July 18: Juan Manuel Fangio drives his first Formula 1 race on this date in 1948

Juan Manuel Fangio was already 37 years old and an accomplished racer in Argentina by the time he entered his first Formula 1 race in Europe — the French Grand Prix. He didn't finish that race, but by 1951 Fangio had the first of five F1 titles, driving some of the most incredible cars and races ever; it's his aura as much as anything else that made his former Mercedes race car the most expensive ever sold at auction last week. There's no better way to experience The Maestro's talents than by riding along with him: