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Post by René on Dec 13, 2023 17:53:03 GMT
Ref: Senna in the McLaren MP4/6 Honda.
When it was still real, pure racing ... (There is actually a "radio" button; but may have been a "blind" one, mostly ...) The radio button definitely wasn't 'blind' but back then it was mainly used in the pits to talk to the engineers. A huge improvement from shouting at each other. But yeah, I agree about the real pure racing. Everyone understands that you cannot stop technological developments, especially in such a technology-based sport. But for the sake of the sport, they (FIA) should have limited certain developments decades ago. If they had already decided in the 1990s that radio communication was only allowed in the pits, we would all have thought that was normal by now. And that applies to more things. But of course, turning back is more difficult, just like in real life.
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Post by Carl on Dec 16, 2023 18:05:29 GMT
René, Thanks for a very cool banner image of one of the greats, Graham Hill, at Monaco in Rob Walker's Lotus 49. At 1975's Long Beach Grand Prix, a Formula 5000 event in which his young F1 driver Tony Brise was outstanding, I was near the Long Beach Arena late on the Saturday when the only driver ever to win the Formula One World Championship, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of LeMans approached unaccompanied. As I usually did when encountering a legend, I said "Welcome" and smiled broadly, a smile he returned as we shook hands.
Just a few short months later, both men were tragically killed as Hill attempted to land his plane in heavy fog.
Graham Hill started in motorsport as a Lotus mechanic and became a driver in part by way of great determination. He never completely recovered from a serious crash at Watkins Glen in 1969, although his LeMans victory alongside Henri Pescarolo in 1972 was a well-deserved final triumph.
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Post by René on Dec 17, 2023 12:39:25 GMT
Nice anecdote Carl. It's wonderful that you shook his hand. It is remarkable how Graham Hill, who you rightly call one of the greats, is so rarely mentioned directly when it comes to the best drivers in history. Two Formula 1 world titles, winning the Monaco Grand Prix 5 times and then winning the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans! And yet not one of the first to be mentioned when it comes to the best of all time. Perseverance and willpower are often mentioned as his strongest qualities, but you can't possibly win so much in such a big sport if you don't have a lot of talent. But perhaps he was just 'unlucky' to be a contemporary of Clark and Stewart, who are always seen as more naturally gifted...
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Post by Carl on Dec 17, 2023 19:01:36 GMT
Yes, he was surrounded by great natural talent, even early on against the formidable Stirling Moss! He probably realized he had to try harder and smarter to do as well as he demanded of himself. It was well known not to approach him before a race because of his fierce concentration. Something almost magical clicked for Hill at Monaco. He simply was faster, sometimes starting on pole and setting fastest lap enroute to victory, and normally on the podium.
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Post by chrisb on Dec 20, 2023 21:23:39 GMT
The other thing about Graham is the sheer number of vehicles he drove, it really was amazing and he must be very high in the number of cars he drove by comparison to anyone else, he also went through such amazing changes from the front engined Lotus 16 to the Lola of 1975,
his victories were immense and extremely impressive, the old ring in 1962, must rank as one of the most remarkable victories in the history of our sport
and then that terrible tragic night returning from France such an awful loss
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Post by René on Dec 21, 2023 16:52:23 GMT
The other thing about Graham is the sheer number of vehicles he drove, it really was amazing and he must be very high in the number of cars he drove by comparison to anyone else, he also went through such amazing changes from the front engined Lotus 16 to the Lola of 1975, his victories were immense and extremely impressive, the old ring in 1962, must rank as one of the most remarkable victories in the history of our sport and then that terrible tragic night returning from France such an awful loss Yes he was an exceptional driver, always fast in all types of cars. His death was very tragic, maybe even more than drivers losing their lives when racing because that was an accepted risk back then. Graham was just very unlucky... like Michael Schumacher who, in a way, also lost his life (a normal life) with an unnecessary accident after such a long career in Formula 1. Very sad.
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Post by mikael on Dec 22, 2023 19:53:19 GMT
It is remarkable how Graham Hill, who you rightly call one of the greats, is so rarely mentioned directly when it comes to the best drivers in history.
Yes, apparently, many F1 journalists tend to regard Graham Hill (GH) not as a "natural", but as someone who had to work hard, and think hard, to achieve the results he did. Accordingly, they (the journalists) tend to rank him lower than he probably deserves.
