Gloria Castresana Waid -
computer translation
of the text at Libertad Digital

Literal translation of Digital Freedom
by Babelfish

Motoring is fashionable in Spain. In fact always there is it been although per periods of time. One decade ago it was it by Carlos Sainz and now by Fernando Alonso. Nevertheless, before these two champions many others worked by the development of the sport of the motor, great the mayor? anónimos. In Digital Freedom we want to put name to him to one of them.

Already many years ago, a young girl of 18 years, handsome and of long melena, began to feel the passion by the cars. In spite of living his youth in plenary sessions years 60, for her there was no obstacle that she prevented him to do what it liked. In the last 20 years it is not a so strange situation: Danica Patrick at the present time (IRL with very considerable results) or does about 15 years Giovanna Amati (in F1 but never a GP when not classifying in no could run). Without forgetting to Michèle Mouton (it got to gain rally of Sanremo in 1981).

Of who I want to speak to them is of of a woman who did not arrive until those summits of success but not because she could not but because she preferred to direct herself by other routes: one is Gloria Castresana (Gloria married Waid like). Gloria did not take much to be examined and to be able her membership card to lead. That was for her something magical, something that changed the life to him for always. Its first car that it bought in 1960, according to remembers she, was a Sport SIMCA 1958.

With hardly 18 years, the brave Gloria decided that its life had to be far from its native Vitoria. It traveled to study to cities like Paris, Frankurt or London but in 1961 was contracted by the American company "Tidewater Oil Company" of J. Paul Getty Jr –que operated petroleum in the desert of the Sahara– and it traveled to the distant Canary Islands. With the membership card to already lead in the pocket, it did not doubt in seating in some car and leading, something that simply enjoyed.

Some time after entering this oil company knew a person with whom it would pass the rest of his life. His husband, Robert, a American also enamored with the cars, were key so that Gloria followed ahead with her passion, at least like fan. He was the one who reinforced this precious madness to him of the four wheels. But Gloria was not just by contented to lead. Gloria wanted more and already in the Canary Islands she began to frequent his first competitive atmospheres. Thus, our Gloria began to participate in races in 1963 and was one of the great triunfadoras of the first Rally Island of the Palm in 1965.

Although she tried to learn knew that those that really knew would make the best work: "the mechanics prepared the car to me, and although I was interested in the subject of the mechanics, the sufficient thing did not know and what for it was to run. It was almost always first, second or third. Even I won to him to my husband more of once ". One of the episodes that remember more Gloria was its participation in the I Feminine Rally San Isidro of 1967 who then was organized by Iberia and Coca Tail. Making memory it tells us that they put to him like copilot to the then Miss Spain, whose name escapes to him although there they are the photos to demonstrate it. That day they also gained the category of Slalom and the general by stages.

The presence of its husband Robert –Bob for ella– it was important. Dress with short trousers, Juan Jose Dark Alonso, present director of Motor magazine 2000 –una of most important dedicated to the motor in Canarias– it still has memories of Robert Waid. It tells us that the husband of Gloria was a "outstanding personage" within the competitions. And it tells us in addition, that then in the Canary Islands the best cars of competition and street of Spain were seen thanks to the different economic regime that had the Islands. "present it was seen in the Canary Islands". Gloria remembers to have seen in the islands cars like the Sunbeam Imp Frazer, Lancia, Austin Sprite, Romeo Alpha, Minis, Escort, Lotus and Porsche.

One of the moments that Gloria remembers with more affection is its participation in the days of inauguration of the circuit of the Jarama in 1967. According to chronicles of 40 years ago, the arrival of a circuit as this one marked a true time in Spain, since he was the first permanent one of the country. It was run years ago in the Montjuic there but it had to let itself dispute races by the danger of his route.

The celebration of inauguration of the Jarama congregated to many stars of Formula 1, and there, the 23 of July of 1967 ran the first race of F1, although outside calendar. There, great personalities of motoring were congregated: Jim Clark (who on board of its Lotus 48-Cosworth gained the test in front of another mythical pilot: Jackie Stewart in a Tyrrell Matra MS7-Cosworth). In addition to them also he was the Australian Jack Brabham (quarter in its Brabham BT23-Cosworth) or the French Johnny Servoz-Gavin (fifth with the Matra MS5-Cosworth). Also they participated, although they left before the end of the race, others like Jochen Rindt (in a Brabham BT23), Graham Hill (in the Lotus-Cosworth), John Surtees (Lola T100-Cosworth) or neozelandés Bruce McLaren (in its own escudería and MÂ-Cosworth FVA).

