He got my interest in F1 started when he took a swim in the Monaco harbor.
I am not a Formula 1 scholar, but I didn't realize Bandini had ever gone in the harbor. I know his fatal crash in '67 occurred at the harbor chicane, but didn't involve going in the water. Are you possibly thinking of Ascari in '55? In any case, one of Ferrari's great drivers - winner of the '63 LeMans w/ Scarfiotti.
Yes, yes you are correct. It was Ascari that went into the water. I remember watching the tape of the Bandini accident, they showed a film of Ascari. The entire episode left an image in my mind. Now apparently a bit out of focus, but thank you for clarifying.
Truly tragic story, worsened by the fact that his wife was in the same hospital having a miscarriage while he was dying of his burns. Still makes me wince...
I suppose some "good" (excuse the poor phrasing) might be said to have come of his passing: straw bales were removed from F-1 tracks. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMbyApMeqU[/ame]
I remember this accident vividely as I was a young kid in France watching eveything I could about F1. Thanks for sharing this great and very sad video. He was a great driver.
remember it well he was my favorite. imortalised in the movie le mans. which he appeared in and was portrayed as "barlini"
It was Grand Prix, not Le Mans. Saw the terrible crash on ABC's Wide World of Sports when it happened. I was screaming at the TV telling them to get the helicopter away because it was fanning the flames. Found out later that they didn't know he was still in the car. Sickened at the time.