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Monza history

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by Ferrari_lvr, Sep 24, 2006.

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  1. Ferrari_lvr

    Ferrari_lvr Formula Junior

    May 28, 2006
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    #1 Ferrari_lvr, Sep 24, 2006
    Monza is such a wonderful, historic, fast and amazing track. Ive been reading up about it, but its hard to remember everything. Heres what I can remember without looking.

    1971 was the last year before they started putting in chicanes, and Niki Lauda won in his Ferrari just a few weeks after his fiery accident at the Nurburgring here in 1976.
    Jochen Rindt was killed at Parabolica, after a brake failure sent him flying into the wall. He died before he got to the hospital.
    1961-Wolfgang Von Trips was killed after a brush with Jim Clark that sent him cartwheeling, killing himself and 13 spectators.
    Alberto Ascari died at the curve that now bears his name.
    Jean Pierre Sarti died here, after spinning out of control on the banking and smashing into the trees on the track below.
    Phil Hill was the first American to ever win a Grand Prix in 1960. It just happened to be at Monza.
    The mighty bankings are still part of the track.

    Here are some of my questions.
    The complete track is still there, including the bankings right?
    Was it 1968 that Sarti died on the banking?
    I am hoping to basically learn about Monza through this thread, such a fascinating track...
     
  2. bonzo

    bonzo Karting

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    #2 bonzo, Sep 24, 2006
    Banking is still there. And I think it was 1966, not 1968, that Sarti died.
     
  3. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 Whisky, Sep 25, 2006
    66 from what I find.
     
  4. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #4 Remy Zero, Sep 25, 2006
    anyy pics of the old Monza? with the banking and all...
     
  5. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #5 RP, Sep 25, 2006
    Banking is still there, and there is a point that you can enter the course and walk under that banking. What an incredible feeling to look at it.

    I was disappointed in the quality of the food concessions. LeMans wins that one.
     
  6. jtremlett

    jtremlett F1 Rookie

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    #6 jtremlett, Sep 25, 2006
    As others have stated the banking is still there. As far as I recall it has not been used for racing since the 1960s. Jacques Villeneuve drove round it as part of a promotion a year or two back. It was used as part of the Grand Prix course a couple of times and also for the 'Race of Two Worlds' against the Indycar racers.

    Jean-Pierre Sarti was a character in the film 'Grand Prix' which was made during the 1966 season. Obviously, not a real person!

    Jonathan
     
  7. Ferri

    Ferri Formula Junior

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    Hugo Garritsen
    #7 Ferri, Sep 25, 2006
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  8. classic308

    classic308 F1 Veteran

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    #8 classic308, Sep 25, 2006
    Lauda finished fourth in 1976; he didn't win. If he had won he would have been WC that year.

    Looking at the banking, it is incredible that those cars ran there.

    The old editions of the 'Ring, Monza and Spa were truly special tracks.
     
  9. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #9 RP, Sep 25, 2006
    When I look at these pictures, I have to believe that it took big time male reproductive organs to go the limit at Monza.
     
  10. classic308

    classic308 F1 Veteran

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    #10 classic308, Sep 25, 2006
    Hell, I'm amazed more people didn't get killed at Monza.

    Anyone know the angle of the banking as compared to some NASCAR/Indy tracks?
     
  11. Bertocchi

    Bertocchi Formula 3
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    #11 Bertocchi, Sep 25, 2006
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  12. classic308

    classic308 F1 Veteran

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    #12 classic308, Sep 25, 2006
    Is that a Porsche 908?
     
  13. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #13 Remy Zero, Sep 25, 2006
    hey good pics Hugo! thanx for posting. really nice! that banking is really teasing....
     
  14. Ferrari_lvr

    Ferrari_lvr Formula Junior

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    #14 Ferrari_lvr, Sep 25, 2006
    Shame those bankings are going to waste. They look like relics of a mighty past...left to tarnish. I can almost invision blood in the place of all those leaves.
    Jean Pierre Sarti was a real person right? Ive read about him..
    By the way....excellent pics. Wish I could be standing there.
     
  15. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

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    #15 spirot, Sep 25, 2006
    back in 89 I went to Monza with an outdated FIA pass from the 88 season... with my best friend.. we just hopped a train to Milan and made it up for the race on race day.. the passes worked like a charm... walked right in from the street, walked thru the Helipad area right into the paddock and over to the Marlboro tent.. had breakfast next to Senna and then walked pit lane... went over to the concession area, and found a bench and took a nap! around noon went back into the paddock got lunch from Liger... and then my friend made a faux pas that got us kicked out... he asked for an autograph.... anyhow we walked along the back strait next to the large parking area... and climed the fence on the banking and walked almost all the way around ... at the bottm it was the first and only time I got to do this... Ive been about 5 times in total ... the banking is amazing its so steep and long.... I wish we could put together a "Save the Banking" cause and have it restored to actual racing quality .... I think the actual last time it was used for a race was back in the late 70's or early 80's... some club races were held on the banking untill then, but I think its so bumpy most cars just cant hack it... and also very dangerous!!!

    JP Sarti was actually the actor Yves Montand.... in the movie Grand Prix... he used two helmets that year ( 1966) John Surtees 1st, then Michael Parks for the end of the movie... thats the helmet he is wearing as he goes over the bankng .... it is amazing when you are there... its almost impossible to climb ot the top of the banking when I was there it was covered with lots of moss and was very slippery and steep.
     
  16. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #16 Remy Zero, Sep 25, 2006
    wow...what an experience!
     
  17. macca

    macca Formula Junior

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    #17 macca, Sep 26, 2006
    It's the Porsche 908LH (Lang Heck = long tail) of Hans Hermann and Kurt Ahrens jr which came second in the 1969 Monza 1000kms.

    I don't think any 'real drivers' were ever killed on the banking, only Sarti. Stirling Moss had a very narrow escape in the Race of Two Worlds one year driving the Maserati 'Eldorado Special' V8 single-seater (running anti-clockwise) when his steering broke and he ran along the top barrier, knocking off two wheels before sliding down to the infield.

    Ascari was killed at the Vialone curve, now renamed after him; Von Trips and Rindt at Parabolica; Ronnie Peterson died after a startline crash.

    The banking wasn't built until 1955, and was last used in about 1971, but it was always very bumpy, hence no use by F1s after 1961.

    Paul M
     
  18. classic308

    classic308 F1 Veteran

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    #18 classic308, Sep 26, 2006
    That's what I thought. Thanks Paul.

    I love that era of sportscar racing. We'll never see top dogs like Ferrari, Porsche, etc. doing battle against each other in that arena again.

    Very sad.....
     
  19. mpatrizio

    mpatrizio Formula Junior

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    #19 mpatrizio, Sep 27, 2006
    Just to add to the history bit here....

    Two or three years ago the Monza banking was almost removed by an Italian gov't environmental group. There was an uproar, and I believe it took a petition to save it.

    Bottom line, the banking has been in jeapordy for the past few years. All it will take is the next crazy Italian gov't administration to make a stupid decision.

    Remember, this is the country that goes on strike because of bad espresso, and the same country that had Patrick Head on trial for Senna's death for almost 10 years.... every time a new administration came in, the case was re-opened....

    Every day that the banking continues to exist is a blessing. I gotta' get over there before it's gone.
     

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