But all the celebration was not centered in the F1. They were three or four days of competitions. Also races of other categories were run, among them, the one of tourism. Adivina who was the only woman in participating? Then yes, our Gloria. She on board did of a Mini Cooper 1300S. She still remembers it with clarity: "It was a celebration, all we were very contentments to be there".

Gloria recalls many things and for her true motoring was lived at that time. It is wondered how much the pilots of nowadays will know on pure mechanics when now the single-seaters are almost completely governed by computers. Gloria remembers the interminable hours in which its husband and his group of –varias mechanics dawns incluidas– they happened underneath its car to have it ready for the following day.

Gloria demonstrates something of nostalgia when she asks herself to him if she had wanted to follow in that world of the competition. She answers affirmatively, is something that it had liked. "Era my fervent desire and I offered it when I got to live to New York in 1970". But quickly it retakes the thread of the conversation and sentences: "the family is always first".

Its migration to the U.S.A. did not represent a distance of the motors, very on the contrary. Of a society in where this liking was only for some chosen ones, Gloria was another one where to motoring it is almost one religion. One stayed running as amateur in historical circuits in the U.S.A. as She files to Rock Park, Watkins Glen, Thompson International, Pocono International, Bridgehampton, Dry Lagoon... on board of cars like the Porsche 911S, Race, 914-6, Lotus Europe Special… There con got to face great personalities of the cinema and lovers of the sport of the motor: Steve McQueen and Paul Newmann.

Gloria remembers to have heard to Jim Clark (winning of the 500 miles of Indianapolis in 1965) or perhaps to Graham Hill (winning of that race in 1966 and only next to Juan Pablo Montoya in also doing it in Monaco: that in the U.S.A. motoring "smelled" of a different way in reference to the great passion that the motor woke up between the fans. Their children have inherited east love by the cylinders. They are enthusiastic of the cars and although they have not competed in the tracks, they must like his great hobby recover cars or turn others "Hot Rods". Gloria tells us that they have done it with wonders like the Studebaker, Cadillac, Packard or the Hudson. They do it because it comprises of its lives.

Nowadays, Gloria tries to be up-to-date from the coast the west of the U.S.A.. To follow Formula 1 from is not easy there but it obtains it because it adores the competition. She follows Alonso, but so and as she followed other great pilots. Moved away of the fever by Asturian that Spain for years has been living, the Gloria more tranquillity in the declarations outside the track throws in lack and Maxima competitiveness in track and asks some times if Alonso will be able to hold all the pressure that represents to be what is to its relative short age. "Before, the pilots bichampions used to clear the some thirty and sufficiently were tanned to take it with tranquillity".

Text at Libertad Digital

El automovilismo está de moda en España. En realidad siempre lo ha estado aunque por periodos de tiempo. Hace una década lo era por Carlos Sainz y ahora por Fernando Alonso. Sin embargo, antes de estos dos campeones muchos otros trabajaron por el desarrollo del deporte del motor, la gran mayoría anónimos. En Libertad Digital queremos ponerle nombre a uno de ellos.

Hace ya muchos años, una joven chica de 18 años, guapa y de larga melena, comenzó sentir la pasión por los coches. Pese a vivir su juventud en plenos años 60, para ella no había obstáculo que le impidiera hacer lo que le gustaba. En los últimos 20 años no es una situación tan extraña: Danica Patrick en la actualidad (IRL con resultados muy considerables) o hace unos 15 años Giovanna Amati (en F1 pero nunca pudo correr un GP al no clasificar en ninguno). Sin olvidar a Michèle Mouton (llegó a ganar el rally de Sanremo en 1981).

De quien quiero hablarles es de de una mujer que no llegó hasta esas cumbres de éxito pero no porque no pudiera sino porque ella prefirió encaminarse por otras rutas: se trata de Gloria Castresana (Gloria Waid como casada). Gloria no tardó mucho para examinarse y conseguir su carné de conducir. Eso fue para ella algo mágico, algo que le cambió la vida para siempre. Su primer coche que compró en 1960, según recuerda ella, fue un SIMCA Sport 1958.

Con apenas 18 años, la valiente Gloria decidió que su vida debía estar lejos de su Vitoria natal. Viajó para estudiar a ciudades como París, Frankurt o Londres pero en 1961 fue contratada por la empresa estadounidense "Tidewater Oil Company" de J. Paul Getty Jr. –que explotaba petróleo en el desierto del Sahara– y viajó a las lejanas Islas Canarias. Ya con el carné de conducir en el bolsillo, no dudaba en sentarse en algún coche y conducir, algo que sencillamente disfrutaba.

Algún tiempo después de entrar en esta empresa petrolera conoció a una persona con la que pasaría el resto de su vida. Su marido, Robert, un estadounidense también enamorado de los coches, fue clave para que Gloria siguiera adelante con su pasión, al menos como aficionada. Fue quien le reforzó esta preciosa locura de las cuatro ruedas. Pero Gloria no se contentó con sólo conducir. Gloria quería más y ya en Canarias comenzó a frecuentar sus primeros ambientes competitivos. Así, nuestra Gloria comenzó a participar en carreras en 1963 y fue una de las grandes triunfadoras del primer Rally Isla de La Palma en 1965.

Aunque intentaba aprender sabía que los que realmente sabían harían el mejor trabajo: "Los mecánicos me preparaban el coche, y aunque yo estaba interesada en el tema de la mecánica, no sabía lo suficiente y lo que hacía era correr. Quedaba casi siempre primera, segunda o tercera. Incluso le gané a mi marido más de una vez". Uno de los episodios que más recuerda Gloria fue su participación en el I Rally Femenino San Isidro de 1967 que entonces fue organizado por Iberia y Coca Cola. Haciendo memoria nos cuenta que le pusieron como copiloto a la entonces Miss España, cuyo nombre se le escapa aunque ahí están las fotos para demostrarlo. Aquel día ganaron la categoría de Slalom y también la general por etapas.

La presencia de su marido Robert –Bob para ella– fue importante. Vestido con pantalón corto, Juan José Alonso Prieto, actual director de la revista Motor 2000 –una de las más importantes dedicada al motor en Canarias– tiene aún recuerdos de Robert Waid. Nos cuenta que el esposo de Gloria fue un "personaje destacado" dentro de las competiciones. Y nos cuenta además, que en aquella época en Canarias se veían los mejores coches de competición y de calle de España gracias al régimen económico distinto que tenían las Islas. "Lo más actual se veía en Canarias". Gloria recuerda haber visto en las islas coches como el Sunbeam Imp Frazer, Lancia, Austin Sprite, Alfa Romeo, Minis, Escort, Lotus y Porsche.

Una de los momentos que Gloria recuerda con más cariño es su participación en las jornadas de inauguración del circuito del Jarama en 1967. Según las crónicas de hace 40 años, la llegada de un circuito como éste marcó una verdadera época en España, ya que fue el primero permanente del país. Se corría desde hacía años en el Montjuic pero tuvo que dejarse de disputar carreras ahí por la peligrosidad de su recorrido.

La fiesta de inauguración del Jarama congregó a muchas estrellas de la Fórmula 1, y ahí, el 23 de julio de 1967 se corrió la primera carrera de F1, aunque fuera de calendario. Ahí, se congregaron grandes personalidades del automovilismo: Jim Clark (que a bordo de su Lotus 48-Cosworth ganó la prueba por delante de otro mítico piloto: Jackie Stewart en un Tyrrell Matra MS7-Cosworth). Además de ellos también estaba el australiano Jack Brabham (cuarto en su Brabham BT23-Cosworth) o el francés Johnny Servoz-Gavin (quinto con el Matra MS5-Cosworth). También participaron, aunque abandonaron antes del final de la carrera, otros como Jochen Rindt (en un Brabham BT23), Graham Hill (en el Lotus-Cosworth), John Surtees (Lola T100-Cosworth) o el neozelandés Bruce McLaren (en su propia escudería y en el M4A-Cosworth FVA).

Pero no toda la celebración se centró en la F1. Fueron tres o cuatro días de competencias. También se corrieron carreras de otras categorías, entre ellas, la de turismo. ¿Adivina quién fue la única mujer en participar? Pues sí, nuestra Gloria. Lo hizo a bordo de un Mini Cooper 1300S. Ella aún lo recuerda con claridad: "Fue una fiesta, todos estábamos muy contentos de estar ahí".

