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From the Library
JUAN MANUEL FANGIO: MY TWENTY YEARS
OF RACING: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE
FIVE TIMES WORLD CHAMPION. Published in
association with “Motor” magazine by Temple
Press in 1961.
Continuing on from my last month’s autobiography of
Sir Jack Brabham, this is a review of the great
Argentinian formula one driver’s autobiography.
Juan Manuel Fangio: 24
June 1911 – 17 July 1995),
nicknamed El Chueco
("the bowlegged one", also
commonly translated as
"bandy legged") or El
Maestro ("The Master"),
was a racing car driver
from Argentina. He
dominated the first decade of Formula One racing,
winning the World Drivers' Championship five times in
’51, ‘54, ‘55, ‘56 and ’57!
He won 24 World
Championship
Grands Prix from 52 entries – a winning percentage of
46.15%, the best in the sport's history (Alberto Ascari,
who is in second, holds a percentage of 40.63%)
From looking at the internet entries of the various
international book sellers, it is apparent that this book was,
in its day, an eagerly anticipated book that sold well and
still available second hand $40-$100. Much of its appeal is
from the 55 evocative black and white ’plates’ generously
spread throughout the book. There is an excellent index
and an appendix of all his major races. The book, with added commentary in italics by his
close friend and manager traces in his
own words his racing history from
the early days of road racing in
Argentina commencing in 1938, his
success with modified Chevrolet road
cars (and winning the 1940
International Grand Prix of the
North-actually a rally-(a 11,072 km
race from Buenos Aires to Lima in
Peru and back again in 13 stages).
From those early days Fangio’s ability
to perform over long distances
emerged.
Fangio, unlike later Formula One
Chaos at Bureau de Tabac, Monaco
Grand Prix 1950
Fangio's road racing Chevrolet
coupe
Farina and Ascari (both Ferrari) lead Fangio (Maserati)
past Peter Collins (HWM) at Lesmo corner, Italian Grand
Prix at Monza 1953