Word: alfonso
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...life Alfonso Cabeza de Vaca, 17th Marquis de Portago, thirsted for thrills. He found them in speed and sport. He was tempted by any activity tinged with danger, finally decided that the second-to-second uncertainty of auto racing brought him nearest to his heart's desire. When he wheeled his 3.8 liter fire-red Ferrari into the start of Italy's Mille Miglia last week, "Fons" de Portago was a happy man. Perhaps (although none can say) he died...
Grim Statistics. Alfonso de Portago was not a man to let such grim statistics disturb him. He had not only playboy inclinations, but also the talents of a natural athlete. The more spectacular a sport, the more he liked it. For a while, he favored jai alai and polo. He had barely learned about the dangers of bobsledding when he was picked to represent Spain in the winter Olympics. "The mere fact that we race requires no courage on our part," he wrote in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. But he was frank to admit that he was often afraid. "I think what...
Fons made no error. He was whipping along at more than 90 m.p.h. when a tire blew. The Ferrari flattened a milestone, caromed off a telephone pole and somersaulted into the thick crowd that lined the curb. Alfonso de Portago could do nothing to save himself, or his co-driver, who was cut in half, or the 15 spectators (including four children) who were killed with him in the deadly Mille Miglia...
...Sebring in 1954), he and his co-driver took their car's gear box apart. When they got it together again, there were 54 nuts and bolts left over. Practical knowledge of their machine's innards helps other drivers get the most out of their engines. Alfonso keeps a steady foot on the throttle, a sure hand on the wheel and leaves the rest to luck. In a race like this week's test at Sebring, so much can go wrong that he feels luck is unusually important. The 5.2-mile course has so many tight turns...
Persuader. In Denver, Alfonso Vigil, 27, telephoned police to report that he had just broken into a grocery, explained that Store Owner Raquel Cordova, 62, had dropped in, happened to have a gun, suggested he make the call...