Gloria rememora muchas cosas y para ella el verdadero automovilismo se vivía en esa época. Se pregunta cuánto sabrán los pilotos de hoy en día sobre mecánica pura cuando ahora los monoplazas están casi completamente gobernados por ordenadores. Gloria recuerda las interminables horas en que su marido y su grupo de mecánicos –varias madrugadas incluidas– pasaban debajo de su coche para tenerlo listo para el día siguiente.

Gloria demuestra algo de nostalgia cuando se le pregunta si hubiera querido seguir en ese mundo de la competición. Ella contesta afirmativamente, es algo que le hubiera gustado. "Era mi ferviente deseo y me lo ofrecieron cuando llegué a vivir a Nueva York en 1970". Pero rápidamente retoma el hilo de la conversación y sentencia: "La familia es siempre lo primero".

Su migración a EEUU no representó un alejamiento de los motores, muy por el contrario. De una sociedad en donde esta afición era sólo para algunos elegidos, Gloria se encontró otra donde al automovilismo es casi una religión. Se mantuvo corriendo como amateur en circuitos históricos en EEUU como Lime Rock Park, Watkins Glen, Thompson International, Pocono International, Bridgehampton, Laguna Seca... a bordo de coches como el Porsche 911S, Carrera, 914-6, Lotus Europa Special… Ahí llegó a enfrentarse contra grandes personalidades del cine y amantes del deporte del motor: Steve McQueen y Paul Newmann.

Gloria recuerda haber oído a Jim Clark (ganador de las 500 millas de Indianápolis en 1965) o tal vez a Graham Hill (ganador de esa carrera en 1966 y el único junto a Juan Pablo Montoya en hacerlo también en Mónaco: que en EEUU el automovilismo "olía" de una manera distinta en referencia a la gran pasión que el motor despertaba entre los aficionados. Sus hijos han heredado este amor por los cilindros. Son apasionados de los coches y aunque no han competido en las pistas, tienen como su gran hobby restaurar coches o convertir otros en "Hot Rods". Gloria nos cuenta que lo han hecho con maravillas como los Studebaker, Cadillac, Packard o Hudson. Lo hacen porque forma parte de sus vidas.

Hoy en día, Gloria intenta estar al día desde la costa oeste de los EEUU. Seguir la Fórmula 1 desde ahí no es fácil pero lo logra porque adora la competición. Sigue a Alonso, pero tal y como siguió a otros grandes pilotos. Alejada de la fiebre por el asturiano que vive España desde hace unos años, Gloria echa en falta más tranquilidad en las declaraciones fuera de la pista y máxima competitividad en pista y se pregunta algunas veces si Alonso será capaz de aguantar toda la presión que representa ser lo que es a su relativa corta edad. "Antes, los pilotos bicampeones solían rozar la treintena y estaban suficientemente curtidos para tomarlo con tranquilidad".

Literal translation of Digital Freedom
by Google Translate

The motorsports is fashionable in Spain. In fact it has always been but for periods of time. A decade ago it was by Carlos Sainz and now by Fernando Alonso. However, before these two champions many others worked for the development of motor sport, most anonymous. In Liberty Digital want to put a name to them.

Many years ago, a young girl of 18 years old, beautiful and long hair, he began to feel a passion for cars. Despite his youth live in full 60 years, she had no obstacle preventing him from doing what he liked. Over the past 20 years is not a situation so strange: Danica Patrick at present (IRL with very considerable), or some 15 years ago Giovanna Amati (in F1 but was never able to run a GP not to classify none). Not forgetting Michèle Mouton (came to win the Sanremo Rally in 1981).

From whom I talk is of a woman who did not arrive until these summits success but not because she could not but because they preferred to move through other routes: is Gloria Castresana (Gloria Waid as married). Gloria soon reviewed and a lot to get your driver's license. That was it for something magical, something that changed their lives forever. His first car was purchased in 1960, as he recalled it, was a SIMCA Sport 1958.

With barely 18 years, the brave Gloria decided that his life should be away from his native Vitoria. He travelled to study in cities like Paris, Frankfurt or London but in 1961 was hired by the American company "Tidewater Oil Company" by J. Paul Getty Jr. - Operated oil in the Sahara Desert- and travelled to the remote islands. And with driving in the pocket, not hesitated to sit in a car and drive, something that simply enjoyed.

