21 years

Dave, I woke up this morning thinking about Senna and Imola. It has been 21 years, and yet people still talk about Senna as if we just lost him recently. I was just looking at footage from the 1993 European GP. I don't think today's fans understand how impressive that feat was.

Greatest driver in F1 history, imo.

 

I have to say if I think best/greatest certainly at that time, I agree.

 

I think my profile name gives it away but Ayrton Senna is my #1.

I took this pic at the US GP in Phoenix in 1990; so great to have such access to him.
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I remember the day it happened, and the utter shock I felt hearing it.

 

Visited Senna's track side memorial at Imola last year; very lonely place (made more so by the 20th anniversary of that terrible weekend) even though the nearby town is very nice. I can only image what it must have been like during an F1 race weekend.

 

I remember Senna in the pits of Detroit, 86 or 87. I was crewing on a Super Vee team, the Vs were the fill in for the F1. We ran in the morning and all the F1 teams were pitted with us. Senna physically looked like a young boy from the back, didn't relies it was him till he turned around. Another time I believe 1990, at Canada during practice( I was spectating) his car broke on the far side of course. He was running threw the in-field to get back in his spare car. We came face to face. Can't believe it has been 21 years!

 

I used to go to Detroit as well, and hung out by the Lotus pit... Digger ( Jamie - one of the mechanics ) was a friend of mine. I helped him wipe down Senna and Dumphries cars with Lemon Pledge before Friday AM practice... Senna was a nice guy when he was with Lotus = but changed when he got to McLaren.... less nice more ruthless.