Past Gas #156: When Castro Kidnapped an F1 Superstar

Professional racecar driver Juan Manuel Fangio was eager to meet up with his friends and soak up the beautiful February evening in downtown Havana. After winning his fourth consecutive Formula One Drivers’ Championship, Fangio had been invited to Cuba by the president himself. But Fidel Castro’s comrades from the 26th of July movement had other plans. How did Juan Manuel Fangio go from his modest upbringing to become one of the most famous sports figures in the world? What makes his career in Formula One so special? And why on earth was he thrust into the middle of Cuba’s volatile political crises?! Today on Past Gas - the career and kidnapping of Juan Manuel Fangio. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Thanks to our sponsors: Get Valvoline for your car! Get $20 off your first fix at https://StitchFix.com/GAS Visit https://BetterHelp.com/pastgas today to get 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices