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Post by René on May 21, 2019 10:46:12 GMT
Very sad news this morning. Niki Lauda has passed away at the age of 70. For me personally, Niki will always be inseparable with my first memories of Formula 1. He was part of this magical and mythical circus which travelled the world and where men risked their lives racing incredibly fast cars. Niki was a champion and even rose from the dead after that terrible accident at the Ring. What a hero. One of my first slot car sets had Niki on the box cover celebrating his 1975 championship. I was 11 and must have raced his little Ferrari a million times against Jody’s Tyrrell. Strong memories.  Later as a pundit for RTL television he was the best. Always speaking his mind, no bullshit but always intelligent and sharp comments.
I will miss him. Rest in peace great man.  |
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Post by robmarsh on May 21, 2019 10:57:22 GMT
Lovely tribute René, thank you. The first F1 Ferrari I ever saw live was at Kyalami 1974 and Niki was on pole. I supported from that day. Great man. RIP Niki Lauda.
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Post by Carl on May 21, 2019 17:09:31 GMT
One of the greats, always a threat to win. I clearly remember a young Niki Lauda leading the field at Mosport in 1973, seen as a fluke of tyre choice by some but impressing the shrewd judges of talent. Rest in Peace.
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Post by chrisb on May 22, 2019 4:40:48 GMT
i was so saddened to hear this tragic news, he really was a star on so many levels, turning the fortunes of the red cars around - his forthrightness when racing 1st time was so welcome, a good driver who then became a great driver and an even greater person for me when he returned with McLaren, his insight and awareness was just so special he was probably the most intelligent driver i have ever seen or heard and have his wonderful film which i will try and watch again - then the new careers and the wonderful comments he made that cut through the baloney that is modern F1, a soul that is surely missed,
must admit i did get a bit emotional when i heard this awful news and like us all remembered the first time i saw him race - which was Brands in 1976 - rest in peace great man, and thank you
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Post by mikael on May 22, 2019 7:21:26 GMT
I'm back in Denmark for a short visit and found that one of the old TV channels sent a very nice portrait of Niki Lauda. Apparently the accident in '76 had really taken its toll on his health: first a new kidney (from his brother), then another new kidney (from his wife), and then two new lungs.
I always admired him. In recent years, listening to and reading about his comments, you always felt it was food for thought and that it was always well worth the time.
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Post by charleselan on May 22, 2019 11:48:13 GMT
It would be difficult to write anything more than has already been so beautifully put by others about Niki's desperately sad passing. It goes without saying that he was a great racing driver, however he was more than that, he was a great man and a very, very brave one too. There were no airs or graces about Niki, he shot from the hip and often controversially so, and he didn't care a darn either. Somewhat surprisingly to me there were some truly excellent tributes paid by the UK TV news programs yesterday, motor sport doesn't often gain a mention in most mainstream media in the UK. The one broadcast by ITV in their late evening news program was very good indeed. I have just read the most wonderful of tributes written by Niki's friend and former team mate John Watson; typically Wattie it is a great piece that says more than anyone else could, I therefore attach the link for you all to read:- www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/21/niki-lauda-f1-motor-racing |
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Post by chrisb on May 22, 2019 20:03:03 GMT
that is a lovely piece in the Guardian JC, which I still get everyday online but sadly find few enough hours to do it justice, there are a number of pieces elsewhere who show respect and dignity for someone who moved the goalposts and changed the world but irrespective of his great history he was one of so few who actually spoke his mind in today's society and said it as it is without the corporate 'speak' and i shall miss not just because of what he has achieved but what he said
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Post by charleselan on May 23, 2019 13:28:38 GMT
that is a lovely piece in the Guardian JC, which I still get everyday online but sadly find few enough hours to do it justice, there are a number of pieces elsewhere who show respect and dignity for someone who moved the goalposts and changed the world but irrespective of his great history he was one of so few who actually spoke his mind in today's society and said it as it is without the corporate 'speak' and i shall miss not just because of what he has achieved but what he said Chris, It is only relatively recent that i have been reading The Guardian online; I did so in utter frustration and annoyance at the trash written by all the other media outlets who seem to be populated by the right wing element, and or the flaming ignorant. Nearly half a century ago when I was in the sixth form we had The Guardian newspaper in our common room and it was a good read. At home my parents had the original Sun which was also a very good newspaper and nothing like the poor excuse for lavatory paper that bears the name today. It actually replaced the Daily Herald in around 1964/5 and i have great memories of its content at that time. Going back to The Guardian online you just have to make some time to read the satire of one John Crace, absolutely superb writing that takes apart the political figures of current times with a surgeons precision. JC |
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Post by René on May 23, 2019 22:16:27 GMT
A proud champion admiring his new car at Fiorano before the start of the 1976 season.  |
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Post by René on May 23, 2019 22:18:27 GMT
On his way to a third championship.  |
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Post by chrisb on May 24, 2019 4:51:13 GMT
brilliant photos Rene, it does remind me of great times, sad times and memorable times both personally and as a fan, the excitement generated by these stars was pretty awesome when you think about it, the racing, the cars, the circuits, the relaxed seriousness of it all, whereas I can hear MotorSport readers telling me 'to get with it' but the past decades have been dreadful, oh well,
JC, yes thank you - unfortunately since Mr Murdoch took over the UK the standards of journalism has sunk to depths that are quite unbelievable, my local petrol station gives the sun away everyday. funny how i decline that sad offer, the one newspaper that has confounded me is the Express. Formerly we had the right wing newspapers, aka The Times, The Telegraph and the far right the Mail and the Sun and in the middle and left we had the Guardian, the Express and the Mirror but the rhetoric the express is splurging out has become on par with the mail, sad just so sad
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Post by robmarsh on May 24, 2019 7:17:41 GMT
Yep Chris and Charles, the standard of modern day reporting has sunk to new depths. It is very difficult to get an honest, unbiased view from any news media these days.
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Post by charleselan on May 24, 2019 19:23:34 GMT
Unfortunately guys with the likes of Murdick pulling the strings no journalists (I use that term advisedly) is going to write anything meaningful or truthful, only what fits the bosses agenda. To my mind Murdick should be serving a very long custodial sentence for his part in the truly diabolical phone hacking scandal that other lesser lights took the fall for.
A truly disgusting weasel of a human being who actually makes dear old Bernie look like a bloody saint!
P.S. Sorry weasel's you do not deserve that analogy.
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Post by charleselan on May 24, 2019 19:39:28 GMT
The funny side of Niki:-  |
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Post by Carl on May 25, 2019 4:43:33 GMT
Unfortunately guys with the likes of Murdick pulling the strings no journalists (I use that term advisedly) is going to write anything meaningful or truthful, only what fits the bosses agenda. To my mind Murdick should be serving a very long custodial sentence for his part in the truly diabolical phone hacking scandal that other lesser lights took the fall for. A truly disgusting weasel of a human being who actually makes dear old Bernie look like a bloody saint! P.S. Sorry weasel's you do not deserve that analogy. Absolutely right and well said. The truth is imparted nowadays only by journalists willing to contend with the ridicule of those too stupid to know they are fools. For the Murdochs and Trumps of this world, and lesser rectal dwellers, hell is too good for the damage they gleefully do unto others. They have subverted western democracy unaware that Vladimir Putin owns their souls.
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