7 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

From the pages of American newspapers dated March 1912, the Motorsport-Memorial team have found a fatality happened during an unknown "International race" held at La Habana, Cuba on 10 March 1912.
A Mercer 30 HP driven by Valverdi went off the road, Valverdi was killed and probably also his riding-mechanic lost his life.
http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=4917

Have you even heard about this fact? Did you know an International Race at Cuba on March 1912?

[Darren Galpin]

I hadn't got as far as 1912 in my researches yet, but it is quite possible. Races were held at the Malecoa, Havana, in 1908, and I've also seen an article in a US newspaper which states that a race track was built near Camp Columbia, Havana (near a US Marine base) in 1908. These are in addition to the earlier races in 1905 and 1906 discussed on another Atlas thread somewhere.

[Nanni Dietrich]

http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=4917

Teódulo Valhuerdi - or according to different sources, Valverdi - and his riding-mechanic Rosario González were killed in 1912 at Cuba.

[Gyaku]

Hello, I would like to mention that I am a relative of Teódulo Valhuerdi (which is the correct spelling, not Valverdi) and he was indeed killed during an auto race in Cuba. Teódulo's nephew (my grandfather's brother) would also be named Teódulo in honor of his uncle. It seems racing is in our family's blood as all the Valhuerdi men enjoy driving fast.

[Darren Galpin]

Hi Gyaku - great to hear from you! Do you have any photos or other information about racing in Cuba at that time? There were occasional reports about certain winners in the US newspapers at the time, but very little detail.

[Gyaku]

Well actually I'm not much of a racing fan, although my uncle is a big F1 fan. I was looking up the family name when I remembered my grandfather (b. 1917) had told me that his uncle was a race car driver and had been killed racing in Cuba. Someone asked me for more information and/or a picture of Teódulo, but this might be difficult as my grandfather is deceased and many of our family's possessions were in Cuba when the revolution began. I will see if I can find out more for you.

[Jose]

I hadn't got as far as 1912 in my researches yet, but it is quite possible. Races were held at the Malecoa, Havana, in 1908, and I've also seen an article in a US newspaper which states that a race track was built near Camp Columbia, Havana (near a US Marine base) in 1908. These are in addition to the earlier races in 1905 and 1906 discussed on another Atlas thread somewhere.

"El Malecon"..

Cool Info.

[Jose]

Well actually I'm not much of a racing fan, although my uncle is a big F1 fan. I was looking up the family name when I remembered my grandfather (b. 1917) had told me that his uncle was a race car driver and had been killed racing in Cuba. Someone asked me for more information and/or a picture of Teódulo, but this might be difficult as my grandfather is deceased and many of our family's possessions were in Cuba when the revolution began. I will see if I can find out more for you.

Slightly O/T but .. Do you know where I can get Cuba GP Footage of the 50's/60's? On DVD/VHS in Ntsc/Region 1 Format?

Thanks

Jose