I just watched it, and looking back people actually went to races to specifically see people have accidents fatal and otherwise humans even gain pleasure from it, the macabre lies deep within us all just waiting for a chance to show its face. It is part of the human condition, sometimes known as the id and it cannot be denied. And no cowboy you don't have the right to call someone an idiot.
I really enjoyed watching it, very good programme. Im only 16 and it gave me an insite as to how lucky modern F1 drivers really are. Very interesting, highly recommeded
An interesting programme indeed, and myself being born many years after these horrific events has made me appreciate the drivers of that 60s/70s era greatly. Their courage as well as the determination to banish the disaster of a system (if we look at it in hindsight and comparison to today) was incredible. It seemed as if the circuit owners etc. didn't realise that if there were to be a race they needed the drivers, yet they couldn't make the drivers at all happy and treated them like... well I can't think of a word to describe it. It certainly puts safety advocates like Sir Jackie Stewart further high up in my estimation. The programme somewhat made me think about my judgement a little on Colin Chapman. It unfortunately usually takes something to happen like a fatality (in this case many) for firm action to be taken, though the drivers had to battle for it, and thankfully nowadays we do have the technology, knowledge and planning leading to the safety devices and the slick marshalling operations that we see week in week out not just in F1 but across the motorsport spectrum. Motorsport at high speeds will always be dangerous however, and in the relatively modern era such as in 1994, fatalities and serious injuries still occured and still do today if but a lot less frequently. Very recently we have seen examples of incidents that could have been a lot lot more serious too such as Kubica's in Canada 2007 where the survival cell reduced the extent of damage the wall could do to the driver; and how many drivers can now walk away too from high speed incidents is in my opinion a tribute to the levels of safety we have reached today.
Just makes you think that if Kubica was in a 60's/70's car, there would be nothing left of it. Still sends a shiver down my spine when i watch that crash. Amazing how he got out relatively unsathed !
I wasn't sure I wanted to watch it, but just have. Sadly I was a teenager at the start (1960) and therefore remember a fair bit of the ****ing carnage that went on. Just before that there were also shocking deaths of lads crashing on bikes, no skidlids then, I think 3 lads died from the estate I lived on, others broke legs coming off. Known as teddy-boys with the Edwardian drapes etc - adults had no time for them - but in reality they just went for the thrills of speeding on bikes. This was post-war, miserable, no prospects, conscription Britain - and no it wasn't Great Britain. Many lads joined up after conscription ended just to get out of the depressing environment they lived in. Back to the Killer Years- I feel really moved by witnessing it again. At least F1 has become fun, and entertainment, without the fear another driver would perish over some simple trackside issue. I am feeling a bit shaken and upset. What a shocking waste of lives it all was......
I watched the documentary when it was on the time before, and found it both appalling and moving. Because of the danger and the deaths the drivers were closer, and had more respect for each other. Without Jackie Stewart there would have been more deaths, and F1 has benefitted from his stand against the insanity of such ever present danger. Thankfully love for your fellow competitors and compassion for your fellow human beings is deeper down than the macabre, which is actually just an adolescent phase with most people.
I still feel uncomfortable and almost embarassed at having been to every British GP since 72 until 94, Donington was my last, the death of Senna blew it all away for me, however I certainly did not attend to watch someone die as suggested by a poster on here, I find that comment extremely offensive actually, but admit the attraction and excitement of a GP was overwhelming and totally irresistable, but it was more the noise, speed and the electric atmostphere that did it for me. Of course times were different then and safety was relative, with an 'oh well' attitude that accepted the risks, I remember riding my Triumph Bonneville 750 or Tiger 100 can't remember which, from Devon to the Royal Albert Hall to watch the Cream farewell concert in 68, two up with no crash helmets, how stupid was that !!!!! Shortly after we came back my mate hung himself, he found out his girlfriend had been unfaithful while we were away, and he just couldn't come to terms with it, he always was a crazy mad bastard. I still miss him even now. Nowadays, I'd never consider going out on the Ducati without full leathers and crash helmet etc. How times change.
Ernie - fancy that ! - didn't know you were a head-banger like me. I didn't see the farewell Cream concert - but saw them elsewhere. Of course Clapton played with so many. Ginger Baker was off his head, but then so many drummers were. I remember groups that played mostly W.London out to Uxbridge and Watford. Stones, Yardbirds, Who, Steve Winwood's outfits, Birds, Mark Four, Creation, Small Faces, Geno Washington...... Soon turned on to Black Sabbath & Hendrix - but never saw him live - marriage/mortgage killed that spending power off. Those were the days my friend...... I imagine you know some of the concert is on Youtube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q4MaWE88rw&feature=fvsr I blame Cream for doing my hearing in - the amp output was fantastic - my ears still buzzed 2 days after seeing them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_QCOjr85as cocaine - what a group !!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHg672FXzfU&feature=related layla - watch Ray Cooper - stole the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_iLZXjhI-g&feature=related Blind Faith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr81olQ1ibk Moon really blowing the stage up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_RxLjEiUgg&feature=related Birds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwNmhfw9j3Y&feature=watch_response Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Yes indeed Ernie. I suppose on this general point, I must count myself amongst those who have changed with the times. I have just written a comment in another thread about norms and peer pressure. SilverArrow's thread aims in the direction of nationality, but the same thing applies here. The concept is entirely scalable and therefore works on all levels. Thus there is a tendency to 'go with the flow'; to accept evolving norms and to 'change with the times'. I wouldn't dream of going out on a bike without full kit. Or would I? Come to think of it, when I was last in Greece, I followed the norm of not 'bothering' with anything more than a helmet, and have ridden a CBX in Monaco along the promenade wearing just a pair of shorts. I like to think that I think for myself, but I suppose I succumbed to the norm too…
Bergy, Yea man, great music in them day's, real instruments and guys who could bloody well play em, I love all that blues based stuff, seen Clapton dozens of times, even saw Peter Green with Mayall a few years back in Leicester of all places. We used to come up over the weekends and get into the Marquee club, most of the best bands would play there, used to shack up with a young lady from Bethnal Green, then met a mad red headed Irish bird married her and that was the end of it, seemed like a good idea at the time, got divorced within a few year's. Cosi, yes we have succumbed but the old spirit is still there, not really much choice, living in a police state as I seem to remember you observing elsewhere. They didnt manage to get me on our trip to Devon a few weeks back, 250 miles, 2 hours 40 minutes home to hotel.
Just watched it. Really thought provoking and shocking documentary. From Lorenzo Bandini's badly burnt body to David Purley's heroic but helpless efforts really takes the words away from your mouth. You really get an idea of how ruthless and relentless an individual Colin Chapman could be in car design but at the same time that is what made Chapman such a legend in F1. Jackie Stewart - relentless and ruthless as well but in search of a safer future. It's hard to believe anyone raced in such dangerous conditions. They really were men of super human qualities making them more incredible but at the same time more ridiculous than any of the drivers of the recent era. The likes of Stewart's efforts in f1 safety really can't be praised enough, setting a trend where today we can watch a Grand Prix with almost full assurance over it's safety AND getting safety standards so high that normal road cars and roads have benefitted from as well. But what a cost it took.
