RIP: Gilles

26 years ago one of the icons of our favorite sport was taken from us.

I was just 17 at the time, and had really only been interested in F1 for about a year. My uncle turned me on to it, and in no time, I was hooked. Every TV clip, newspaper or magazine article I found and read over and over.

When you are a teenager, you can still believe that sports stars are heroes, and to me, Gilles was just that. Larger than life.

When I heard about the crash, it tore my heart out, and heroes were dead to me.

I blamed the sport, the team, Jochen Mass, and Didier Pironi. I stopped watching and following F1 for years. I even have to admit that I felt a strange vindication when I heard that Pironi was killed in that boating accident years later.

I now realize that Gilles was just a tremendous talent who lost his life doing what he loved, but 26 years later it still hurts.

Rick

 

he was my hero. every number on everything i have ever raced had a "27" in it. i will never forget that terrible day and crying on my mothers bed. like you, i still gives me chills and makes me wonder what would have been.

pcb

 

RIP Gilles. Your legend will live forever...............

 

"27"

 

+1 My original F1 Hero.