Killer Years F1 in the 60's

[Hudson]

Making the web rounds but if you have not seen it worth a look...

 

 

YouTube - Grand Prix- The Killer Years Part 1[/url][/color]

 

YouTube - Grand Prix- The Killer Years Part 2[/url]

 

YouTube - Grand Prix- The Killer Years Part 3[/color][/url]

 

YouTube - Grand Prix- The Killer Years Part 4[/color][/url]

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[solder_guy]

Thanks for posting ..

[Bob Doernberg]

I'm glad you posted this link. I enjoyed the history lesson and forwarded the link to others outside the 7's world.

[escondidoron]

This thread reminds me of a Jesse Alexander photograph in the office of an F1 driver's meeting. Present are Clark, both Hills, Ginther, Gurney, McLaren, Bonnier, Amon.....

 

When people who look at the picture are able to recognize some of the faces I often ask them how many of the driver's pictured survived racing?

 

Racing is a dangerous sport. It always has been a dangerous sport. Ernest Hemingway is reputed to have said that there are really only three sports: motor racing, mountain climbing and bull fighting; the rest of them are games.

 

I read somewhere, back in the late 60s or early 70s, when safety was finally starting to become an effort in racing car design and sanctioning at Indy (and everywhere else for that matter), that something like 50 percent of the starters for the 500 up until about '65 had died in racing cars. And about half of the survivors received debilitating injuries.

 

Take the top 10 finishers at Indy in 1955 for example:

 

1st Bob Swiekert - killed in a sprint car at Salem in '56

2 Tony Bettanhausen - killed while testing at Indy in '61

Paul Russo - survived racing (only to die while visiting Daytona for the 500 in '71)

3 Jimmy Davies - killed in a midget at Santa Fe Speedway in '66

4 Johnny Thompson - killed in a sprint car at Allentown in '60

5 Walt Faulkner - killed in a USAC stock car at Valejo in '56

Bill Homeier - survived. holds record for most laps completed by last place finisher in the 500 - 74 laps

6 Andy Linden - survived career ending brain damage from crash in '57

7 Al Herman - killed in a midget at West Haven in '60

8 Pat O'Connor - killed in 1st lap crash at Indy in '58

9 Jimmy Daywalt - survived racing

10 Pat Flaherty - survived racing

 

So totaling up the stats from the top 10 of Indy '55, 7 out of 12 drivers died racing and one of the 5 survivors received debilitating injuries. 66% fatalities and/or debilitating injury rate is not a good record. Even after watching this video it makes you wonder how those guys rationalized their efforts.

 

As illustrated in the videos things started looking up a little bit for drivers with crash helmets. Then came fire resistant driving suits, safety belts & harnesses, roll bars & cages, crash energy absorbing structures, fuel cells, onboard fire suppression, deformable steering columns, improved tire technology, career track safety personnel and equipment, helicopter trauma teams and improved track safety design.

 

It all seems so fundamental now........

[11Budlite]

Interesting video, thanks for posting....

[Kitcat]

Phil Hill somehow survived that era.

 

When interviewed prior to his death he talked abt driver "X" killing himself at this track and driver "Y" killing himself at that track. Finally the interviewer said, why do you say they killed them selves? P Hill reflected and said words to the effect that it was a defense mechanism, a way for to create the illusion that his fate was in his hands, that he and the other drivers controlled what happened at the track. Otherwise he wld have never had the courage to get back out there.

 

It is frightening to look at the "safety" features on the early F1 cars-they wldnt pass an informal trackday inspection today (roll over bar well below the driver's head, etc.).

Edited April 4, 2011 by Kitcat

[twobone]

Its the in-car camera stuff from back then that really highlights the dangers to me. Trees flashing by right next to the track. The lack of margin of error.

 

I really enjoyed the in car footage of Jim Clark in the Lotus

[gjslutz]

A lot like WC rallying is today.

[scannon]

If you missed it the last time around it is playing again this evening at 6 & 10 PM Eastern time on Velocity, (Channel 281 on Direct TV).

[DeanG]

Concerning safety - until the advent of seat belts, crush zones... and paramedics crashing on a public highway was much more dangerous. Even in the early 70's an ambulance attendant was doing a good job if they tossed you in the back of the Cadillac station wagon and got you to a hospital.

[jimrankin]

Saw the post on monday, too late to catch it on velocity. Anyone sees it coming up again on Directv please send up a flare. Thanks.

[readysetgo]

Ron Howard is directing a movie (out next year) about Niki Lauda and James Hunt. called RUSH. Sould be awesome to see what modern Hollywood can do with mid 70's F1.