Miguel Sánchez
One of the most exciting issues in the world of historical motorsports is carrying out research in search of units that are as notable as they are forgotten. In this way, starting an investigation can lead us to a detective plot where we can find everything. In fact, many times it is not uncommon to have to contrast stories from different fans; sometimes covering the existence of vehicles with which they have laundered black money, other times simply hiding with a private and absurd zeal what is contained in their garages.
With all this, the researcher must remain silent and know how to guard. Sometimes frustrated by not being able to show a large collection of motorcycles from the XNUMXs, other times having to ignore how an attempt has been made to erase the trace of an obvious clue. Thus, the search for historically notable vehicles still has many surprises in store for us for those who know how to look in the right places.
Some as surprising as Venezuela, where even today the location of some of the competition models that emerged so much there during the XNUMXs could be credible. But let's go in parts. To begin with, the first thing to understand would be the reason why this South American country had such an automobile scene about seven decades ago. And if, the reason is oil. Not surprisingly, Venezuela rose at the time as one of the main fuel suppliers for the US economy.
Furthermore, since the end of World War II an unquestionable wave of North American capital began to cross the Venezuelan extractive system. An investment phenomenon secured politically by the military regime of Marcos Pérez Jiménez who, for more information, turned out to be an avowed sports car enthusiast, even having a Mercedes 300 SL in his garage.
Thus, among the oil elite of Caracas a clear interest in automobile racing began to take shape. In the first place, by giving free rein to the airs of "Gentelman racer" so characteristic of the time but, at the same time, also for an obvious need to promote Venezuela and its oil resources throughout the entire capitalist West. Due to this, in 1955 the first edition of the Caracas GP was held, bringing together drivers like Fangio or Alfonso de Portago on the starting grid, even without scoring for any international championship.
https://youtu.be/Q4j3Px8YiaI?si=WJtyQW41-EMbFXqT
Likewise, during the year following Caracas, the presence of Stirling Moss was attracted, who took victory at the wheel of one of the factory team's Maseratis. After all this, the third edition finally managed to qualify for the Brand World Cup, changing its name to that of the 1.000 Kilometers of Caracas. At this point, in that first - and last - edition of 1957 the best of motorsports met in the Venezuelan capital to celebrate that test that, during that season, shared the calendar with Sebring, Mille Miglia, Buenos Aires, Nürburgring, Kristianstad and, of course, Le Mans.
However, the painful design of the layout turned all hopes of establishing a race of such magnitude upside down in Caracas. First of all, each of the laps seemed to be designed with the sole intention of blowing the gearboxes. In addition, the urban circuit of those 1.000 kilometers did not take into account the dangers of competing at high speeds with all kinds of street furniture. In this way, what Phil Hill described as “a surreal nightmare” It was never called again.
Now. That said, the truth is that that embarrassing ending did not erase the fact that, throughout the 300s, the sports scene fueled by oil corporations had imported a large number of vehicles to Caracas. Vehicles from such notable brands as Maserati, Ferrari, Mercedes – no less than forty XNUMX SLs arrived.”Gullwing”- or AC.
In fact, due to their excellent racing performance, the British company's models managed to be especially popular among Venezuelan pilot-customers. Of course, when many of these left the country in search of new businesses - as crude oil extraction increased in Arab countries, the financial elite of Caracas saw its position diminished - a large number of those sports cars fell into disgrace.
Due to this, while some were literally forgotten and lost forever, others were sold to local fans who ended up terribly altering their original state. A situation rarely seen in other parts and that, ultimately, has fueled a detective scene in the South American country under the promise of, even today, being able to find a high-altitude find like the one made by HK-Engineering some eight years ago. This one, specifically, related to 300 SL perfectly recoverable.
In fact, while the aforementioned Mercedes retains its original engine, in other recoveries the effort made had to be much greater. And it is that, when the AC thanks to which we illustrate this article was taken to the United Kingdom for its restoration, it did retain its serial mechanics since it had been replaced by an American V8 Tuned for drag racing. Fortunately, stuntman Gregg Margetts managed to reconstruct the body based on a large amount of photographic material; in addition, he incorporated a two-liter engine corresponding to the original specifications.
After similar and exquisite work with a British invoice, this AC delivered in 1955 to Renny Ottolina -one of the most famous television characters in Venezuela- finally recovered its original splendor including its striking livery with the national flag. The one that shined during the 1.000 Kilometers of Caracas because, yes, this unit competed in the controversial test piloted by Renny Ottolina himself. A man, who despite finishing last in position number 21, could boast of having survived such a “surreal nightmare”. Tremendous marimbazo.
Photographs: AC Heritage