In the book "Formula 1 - 50 Golden Years", edited by David Tremayne, and written as a collaboration of nearly all of the well-known F1 journalists around year 2000 (Joe Saward, Mark Hughes, ...), GH is ranked No. 6 in the "Top 10 Drivers of the 1960's" list. (Naturally, Jim Clark is ranked No. 1). In a key sentence about GH, it is said:
I tend to think about Niki Lauda just like that: as a driver who was perhaps not the most naturally gifted, but one who approached his races in an a very intelligent and cunning way.
However, in the same book, in the "Top 10 Drivers of the 1970's" list, Lauda is ranked as No. 2 (after J. Stewart(*)). In a key sentence about Lauda, it is said:
Thus, Lauda is regarded (by this particular group of journalists, as least) as a driver who revealed himself as a true "natural" once he reached Formula One, although he was (most likely) not regarded as such in the lower categories.
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(*) Jackie Stewart is also ranked as driver No. 3 of the 1960's. No. 2 is Stirling Moss (who is also No. 2 of the 1950's).
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Post by René on Dec 29, 2023 15:59:27 GMT
As a sign of respect a banner for Michael.
Today marks 10 years since Michael Schumacher had that near-fatal accident on the ski slope. He wasn't everyone's favorite, but you wouldn't wish something like that on anyone. We don't know much about his condition, that is the choice of the family we have to respect, but he is certainly not well. He has never been in public again, never attended his children's careers so that should speak volumes about his condition.
Shortly after the accident I spoke with a retired anesthetist. He then told me that if we don't get good news within a week, things will never get better. And he was clearly right. A sad turn in such a glorious life.
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Post by mikael on Dec 29, 2023 16:42:33 GMT
Ten years now ... It's hard to believe ...
I recall reading the blog of former F1 doctor Garry Hartstein with interest at the time, in order to find something concrete to "pin" a hope on.
His blog is still available online:
Already in June 2014 he wrote as follows:
As things stand now, ten years on, he was most likely not mistaken. Very sad indeed ...
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Post by chrisb on Dec 29, 2023 20:09:57 GMT
It was a terrible tragedy and such a sad day unfortunately I would sense they are tragically right, having worked with survivors of a sustained head trauma I have had firsthand experience of what the consequences are of something like this,
I also have had the privilege of meeting Michael in 1995 at a Goodyear testing day at Silverstone away from the cameras and competitors he came across as a really good guy, friendly and chatty he was so nice such a contrast to his media image
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Post by René on Dec 29, 2023 21:07:45 GMT
It was a terrible tragedy and such a sad day unfortunately I would sense they are tragically right, having worked with survivors of a sustained head trauma I have had firsthand experience of what the consequences are of something like this, I also have had the privilege of meeting Michael in 1995 at a Goodyear testing day at Silverstone away from the cameras and competitors he came across as a really good guy, friendly and chatty he was so nice such a contrast to his media image Wonderful Chris. Michael was a tough racer, always on the limit and sometimes over it. But everyone who knew him said he was a super nice person. Murray Walker was one of his biggest fans. I never met him myself but I do have an autograph and a life size cardboard Michael! And I saw him drive many times, including his first win at Spa 1992 in the Benetton and winning in Monza 2003 in the Ferrari. Great memories.
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Post by robmarsh on Dec 30, 2023 11:28:43 GMT
Such a tragedy, you guys have said it all. It is so sad how many of the great F1 drivers have either been killed racing or in accidents soon after they stopped.
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Post by chrisb on Jan 7, 2024 11:24:30 GMT
excellent new banner image Rene, is it Brands Hatch per chance, one of the if not the last one perhaps 1983, I did so enjoy Keke in the 08 I though of all the cars he drove that really suited him the best and the way he threw it around was great, and was that Danny Sullivan behind him, having just relinquished the lead?
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Post by René on Jan 7, 2024 18:52:36 GMT
excellent new banner image Rene, is it Brands Hatch per chance, one of the if not the last one perhaps 1983, I did so enjoy Keke in the 08 I though of all the cars he drove that really suited him the best and the way he threw it around was great, and was that Danny Sullivan behind him, having just relinquished the lead? Yes, yes and yes.
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Post by René on Jan 13, 2024 10:59:22 GMT
In the banner, James Hunt and John Watson fighting for the lead in the 1976 Dutch Grand Prix.
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