GRAND PRIX OF MOROCCO 1958

New evidences

Sir Striling Moss, Vanwall driver:
29 years old in 1958

Professional driver

1. Do you remember this race? Which is your first feeling on this race?

Yes, I remember it: I had to win, keep the best lap and Mike Hawthorn had to finish in lower part of the second place.
At the end he only was second at one lap, Phil Hill behind him. And if my memories are correct, this last had let him pass.

2. Is this circuit was different compared to the other European and American layouts? Was it protected?

One cannot compare the circuits of the Fifties with those of today. They was urban circuits, maybe on public routes, they kept all their charm.
This layout was dangerous...we liked all the danger. It was exciting! You can imagine how life was different when one accepted danger in the automobile sport! And if you do not like that, you change sport! 

3. Of course, the pressure was to maximum. Which were the difficulties for you and your team?

At that time, I had all my importance in the title, perhaps too... I had not had enough respect for the others pilots. I was the only one in the world. It was my problem.

4. You thought the strategy of the Vanwall team was good?

Yes, because we had won the race and Ferrari had not been able to stop us.

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Philippe Hugon, former inhabitant of Casablanca, impassioned of car:
15 year old in 1958

Spectator

1. How the people perceived the fact of organizing a Grand Prix in Casablanca ?

For people around me, it was enthusiasm, but much “made” in the car.

With my closest buddies, one was like the insane ones.

 

2. How the event was made known?

I do not remember any more, but probably by the press and the radio (because Moroccan TV...) in any case, at home, the car was a family hobby.

 

3. The day of the race, the spectators were the majority of Moroccan nationality, was it a majority of British for this high level fight?

I will answer that French was in majority, in particular “the whole Casa” (casa = Casablanca ). Then, it will be said that there was Moroccan VIP, but English particularly did not strike me by their massive presence.

 

4. Just after the race, the critical state of Lewis - Evans had wasted the show?

There I can answer only for people around me, and it was more interrogations than consternation. And it was not the only serious accident.

I remember that with the buddies, we spoke a long moment about it.

It should be remembered that there was no instantaneity of information, neither like today, nor of magazines specialized in the race.

It was necessary to await the newspapers of the following day, to have news, and the radio did not have a bulletin every hour.

We had indisputable precise details only with “L’Automobile” (French magazine) of the next month, then, in the English specialized magazines (The Autocar, The Motor…) 

 

6. Later, the race had it appreciated of Casablanca people ?

Yes, Casablanca people appreciated the race, at least for those which I knew, and the discussions lasted one moment in the Lyautey College , so much before afterwards.

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Christian Magnanou, old « Casablancais »:
7 years old in 1958

Spectator

1. In which place were you placed at the time of the Grand Prix?

I was in the tribune after the starting line facing the first turn, a right one slightly inclined.

2. Which was your vision of the security at that time?

At 7 years and 1/2, one is not really aware of the danger, I thought that the bales of straw were there to protect us and there was several.

3. Which is the memory which struck you the most?

It is undoubtedly the odor of the race; it was very special because of the fuels but also the noise.

4. How was the environment given by the spectators at the time of the race?

I do not have the memory of a specific environment and I think in any case that there was much less people than for a current Grand Prix. (Exactly, there were 60.000 spectators present at the time during the Grand Prix, whereas in Europe , for a race of season, 200.000 spectators were generally present)

5. Did you see the fatal accident of Stuart Lewis-Evans (Vanwall)?

I did not see the accident of Lewis Evans, it occurs on the other side of the circuit which was rather long and I do not even think that one was informed during the day on the circuit. (In the Azzemour corner, precisely)