CooCoothenoo Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 It seems inconceivable that 20 years have passed since that dreadful weekend at Imola. I can clearly remember watching Grandstand on the Saturday and them cutting into the programme for a special announcement (the BBC didn't show qualifying in those days). Cue a very sombre looking Murray Walker giving the news that Roland Ratzenberger had died. I suppose he's very much the forgotten man of that weekend, given what happened 24 hours later. Roland was a bloody good driver and had worked his entire adult life to achieve his ambition of driving in a Grand Prix (which he finally achieved two weeks before Imola). I'd been aware of him in touring cars, WEC and Japanese F3000. He naturally stood out because of his name, but always seemed to take any reference to it in good humour. I never had the pleasure of meeting him although I did speak to his mother a few times. I have no idea if his parents are still alive but my thoughts are with them today. It was a huge blow to them and I believe they moved to a new apartment which Roland had been given the keys to on the Saturday morning at Imola. On a positive note Roland's accident greatly influenced the FIA's safety programme (they were particularly alarmed by the side impact which I seem to remember punched a big hole in the monocoque). Now we have a generation of fans and drivers who have never experienced a fatality. I'm sure some others on here of a certain vintage have their own memories of what happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 The Simtek was a fabulous looking car (although that may just be because I like purple): I distinctly remember my brother (no doubt due to the immaturity of youth) saying that day it was a shame it had happened to them as a bigger, more established team would perhaps be able to cope with it more. 24 hours later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooCoothenoo Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 The Simtek was a fabulous looking car (although that may just be because I like purple): I distinctly remember my brother (no doubt due to the immaturity of youth) saying that day it was a shame it had happened to them as a bigger, more established team would perhaps be able to cope with it more. 24 hours later... Back then we thought the cars were so safe, but looking at that pic it is clear just how exposed the head and neck were. Not that cockpit padding would have saved Roland. The impact was absolutely massive, caused by a small mistake he'd made on the previous lap when he ran off the track. Wasn't the MTV deal a bit peculiar. I'm not sure any money was involved, but they gave Simtek advertising time they could then give to other sponsors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Back then we thought the cars were so safe, but looking at that pic it is clear just how exposed the head and neck were. Not that cockpit padding would have saved Roland. The impact was absolutely massive, caused by a small mistake he'd made on the previous lap when he ran off the track. Wasn't the MTV deal a bit peculiar. I'm not sure any money was involved, but they gave Simtek advertising time they could then give to other sponsors. The Simtek deal was the first thing that came to my mind when I heard a former MTV executive was joining Rangers a few months back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 It seems inconceivable that 20 years have passed since that dreadful weekend at Imola. I can clearly remember watching Grandstand on the Saturday and them cutting into the programme for a special announcement (the BBC didn't show qualifying in those days). Cue a very sombre looking Murray Walker giving the news that Roland Ratzenberger had died. I suppose he's very much the forgotten man of that weekend, given what happened 24 hours later. Roland was a bloody good driver and had worked his entire adult life to achieve his ambition of driving in a Grand Prix (which he finally achieved two weeks before Imola). I'd been aware of him in touring cars, WEC and Japanese F3000. He naturally stood out because of his name, but always seemed to take any reference to it in good humour. I never had the pleasure of meeting him although I did speak to his mother a few times. I have no idea if his parents are still alive but my thoughts are with them today. It was a huge blow to them and I believe they moved to a new apartment which Roland had been given the keys to on the Saturday morning at Imola. On a positive note Roland's accident greatly influenced the FIA's safety programme (they were particularly alarmed by the side impact which I seem to remember punched a big hole in the monocoque). Now we have a generation of fans and drivers who have never experienced a fatality. I'm sure some others on here of a certain vintage have their own memories of what happened. Judging by this piece they are: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/30/sport/motorsport/roland-ratzenberger-death-anniversary/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooCoothenoo Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Judging by this piece they are: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/30/sport/motorsport/roland-ratzenberger-death-anniversary/index.html Thanks for that. Nice to know they're still around. This is quite an interesting article; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/10796725/ayrton-senna-death-inside-story-imola.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGGcuQx2i5A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Connolly Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Thanks for that. Nice to know they're still around. This is quite an interesting article; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/10796725/ayrton-senna-death-inside-story-imola.html That piece also mentions the Barrichello crash on the Friday, one which is (unsurprisingly) almost completely forgotten in light of the other two accidents, but was damn close to being a 3rd fatality in the one weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooCoothenoo Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 That piece also mentions the Barrichello crash on the Friday, one which is (unsurprisingly) almost completely forgotten in light of the other two accidents, but was damn close to being a 3rd fatality in the one weekend. Barrichello got lucky. I remember the Italian marshals enthusiastically flipping his car over. Luckily he didn't have any neck or spinal injuries. Another car went into the barriers there heavily in practice. A Larrousse maybe? Think he flew in backwards after hitting the kerb. In the race Brabham retired at the last corner in the other Simtek after suffering complete steering failure. Luckily it didn't happen at the next corner, which was Tamburello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherrif John Bunnell Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Sad news about Nigel Stepney. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/27262470 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Sad news about Nigel Stepney. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/27262470 Tragic news, it was also sad how such a great career ended the way it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 My tribute to Roland Ratzenburger 20 years on from his death is this where both he and Philippe Favre were the class of the field, also a belated tribute to Philippe Favre as well who died last December in a skiing accident. I see in this a young JJ Lehto and future Mika Hakkinen manager Steve Robertson are also competing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooCoothenoo Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Philippe Favre, there's a blast from the past. He was fairly decent in F3 and F3000 too. The Formula Ford Festival was amazing back then. A few years before Senna cleared off back to Brazil and Tommy Byrne used his car to win the festival. 1986 was also the year (I think) that arguably the greatest of all the young talents around at the time died after apparently hitting ice during testing. Kudos to anyone who knows who I'm on about. He was very, very highly rated by those who saw him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Philippe Favre, there's a blast from the past. He was fairly decent in F3 and F3000 too. The Formula Ford Festival was amazing back then. A few years before Senna cleared off back to Brazil and Tommy Byrne used his car to win the festival. 1986 was also the year (I think) that arguably the greatest of all the young talents around at the time died after apparently hitting ice during testing. Kudos to anyone who knows who I'm on about. He was very, very highly rated by those who saw him. Was this Bertrand Fabi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooCoothenoo Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Was this Bertrand Fabi? Well done sir! If I knew how to give you a greenie on my phone I would. I'd love to know more about him but there's not a whole load of info out there. I do know Dick Bennetts rated him alongside Senna in terms of talent. I think he won 3 Formula Ford titles in his first year in Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doulikefish Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Decided to go to Montmelo (barcelona) for the race next weekend so got booked up tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 An interesting article on the BBC site about Ayrton Senna's former home in Norwich. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-27241760 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doulikefish Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Decided to go to Montmelo (barcelona) for the race next weekend so got booked up tonight Also got tickets for espanyol on the sunday night so shaping up for a good w/end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Brightside Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Maldonado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doulikefish Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 maldonado ffs anyway heres a live shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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