Classic
The upset stories of Cadillac at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Americans have an expression to symbolize their desire for greatness. “Bigger than life”: larger than life. Briggs Cunningham did not want to copy what his European comrades were doing. Born in Cincinnati (Ohio) in 1907, the adventurer grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. His banker father founded the powerful Citizen Bank, as well as a railroad company, the Pennsylvania Railroad. A student at Yale University, he developed a passion for sailing (he won the America's Cup in 1958) and fell in love with automobiles. To give you a good idea of the character's influence, the great Rudolf Caracciola (three-time European drivers' champion in the 1930s) even gave him the Mercedes-Benz SS that he bought during his honeymoon on the Old Continent in 1930. It was also during the Monaco GP that same year that he caught the racing bug. Back in the United States after a few short escapades, Briggs Cunningham gains in ambition at the same time as he obtains the inheritance left by his father after 35 years of waiting, upon leaving the
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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