Sobering documentary. Two notable points: 1. Sir Jackie Stewart has had perhaps the biggest impact on F1 that any driver could ever have. We can thank him for the fact that there have been no on track fatalities since 1994 2. The ability of the modern F1 manufacturers to completely eliminate the greatest threat to the drivers of old- being trapped in a giant fireball- is amazing. I don't know if I've ever seen an F1 car crash and then burst into flames (since I've been following it). Lastly, I was a little surprised that a documentary like this with heavy commentary from Jackie Stewart would be absent of Francois Cevert's death.
Cevert was Jackie's protoge. They were VERY close. That loss hit him HARD... I can certainly respect that and wouldn't go down that road with Jackie... Some places and topics should be left alone. Frank
Ditto. Just watched it. I'd seen a clip of David Purley struggling with Roder Williamson's car before, but not most of it. "Sobering" is close, but doesn't cover it. I've had the misfortune to be at a race where someone died- Rolf Stommelin at Riverside. No fun. I often wish for the opportunity to race at pre-chicane tracks with the cars from the 1970's and (much) earlier...but I am glad that our sport has moved on. Yes, the cars of the last decade and a half are (IMHO) hidiously ugly. However, no lives have been lost, even with crashes such as Kubika's at Montreal.
Is further explanation really needed? It is a fascinating and heartbreaking look at a terrifying period of a sport whose safety almost all of us take for granted now.
A friend of mine sent me the link to this video a few weeks back. I finally got around to watching it (moments ago). Searched the F1 Forum to find this thread. If you have not seen this video it is well worth an hour of your time. A sobering time in F1 that should not be forgotten.
Yep, they certainly were very brave men to face death square in the face at every race. I think we are all thankful for the safety of today's cars. Apart from the nose ramp of course
