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Post by Carl on Dec 3, 2017 22:47:37 GMT
Who are the heroes we most celebrate? Who are the lesser heroes or those unsung and deserving of renewed honor?
Who are the sport's most notorious villains? Whose villainy was as smooth and masterful as their driving? Which were obvious and clumsy?
Our sport has so many heroes at all levels, from team mechanics to world champions, but when the conversation turns to great heroism, I remember Dan Gurney after Clay Regazzoni's terrible crash at Long Beach.
My friend and I had grandstand seats at the exit of the Queen's Hairpin and I was returning with two beers when I saw the Ensign flash past at impossible speed after the brake pedal had snapped off at 190 mph. Audibly downshifting, Regazzoni guided his car into the inadequate escape road, taking off his left suspension against the right suspension of a car left there, doing all he could to reduce speed. But momentum carried car and driver hard into the tyres and concrete barriers at the end. The explosion of wheels and suspension arms and dust stunned everyone.
All but one.
Dan Gurney, associated with the race, was inside the hairpin and immediately vaulted the barrier and ran across the wide expanse of track into the escape road to where Clay was trapped in a car bent severely backward by the impact.
After the race, we ran into Gurney outside race headquarters (in the Long Beach Arena) and of course asked about Regazzoni. He told us what he knew, that Clay was alive but seriously injured, as graciously as if talking to acquaintances. There was a bond of concern he recognized, for which I will always be grateful.
One of Brian Wilson's very best songs is "Heroes and Villains" but he also wrote about fast cars...
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Post by charleselan on Dec 4, 2017 14:23:55 GMT
Wonderful new thread Carl.
What greater a hero than Daniel Sexton Gurney; not only a truly outstanding driver and team principal but amazing human being. One of my biggest favourites and the only person I have ever asked to give me an autograph.
May I also propose another gentleman with a similar connection to Clay Reggazoni. Mike Hailwood was not only the greatest ever exponent of motorcycle road racing (as it was always known back in the pre 1990's) but a man of exceptional courage. He alone went into the blazing inferno of Clay's car at Kyalami and dragged him from the vehicle, the outcome for Regga was far better than what befell him at Long Beach which resulted in paralysis.
Amazingly when returning home and questioned by his wife Pauline about the act of immense bravery; Mike merely said it was nothing and anyone would have done the same; an amazing man who was tragically taken by the ineptitude of another road user in the UK. I will never forget the image of Mike with gloves and sleeves ablaze after he pulled Clay away from the fire.
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Post by René on Dec 4, 2017 17:01:02 GMT
May I add another hero here, David Purley. Maybe an obvious choice and he was awarded the George Medal for his courage but this can never be mentioned enough.
David Purley was the man who tried to save the life of Roger Williamson who so tragically crashed during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix. Williamson's car crashed at high speed and was catapulted several hundred metres across the track before coming to a halt. Williamson was not seriously injured but the petrol tank of his car ignited and the car was engulfed in flames. Roger Williamson was trapped inside.
Purley witnessed the crash and pulled over to help. He did everything he could to get Roger out but it was impossible and no one seemed capable of helping him. I am not going into detail now, you all know the story, but Roger died there while the race carried on.
It was all very sad but David Purley will always be remembered for his bravery.
