Cuba Road Race 1905

This article in a February 1905 edition of Motor Age. It is the story of the February 1905 100 mile Cuban road race won by native son Ernesto Carricaburo, driving a Mercedes. The event was called the Havana Cup and one of the organizers was "Senator" William J. Morgan, the principal driving force behind the original Ormond Beach tournament. The second place finisher was Irish-American driver Joe Tracy, best known for his exploits at the wheel of the Bridgeport, Connecticut-built Locomobile at the Vanderbilt Cup. Tracy's car, a "red bug" Renault,  was owned by a peculiar figure in auto racing history, Major Charles Miller. Miller was a bit of a flash in the pan, his greatest single contribution was providing Louis Chevrolet with his first race driving opportunity at the Morris Park, New York race track in May 1905. Miller, the son of millionaire Pennsylvania industrialist Major General Charles Miller a steel and oil tycoon as well as a top officer in the state's national guard benefited greatly from his father's success.
 
This article is interesting in light of the history of U.S. - Cuban relations over the past 100 years. The race was seen as part of an economic development strategy for the island nation as people like Senator Morgan dreamed of benefiting from tourist trade through business agreements with Cuban leaders. A Cuban road race was also held in 1906.