Some time after entering this oil company met a person with whom would the rest of his life. Her husband, Robert, also an American love of cars, was key to Gloria pursue his passion, at least as an amateur. It was he who reinforced this beautiful madness of the four wheels. But Gloria is not content to just drive. Gloria wanted more and in the Canary Islands and began to frequent his first competitive environments. Thus, our Gloria began participating in races in 1963 and was one of the big winners of the first Rally island of La Palma in 1965.

While trying to learn who really knew that they knew would work best: "I prepared the car mechanics, and although I was interested in the subject of mechanics, not enough and knew what he was doing was running. Remained almost always first, second or third. Even my husband won it more than once. " One of the episodes that most recalls Gloria was his participation in the Women Rally In San Isidro, 1967, then was organized by Iberia and Coke. Making memory tells us that put him as the co-pilot then Miss Spain, whose name is slipping though there are the pictures to prove it. That day won the Slalom category and also the general stages.

The presence of her husband Robert -Bob- was important for her. Dressed in shorts, Juan Jose Alonso Prieto, the current editor of the magazine Motoring 2000 -one of the most important devoted to motor- Canary still has memories of Robert Waid. We note that Gloria's husband was an "outstanding character" within the competitions. And tells us further that at that time in the Canaries were the best cars and street racing in Spain thanks to the economic regime that had different Islands. "The latest was in the Canary Islands." Gloria remembers seeing cars on the islands as Sunbeam Imp Frazer, Lancia, Austin Sprite, Alfa Romeo, Minis, Escorts, Lotus and Porsche.

One of the moments that Gloria recalls with affection is more participation in the opening days of the Jarama circuit in 1967. The chronicles of 40 years ago, the arrival of a circuit as it marked a real era in Spain, as it was first permanently in the country. It ran for years at the Montjuic but had to leave to dispute racing there for the dangerousness of their journey.

The festival's opening Jarama attracted many stars of Formula 1, and then on 23 July 1967 ran the first F1 race, albeit calendar. There, gathered major figures in auto racing: Jim Clark (Lotus aboard their 48-Cosworth won the test ahead of another legendary pilot: Jackie Stewart in a Tyrrell MS7 Matra-Cosworth). In addition to them was also the Australian Jack Brabham (fourth in his Brabham BT23-Cosworth) or French Johnny Servoz-Gavin (fifth with MS5 Matra-Cosworth). Also participating, but dropped out before the end of the race, others as Jochen Rindt (in a Brabham BT23), Graham Hill (in the Lotus-Cosworth), John Surtees (Lola T100-Cosworth) or New Zealander Bruce McLaren (on its own and the team M4A-Cosworth FVA).

But not all the celebration focused on F1. There were three or four days of skills. It also ran races in other categories, including tourism. Can you guess who was the only woman to participate? Yeah, our Gloria. He did aboard a Mini Cooper 1300S. She still recalls with clarity: "It was a party, we were all very happy to be there."

Gloria remembers many things and it is the real motorsports lived at the time. He wondered how the pilots will know today on pure mechanics when the cars are now almost entirely governed by computers. Gloria recalls the endless hours that her husband and his team of mechanics -including several madrugadas- passing underneath his car to make him ready for the next day.

Gloria proves something of nostalgia when asked if he had wanted to continue in this world of competition. She replied in the affirmative, it is something he would have liked. "It was my fervent desire and gave me when I came to live in New York in 1970." But quickly recovers the thread of the conversation and decision: "The family is always paramount."

Gloria recalls having heard Jim Clark (winner of the 500-mile Indianapolis in 1965) or perhaps Graham Hill (winner of this race in 1966 and the only one with Juan Pablo Montoya in doing so also in Monaco: in the USA motorsports "smelled" in a different way referring to the great passion that the engine aroused among fans. Their children have inherited this love for cylinders. are passionate about cars and although they have not competed in the tracks, is his great hobby restoring cars or convert others in "Hot Rods." Gloria tells us that have done wonders with such as Studebaker, Cadillac, Packard or Hudson. They do this because it is part of their lives.

Today, Gloria tries to keep pace from the west coast of the United States. Next Formula 1 since there is not easy but it succeeds because loves the competition. Follow Alonso, but as it followed other great pilots. Remote-foot by the Spaniard who lives Spain for some years, Gloria lacking more tranquility in the statements outside of the track and maximum competitiveness in track and wondered sometimes if Alonso will be able to withstand all the pressure that represents what is their relative young age. "Before, pilots used bicampeones flick thirties and were tanned enough to take it calmly."