CAn Not Forget Ronnie 9/11

Really nice class guy, would have been a WDC. Sad day at Monza.

These are the photos I took of RP, in tribute (yes that is RP with Mark at Indianapolis the week before RP raced at Monaco):
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Sad day indeed; 37 years ago, and I remember it as it happened yesterday. The disbelief on the Monday following the race when they said he died...a true gentleman.
Rgds

 

He didn't have to die. Major screw up by the surgeons whose approach was hugely flawed.

Same injuries today, he would live.

 

Exactly, the crash didn't kill Ronnie it was the surgery. Had it not have been for the bravery of James Hunt, Peterson might well have died in his burning car.

 

+1

Prof Sid talks about the accident in his book; He was prevented from getting to the accident by the cops..... He was *pissed* to put it mildly!

The only "good" to come of it was Bernie listened to him and many, many things changed immediately thereafter; A chopper was on site for the next race at the Glen for example.

RIP Ronnie,
Ian

 

OMG, those pics are priceless! Imagine that today. Unthinkable.

Interesting, didn't know that. Yeah, the overly zealous Italian surgeons went all out on Ronnie and tried to fix the broken legs when there were other issues more urgent, like stabilizing the situation.

 

Oops! You caught me! - Gilles instead of Ronnie!.... Thought I'd deleted before anyone noticed!

OK, I'll put them back, just because they're such great pix! [Unashamedly copied from Bernardo's Gilles thread in the "who's who" forum.]
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Something you'd *never* see under Uncle Ron's watch!.... I've eaten many a meal off a rear wing; Makes for a great "table".

You really should get a hold of Sid's book. It's a great read and changed my opinion of Bernie some; He had immense respect for Sid and pretty much did what Sid asked without questioning him. For all the bad that's said of him, he genuinely "loves" the guys involved; not just the jockeys, but everyone - He's quietly helped out many guys over the years.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Yep.

Prior to Sid coming along "medical staffing" was done by random doctors who were motor racing fans; The chief medical officer in, IIRC, Germany, was a plastic surgeon for example!

Sid put controls in place to ensure "relevant" (ER) docs were in place. The medical car with all the tools, having local hospitals on standby, along with listed contacts of who's on duty etc; No more driving the ambulance for 30 minutes to hospitals that were shut and so on!

RIP Sid, enjoy your fishing trips with Ayrton.
Ian

 

Wow, those pictures are more than priceless! A Fanta on top of the Ferrari? The whole
crew using the Ferrari as a table...? That would not happen these days, imagine
Vettel's car Eva with spaghetti plates on top of it.

 

I was at Silverstone for the race of champions as a 10 year old, for the debut on the lotus 79, even had my photo taken sitting on the wheel of a 78 at the same time, and saw the cars again later that year at Brands Hatch. RP was my favourite after James Hunt, the day he crashed was one of those "where were you" moments in my life, still remember exactly when I heard the news. Great driver of the era.

 

Duly noted, thanks.

BTW: I have a LOT of admiration for Bernie. Train robbers included. Only lately I think he is getting a bit loopy (greening F1, no grid girls, selling races to the highest bidders irrespective of location).

 

That's horrible - I didn't know that. I just thought he died from am embolism as a result of all the trauma to his legs. What did they screw up if you don't mind sharing?

 

Dunno where the "Fchat community copy" wound up (?) - I sent it on to someone who I don't remember, but it seems to have disappeared!

If you've got it, and wouldn't mind passing it along, that would be cool! There's a copy on Ebay right now, but it ain't cheap!......

He was never charged!

He's certainly getting a little "long in the tooth", but I maintain *everything* he does he feels is for the benefit of the sport. It seems to be his first and only love really. [Although, he's certainly dated some pretty hot chicks too!]

Cheers,
Ian

 

I'm not a doc so my comments are not refined.

Basically they went about everything at the same time which overwhelmed his cardio system. They should have left the broken legs alone and focus on stabilizing the situation. You can fix broken bones a few days later when the body is stable.

 

I dont

 

That's my understanding too; *IF* Sid could have gotten to him he may still be alive.

RIP Ronnie,
Ian

 

This is why I remember so well the disbelief on the Monday after the race when it was announced that he died.
On the race sunday, just after the accident, the news were not worrying: it was announced that his legs were badly hurt, but that there was no threat to his life; so basically the message was that mending would be slow, but would only be a question of time. If my memory serves me well, his old friend Emerson Fittipaldi even went to se him at the hospital during the night, and found him sleeping (?).
(The two of them remained firm friends, even after the tense 1973 season; Emerson never had any grudge towards Ronnie for being n°2 but slightly faster than him, especially during the second half of the season; Emerson thought that Chapman was responsible for not directing all team efforts towards him)
And then, the morning after, his death was announced, which took everyone by surprise.

Rgds

 

Could've been champ that year.

 

Thanks for the history lesson gents. Very sad.

 

Ronnie will never be forgoten....together with Gilles they were the most spectacular ever....

 

Didn't he actually die from a pulmonary embolism (due to botched surgical procedures)? What a crappy way to go…hopefully the hospital/surgeons treating him paid for their mistakes.

An inexcusable case of malpractice, imo…(unless I'm "mis-remembering" of course…too lazy to look it up on Wikipedia)