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Post by René on Jan 18, 2023 9:45:01 GMT
The two greatest of all time in Formula One: No doubt two of the greatest ever. And you were there at Long Beach and saw Fangio drive, weren’t you Carl? That’s magic.   |
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Post by mikael on Jan 18, 2023 16:29:09 GMT
As I understand it, Fangio was not capable of speaking English (and also not German). In addition to his mother tongue, the Spanish, he spoke also Italian. Thus, regarding communication, he would not have had problems at Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati; but at Mercedes he must have had a hard and difficult time ...
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Post by Carl on Jan 18, 2023 16:51:12 GMT
Yes, it was magical. By happy coincidence, I could look straight down from the top of the Turn 4 grandstand above the paddock as the maestro, surrounded by an admiring crowd, climbed in and adjusted his helmet. Fangio was not happy that it was a demonstration and speed was restricted, and neither were most fans. One or two of the pilotes anciens in very old cars, like 1930 Monaco Grand Prix winner Rene Dreyfus in a Bugatti Type 35B, were necessarily slower, so the speed limit made sense.
Moss, Fangio, Dreyfus, Hill and Gurney  |
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Post by René on Jan 18, 2023 18:08:30 GMT
Yes, it was magical. By happy coincidence, I could look straight down from the top of the Turn 4 grandstand above the paddock as the maestro, surrounded by an admiring crowd, climbed in and adjusted his helmet. Fangio was not happy that it was a demonstration and speed was restricted, and neither were most fans. One or two of the pilotes anciens in very old cars, like 1930 Monaco Grand Prix winner Rene Dreyfus in a Bugatti Type 35B, were necessarily slower, so the speed limit made sense.
That photo of those five legends together is priceless! Makes me think back of that moment when I was at Goodwood and had a book signed by Stirling Moss. He asked me my name so I said: “René, like René Arnoux”, to which Moss replied with a smile: “or like René Dreyfus… but that’s before your time “. Then he wrote my name, perfectly with the accent on the e.  |
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Post by Carl on Jan 18, 2023 19:06:16 GMT
Stirling Moss was considered by everyone else on the grid as clearly fastest after Fangio retired and should have been world champion several times. He was world class as well in spelling the names of young fans. That was very thoughtful of him. After his near-fatal accident at Goodwood, you'd think he'd hesitate to return. But because he has no memory of it all, he's unaffected. Life sometimes has strange twists and turns.  |
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Post by René on Jan 19, 2023 17:46:57 GMT
Stirling Moss was considered by everyone else on the grid as clearly fastest after Fangio retired and should have been world champion several times. He was world class as well in spelling the names of young fans. That was very thoughtful of him. After his near-fatal accident at Goodwood, you'd think he'd hesitate to return. But because he has no memory of it all, he's unaffected. Life sometimes has strange twists and turns. I was not so young anymore, early 40s, but of course as always young at heart!  I remember being really impressed to exchange a few words with such a legend. There were more well-known drivers in the Goodwood paddock, but Moss impressed me the most.  |
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Post by Carl on Jan 19, 2023 18:27:20 GMT
René, A super cool autograph! I love the way he apparently dots the first "i" within the swirl of the capital "S"
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Post by chrisb on Jan 19, 2023 20:37:21 GMT
what a lovely debate and such great memories, I consider myself so fortunate that I have seen so many of my motor racing heroes actually drive or in the flesh, I saw Fangio at Donnington in the Mercedes at the Gunnar Nilson memorial day back in 1978, a poignant day if there ever was, seeing James drive an F1 car for the last time and watching the Jones boy let loose in the FW07 and George Harrison drive a Cooper, I also rate the 1957 German GP as perhaps the greatest ever race in the history of F1, probably anyway
totally agree that Stirling was simply the best after Fangio retired and in his own words considered himself a better sports car driver, but in 1961 in the South African series a certain Scot started beating Stirling, ok he had a newer car but still, sadly yet another one of those 'what if's.
I had a number of arguments with Nigel Roebuck who was a massive Stirling fan and considered him the best there ever was, whereas to no one's shock I disagreed and thought had Jimmy lived he certainly would have won the 68 championship, and I would have loved to have seen him in a Porsche 908/917 at the Targa etc. When the likes of Fangio and Senna both state that Jimmy was simply the best who am I to disagree,
One other great driver who was more than capable of adding to his resume recently celebrated his 88th birthday, AJ was more than capable of being an F1 champion and considering just how much else he won and how friendly he was with Jimmy he would have been awesome. Imagine AJ in a Lotus 72 in 73? brilliant!
and Carl, just seen your comments reach the 5000 mark, many congratulations, not sure what eclipses a God but evidently you have achieved that remarkable statistic -
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Post by René on Jan 19, 2023 23:35:46 GMT
Well noticed Chris, 5000 posts for Carl!  |
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Post by Carl on Jan 20, 2023 0:21:43 GMT
Well noticed Chris, 5000 posts for Carl! Thank you! No wonder my keyboard's recent upgrade includes a time limit... |
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Post by Carl on Jan 20, 2023 0:24:53 GMT
Carl, just seen your comments reach the 5000 mark, many congratulations, not sure what eclipses a God but evidently you have achieved that remarkable statistic - Thank you Chris! My ladyfriend doubts my divinity and says "Devil" would be a more suitable designation...  |
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Post by mikael on Jan 20, 2023 13:41:17 GMT
A very young Moss at Goodwood in his 500cc Cooper-Jap
This is a historic car of utmost significance - it's actually the front-runner of the modern formula car, with the engine "at the rear".
Source:
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Post by robmarsh on Jan 21, 2023 12:35:12 GMT
Lovely pics and comments, love the close up of the J.A.P. engine. Does anyone know what the initials stood for? To my mind Jim Clark was the greatest, closely followed by Fangio and then Senna.
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Post by chrisb on Jan 21, 2023 13:51:34 GMT
Great comments chaps, really enjoyable,
The J.A.P engines fought Norton for dominance didn't they? J.A.P. thanks to the internet stood for John Alfred Prestwich and really did launch some memorable careers and changes to the concept of motor racing, although Stirling was the most famous of the drivers, so many others also started namely one of my favourites Peter Collins, of course replaced by Formula Junior with its 1000cc engines, but of course motorbike engines are still being used in cars, mainly the incredible Suzuki Hyabusa 1300cc engine. A friend had one and I can tell you that was one powerful engine and an awesome bike,
Totally agree Rob,
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Post by robmarsh on Jan 22, 2023 13:07:06 GMT
oh and congratulations Carl on reaching 5000 posts, excellent effort and a lot of knowledge and experience you have shared with us. Tahnk you.
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I remember being really impressed to exchange a few words with such a legend. There were more well-known drivers in the Goodwood paddock, but Moss impressed me the most.
