Castro’s mens motive were simple, capture the biggest name in motorsport and reap the publicity it would give them, it would also “show up” the current government.  None the less Cuban president Batista would not be outdone and ordered the race to continue as usual while  police hunted down the kidnappers. Batista’s vision had always been for the capitol to become a Latino Las Vegas, where rich tourists from the United States would pump money into the country’s coffers. And Grand Prix racing was the sports of the rich and famous. So the race was not going to stop.

Fangio had won the first Cuban race in 1957 and came back to defend his title with other big name drivers like Stirling Moss. Staying at the luxurious Hotel Lincoln Juan was kidnapped and Moss was kept under heavy guard throughout the night. “It was a very disturbing night,” Moss recalled”. Fangio, meanwhile, was being well treated eating steak and potatoes before sleeping in a well furnished apartment. It would be very bad publicity indeed if the revolutionaries were to harm the world famous driver.

As per the orders of Batista, the cars were fired up that morning in front of the 150,000-strong crowd. Maurice Trintignant would fill in for the missing Fangio in his Maserati. Meanwhile  time the great Argentinean had been given a personal apology by Castro’s second in command, Faustino Perez. And would soon be released. But things were not to go well at the track.

The race started well with Moss and fellow Ferrari driver Maston Gregory taking an early lead in a close fight. But by lap five the track was covered in oil, a situation organisers suspected may be a second rebel sabotage, it was later discovered that Roberto Miere’s Porsche had a broken oil line. Cars were sliding dangerously close to the barriers, and being a street circuit these barriers were the only thing that separated the cars from the spectators. On the next lap the inevitable happened, a local driver  lost control of his Ferrari and went head-on into a bunch of spectators lining the circuit. 40 people were injured and seven killed as the wreckage took out a make-shift bridge and flew over the crash barriers.

Juan Manuel Fangio

Moss, unaware of the extent of the tragedy, continued racing against Gregory and passed to beat him to the finish line even thought technically the red flag was out stopping the race. Maston could have filed a protest but Moss talked him into pooling their winnings and splitting it knowing it would take years for the dispute to be resolved, Good thing because Castro’s revolution was successful over the New Year. It was not until 1960, at the Camp Columbia military airfield, that motor racing resumed.

The driver who had lost control  was rather unfairly charged with manslaughter while still fighting for his life in hospital and criminal charges were also filed against “person or persons unknown” for kidnapping Fangio.

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Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Painting Process Video
Video below shows the painting process. Screen shots taken during the painting of this Gurney Eagle formula one race car . Starts as a tight pencil sketch and that is scanned into Photoshop for creation of a high resolution digital painting. Most of the detail work is done using a Wacom Cintiq LCD tablet and painting from photo reference to ensure accuracy.

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Artist Print Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail. Print is signed by the artist. Gurney Eagle 13 x 19 inch Art Print

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13x19" $19.95

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kUIj8Riiy4

The Tyrrell 006 was a Formula One car designed and built by the Tyrrell Racing Organisation. It was introduced towards the end of 1972. In the hands of Jackie Stewart it won the Drivers’ Championship for the 1973 Formula One season.

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Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Prints are carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is the best in art reproductions that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipper flat between cardboard sheets for protection and to not cause mounting an framing issues.

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Jackie Stewart Tyrrell 006 Print

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12.5x16.5 $19.95

Ferrari 312 T2 as it won the 1977 German Grand Prix in the hands of Niki Lauda.

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Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Artist Print
Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail.

Print is signed by the artist.

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Niki Lauda Ferrari 312 TS Print 

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13x19 $19.95

Did this years ago as a traditional acyclic on illustration board but always thought it could be done better digitally. Scanned the original painting and repainted the image in Photoshop. Nigel Mansell in the 1992 Williams FW14B under hard braking with the carbon fiber brakes glowing, front skid plates throwing sparks and the engine spitting fire on the overrun.

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Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Artist Print
Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail.

Print is signed by the artist.

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Williams FW14B 18.5 x 7.5 inch Art Print

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8 x19" $19.95

In his first Grand Prix start of the 1971 season Mario Andretti driving for the Ferrari team qualified fourth on the grid for the South African Grand Prix. Run on the Kyalami circuit Andretti ran in the top six for the first half of the race. As the race was winding down, Andretti began to make his move on the leading McLaren of Denny Hulme. With four laps to go, Andretti had closed to one second behind Hulme. It was during these last four laps that suspension problems hit the McLaren car and Andretti grabbed the lead. When the checkered flag came out, Mario Andretti had won his first of many Grands Prix victories 21 seconds ahead of Jackie Stewart.

Print Detail

Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Artist Print
Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail.

Print is signed by the artist.

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Mario’s First Win Print

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12.5x18 $19.95

Print Detail

Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Artist Print
Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail.

Print is signed by the artist.

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Lorenzo Bandini Ferrari 312 Print

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13x19 $19.95

Jackie Stewart driving a Tryrrell in the Rain

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Jackie Stewart in the Rain Artist Print

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12.75x18 $19.95

Print Detail

Unique and wonderfully detailed, Not merely filtered photographs like some art you will see, these are carefully crafted digital paintings that capture the beauty of the subject car.

Artist Print
Print is carefully printed on quality heavy weight stock by the artist using fade proof pigmented inks to last a lifetime. This is best in art reproduction that captures incredible photo quality detail and remarkable color. When matted and frame these prints look fabulous. Prints are shipped in a flat bend proof mailer by First Class Mail.

Print is signed by the artist.

Print Info

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Schumacher Ferrari Print

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12.75x18 $19.95

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