (1). Retrieved from https://ir.una.edu/ jmotorsportculturehistory/vol1/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by UNA Scholarly Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Motorsport Culture & History by an authorized editor of UNA Scholarly Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Automovilismo Cubano – Cuban Motorsports: A Brief 20th and 21st Century Cultural and Political History Cover Page Footnote Photo courtesy of Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Producer, Havana Motor Club movie (2015); used with permission. This article is available in Journal of Motorsport Culture & History: https://ir.una.edu/jmotorsportculturehistory/vol1/ iss1/5 Adamich: Cuban Motorsports: A Brief Cultural & Political History Introduction – Cubans and Cars As one examines the history of Cuban motorsports from the early years of the 20th century to today, one must base that examination on the economic, social, and cultural landscape of Cuba in the mass transportation era (with origins in the early 19th century). In the case of Cuba’s economic growth, the rise and dominance of the country as an important producer and supplier of commodities (sugar cane and tobacco being the most notable) appears to be a point of origin for the development of transportation systems (both rail and shipping). With respect to the former, the first railroad began operations on November 17, 1837 (the result of the Junta de Formento’s – Board of Development’s – planning efforts, which began shortly after the group was formed in 1832).1 Relative to the latter, Cuba’s strategic geographic position as a port serving Europe and the Americas (as well as the development of both the aforementioned sugar cane and tobacco / cigar manufacturing industries) was clearly evident.2 In the early years, sugar cane and tobacco production took place on large plantations; labor was supplied by a robust slave trade until the mid- 19th century when a mass immigration from Europe brought European white settlers (from Spain -- under which it was still under political control -- and surrounding countries) and a wage-based economy.3As the 19th century ended and the 20th century began (with Cuba gaining independence from Spain on 1 January 1899 and functioning under United States control until 1902)4, the importance of both industries (as well as American influence over them, as well as the economic activities of the country) grew exponentially. The 1903 Reciprocity Treaty (where Cuba was guaranteed a 20% market share in the United States for raw sugar cane with low tariffs) contributed greatly to the economic growth of Cuban industry and wealth development.5 As a result, the need for skilled sugar cane and tobacco plantation workers was satisfied by the European white settlers to work the fields and aid in shipping preparation activities. It is these European white settlers, primarily of Spanish origin, as well as the participation of other nationalities who were part of in the industrial age in their respective countries (Europe, the United States, and the Americas) that introduced motorsports to Cuba. Not only were 1 Fernández, Luis, et al. Encyclopedia of Cuba: People, History, Culture. 2003. Retrieved August 24, 2016 from http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/59869/1/ENCICLOPEDIA.pdf 2 Watkins, Thayer. The Economic History of Havana, Cuba: A City so Beautiful and Important It was Once Worth More Than All of Florida. [2012] Retrieved August 24, 2016 from http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/havana.htm 3 Ibid. 4 History of Cuba. (2016, August 22). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:43, August 26, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Cuba&oldid=735713621 5 Derubín, Jacome. Autos in Cuba 1920 – “The Dance of Millions”. 2012. In “Cuba in Memory”. Retrieved August 26, 2016 from https://cubaenlamemoria.wordpress.com/2012/page/4/ Published by UNA Scholarly Repository, 2019 1 Journal of Motorsport Culture & History, Vol. 1 [2019], Iss. 1, Art. 5 participants attracted to Cuba’s tropical climate and flat-to-rolling plains topography6, they saw great opportunity in creating a motorsports mecca in the region (hereafter referred to as the Americas) with international appeal. The opportunity to promote their country-of-origin connections to motorsports and how those experiences influenced their new life in Cuba made early Cuban racing events historically significant, exciting and transformative from an international perspective. Cuban motorsports historian Orlando A. Pulido Morales divides Cuban motorsports development into three distinct eras: • Stage 1 – 1880-1930 (The American influence and early development of the automobile industry) • Stage 2 – 1931-1959 (Building of Cuba’s