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Post by Carl on Dec 4, 2017 19:40:19 GMT
John Charles and Rene,
Both Mike Hailwood and David Purley demonstrated a courage above and beyond that deserves acclamation. Decency may be at the heart of courage.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by Carl on Dec 4, 2017 21:56:06 GMT
His heroically lowered expectations gained thousands of fans Oscar Koveleski co-founded the accessory catalog Autoworld, but is most famous as founder and permanent chairman of the Polish Racing Drivers Association. Fairly successful unless seriously challenged, Oscar never won a Can-Am but through his innovative genius introduced the helmet mounted wing and drive-through fast food during pit stops. There were rigorous requirements for membership in the PRDA. Prospective members must either 1. Be a racing driver and be Polish. 2. Be a racing driver and not be Polish. 3. Not be a racing driver and be Polish. 4. Not be a racing driver and not be Polish. Attachment Deleted Attachment Deleted Attachment Deleted |
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Post by charleselan on Dec 4, 2017 22:01:33 GMT
His heroically lowered expectations gained thousands of fans Oscar Koveleski co-founded the accessory catalog, Autoworld, but is most famous as founder and permanent chairman of the Polish Racing Drivers Association. Fairly successful unless seriously challenged, Oscar never won a Can-Am but through his innovative genius introduced the helmet mounted wing and drive-through fast food during pit stops. There were rigorous requirements for membership in the PRDA. Prospective members must either 1. Be a racing driver and be Polish. 2. Be a racing driver and not be Polish. 3. Not be a racing driver and be Polish. 4. Not be a racing driver and not be Polish. Carl, I seem to recall that one of his Can Am McLaren's had a slot car track as a decal that ran around the upper surface of the car, I think that as to do with his Autoworld Empire? JC |
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Post by Carl on Dec 4, 2017 22:09:43 GMT
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Post by charleselan on Dec 4, 2017 22:58:44 GMT
JC, I know models and slot cars were both staples of the Autoworld catalog... and you have an amazing memory! Carl, Some things like that just stick with you. René should have an affinity with this one as well. JC |
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Post by René on Dec 4, 2017 23:52:57 GMT
Unsurprisingly, a slot car has been made of this slot car themed race car!  |
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Post by chrisb on Dec 5, 2017 20:49:06 GMT
Mike, David et al were real motor racing heroes - who was it who pulled Jackie Oliver out of his fiery crash one year?
I would add Graham Hill and Bob Bondurant at Spa in 1966 rescuing a very shaken Jackie Stewart, Pete Collins Monza 1956, Fangio in 1951?
Villains?
was Mike Hawthorn a villain? I don't think so but?
was Jean Pierre Beltoise for causing that accident?
sort of semi-villains? but they didn't cause any fatalities.
Michael Schumacher? his punt on Damon in 1994 and his attempt on Jacques in 1997 and his efforts to stop Mika overtaking him at Spa
Ayrton- Japan 1990 ?- Brands 1985, Spa 1986 [?]
Innes Ireland Monza 1963
Lorenzo Bandini - Mexico 1964
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Post by chrisb on Dec 5, 2017 20:50:28 GMT
oops was Didier Pironi at Imola a villain?
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Post by Carl on Dec 5, 2017 21:20:53 GMT
oops was Didier Pironi at Imola a villain? Oh yeah... |
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Post by Carl on Dec 5, 2017 21:44:08 GMT
Here be consummate villainy  Hic monstrum sceleris est  By far the greatest villain during racing's infancy was Aloysius Ecclestone, whose malfeasance lasted only seven months before he was permanently banned. Here are photographs of his race car, essentially a weapons platform, both today and in period, and a photograph taken by French authorities of Ecclestone attempting to evade arrest after sabotaging rival Peugeot before a race by replacing the air in its tyres with seawater. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted Attachment Deleted |
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Post by charleselan on Dec 5, 2017 21:49:16 GMT
oops was Didier Pironi at Imola a villain? On the face of it yes! But let us just ask one simple question, did any English speaking journalist ever ask Didier Pironi his side of events that day. To my knowledge no one ever did, they simply jumped upon a story containing an "axis of evil" at Ferrari. If Pironi had a character similar to some we have seen in more recent decades then i would without hesitation label him a villain. However my knowledge of the man is very different, of which I will give two examples. When Didier was President of the GPDA he conducted himself with honour and integrity, especially when the infamous driver strike of 1980 took place. Secondly at the scene of Ronnie's tragic accident, who was the first to be at his side but a young Pironi. Those character traits are not of a duplicitous or devious man. I was a huge Gilles fan, and like René I was at Zolder that fateful day when he died. The vilification of Didier Pironi for those events at Imola are based on some peoples supposition, and not concrete fact. |
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Post by Carl on Dec 5, 2017 22:04:37 GMT
John Charles,
The truth is seldom composed of a single, clearly understood facet. I admit to having been swayed by the popular conclusion that Pironi ignored team orders to pass Villeneuve at Imola, which so incensed Gilles that he overdrove in qualifying at Zolder. While this is what I have come to believe, I don't know it to be true beyond all reasonable doubt.
It must have been dreadful to have been there that day.
Kind regards, Carl
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Hic monstrum sceleris est 