Central Highway and the Cuban transportation network) • Stage 3 – 1959- (Post Cuban revolution, the American embargo, and new international relations)7 Thus, the context and groundwork for Stage-specific events like the Havana Cup (the I Carrera Internacional de Autos de Cuba or First International Car Race in Cuba) as well as notable participants and vehicles is clearly evident. Havana Cup – Origins of Road Racing in the Americas One of the earliest attempts to stage an organized international motorsports road race (i.e. grand prix) in the Americas (as opposed to the developing track-based racing event) was what can be considered the I Carrera Internacional de Autos de Cuba or First International Car Race in Cuba -- later known as the Havana Cup. The race started in Arroyo Arenas, and it ended in San Christobal. 8 Morales indicates that the small 158 kilometer race (6 participants) was actually significant in that it took place less than two years after the fateful 1903 Paris-to-Madrid road race (often referred to as the “Race to Death”).9 The Paris-to-Madrid Race (the light car / voiturette car road race where early, notable motorsports pioneers -- the Frenchman, Renault co- founder Marcel Renault, and famed English racer Lorraine Barrow --died) had, according to Jarrott, been so destructive that the French government seized the participants’ vehicles and 6 Geography of Cuba. (2016, July 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:42, August 24, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Cuba&oldid=730832766 7 Morales Pulido, Orlando. La Historia del Automóvil en Cuba [History of Car Racing in Cuba]. 1898. [Club de Autos Clasicos y Antiquos] Portions retrieved August 24, 2016 from http://www.alocubano.org/index.php/en/cuba- car-history . 8 Amigos de Fangio La Peňa. Cars in Cuba. Retrieved August 26, 2016 from http://www.amigosdefangio.org/cuba- car-history 9 Morales Pulido, Orlando. First Cuban International Car Race. Retrieved August 24, 2016 from http://www.alocubano.org/index.php/en/cuba-car-history/10-primera-carrera-internacional-de-autos-en-cuba- https://ir.una.edu/jmotorsportculturehistory/vol1/iss1/5 2 Adamich: Cuban Motorsports: A Brief Cultural & Political History arranged rail transportation for them to return to their points of origin.10 Its impact hampered similar large-scale road racing events in Europe for several years thereafter. Yet, the desire to continue to expand motorsports events (including road racing, track racing, endurance racing and related activities) continued to grow in 1905, with the French hosting two major races (the Eliminatoires Françaises de la Coupe Internationale and Coupe Gordon Bennett); the Germans continuing the Frankfurt Circuit Race and the Bahrenfeld Race (the former first run in 1900); the British staging the inaugural English Elimination Trials; the Italians promoting the latest iteration of the Coppa series (the Coppa Florio); and the Americans running another Vanderbilt Cup race (started in 1904) and a Vanderbilt Elimination Race.11 A Paris-to-Madrid race alumnus and American, Joseph Tracy (piloting a 30 horsepower Renault who also participated in five Vanderbilt Cup races from 1904-1906)12, H. W. Fletcher (driving a French produced 90 horsepower De-Dietrich)13, H. A. Robinson (who drove a 40 horsepower De-Dietrich), and Joseph Birk (driving a 40 horsepower Mercedes), were joined by Cubans Ernesto Carricaburn (60 horsepower Mercedes) and Ramon Mendoza (90 horsepower Mercedes). 14 Fellow Americans E. R. Thomas and Edward Hawley did not compete as the former’s 90 horsepower Mercedes collided with an ox cart during preliminary trials.15 Carricaburn eventually proved victorious, covering the distance in 1:50:53 3-5 with an average speed of 53 7-10 kilometers per hour.16 While some disputed the victory (due to the fact that Carricaburn had started 30 minutes later than Tracy), it was determined that Tracy’s “broken pipe and fallen battery” robbed him of the victory.17 Other controversies included the lack of spectators as well as the support of the newly-formed “International Automobile Racing Association of Cuba”. 18 Yet, history would prove to show that the inaugural race established a culture of motorsports that would grow as rapidly as the development, production and use of the motorcar itself grew after 1905. 10 Jarrott, Charles. The Race to Death [Paris – Madrid Race of 1903]. Retrieved August 24, 2016 from http://www.grandprixhistory.org/paris1903.htm 11 Motorsport before 1906. (2016, May 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:27, August 26, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Motorsport_before_1906&oldid=719910696 12 Kroplick, Howard. Starting Lineup: The 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race.