Lauda - the untold story
Discussion
Reviewed in motorsport magazine as pretty much " the told story", ie you've heard everything before.
However they also say the footage is golden for fans of the period so I think it will be more than worth a view to us fans
If you want to really know about the untold stories, go onto eBay and purchase (for a pittance) any of his autobiographies or driving manuals-truly fascinating stuff.
However they also say the footage is golden for fans of the period so I think it will be more than worth a view to us fans
If you want to really know about the untold stories, go onto eBay and purchase (for a pittance) any of his autobiographies or driving manuals-truly fascinating stuff.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Reviewed in motorsport magazine as pretty much " the told story", ie you've heard everything before.
However they also say the footage is golden for fans of the period so I think it will be more than worth a view to us fans
If you want to really know about the untold stories, go onto eBay and purchase (for a pittance) any of his autobiographies or driving manuals-truly fascinating stuff.
How can an autobiography be an untold story? Unread perhaps.However they also say the footage is golden for fans of the period so I think it will be more than worth a view to us fans
If you want to really know about the untold stories, go onto eBay and purchase (for a pittance) any of his autobiographies or driving manuals-truly fascinating stuff.
There are many stories out there though. I met an ex Brabham mechanic, from the days of Piquet, at a party and he, well lubricated, told us about life in the pits, and especially working with Piquet. I always read of how he got the mechanics on his side, how they would work hard just for him, but what this chap said contradicted it to a great extent. I was a fan of Piquet, at least his driving, and had read a fair bit about him in the motor press, but it was as if I was hearing about his evil twin brother.
I never met the bloke again but I was chatting to one of the bloke's friends who'd been there and who knew him fairly well. It seems a few drinks was all it took and there were lots more stories.
Mechanics have a bit of an exciting life as well it would appear.
Edited by Derek Smith on Wednesday 1st July 11:52
Derek Smith said:
How can an autobiography be an untold story? Unread perhaps.
.............
Mechanics have a bit of an exciting life as well it would appear.
Derek, I'd always thought Pistonheads pedantry was beneath you .............
Mechanics have a bit of an exciting life as well it would appear.
Wasn't there a mechanics book released a few years ago I seem to remember?
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Derek, I'd always thought Pistonheads pedantry was beneath you
Wasn't there a mechanics book released a few years ago I seem to remember?
I don't think pedantry is the right word.Wasn't there a mechanics book released a few years ago I seem to remember?
(Or, to put it another way, where did you get that idea from.)
I wasn't having a dig of course.
With regards to the book, you might be thinking of Machett's Mechanic's Tale. It was a good read but not an in-depth account of the goings on that went on in the teams he was in. His Benetton years left a lot unsaid I felt. I'm glad I read it but I didn't feel the urge to buy his other book.
I would say that about 80% of what has gone on with individuals and teams never gets told - at least, not until the protagonists are no longer with us.
The extent of Colin Chapman's skullduggery, rule bending and breaking was not fully told until the mid 1990s. The strange behaviour of people like Louis Stanley, Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon are still largely only hinted at rather than told outright - even though many years have passed since they died.
The extent of Colin Chapman's skullduggery, rule bending and breaking was not fully told until the mid 1990s. The strange behaviour of people like Louis Stanley, Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon are still largely only hinted at rather than told outright - even though many years have passed since they died.
Eric Mc said:
I would say that about 80% of what has gone on with individuals and teams never gets told - at least, not until the protagonists are no longer with us.
The extent of Colin Chapman's skullduggery, rule bending and breaking was not fully told until the mid 1990s. The strange behaviour of people like Louis Stanley, Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon are still largely only hinted at rather than told outright - even though many years have passed since they died.
^This - although I think MotorSport ran a story a few years ago of Frank Williams stealing another teams chassis.The extent of Colin Chapman's skullduggery, rule bending and breaking was not fully told until the mid 1990s. The strange behaviour of people like Louis Stanley, Raymond Mays and Peter Berthon are still largely only hinted at rather than told outright - even though many years have passed since they died.
The biggest story of all will be Ecclestone's. Nobody dare to speak frankly given how he can be as litigious as he likes and given how the entire F1 paddock is beholden to him in one way or another . It is a classic case study of how absolute power corrupts absolutely . I have read two biogs- the one by Susan Watkins was a hagiography and the Tom Bower one intriguing but ultimately fell short .
On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
coppice said:
The biggest story of all will be Ecclestone's. Nobody dare to speak frankly given how he can be as litigious as he likes and given how the entire F1 paddock is beholden to him in one way or another . It is a classic case study of how absolute power corrupts absolutely . I have read two biogs- the one by Susan Watkins was a hagiography and the Tom Bower one intriguing but ultimately fell short .
Judges have spoken frankly about him. The EU enquiry into F1 finances were to the point. If we take those views then it shows what type of person he is. He has admitted to being willing to give bribes. He controls pit passes.
coppice said:
The biggest story of all will be Ecclestone's. Nobody dare to speak frankly given how he can be as litigious as he likes and given how the entire F1 paddock is beholden to him in one way or another . It is a classic case study of how absolute power corrupts absolutely . I have read two biogs- the one by Susan Watkins was a hagiography and the Tom Bower one intriguing but ultimately fell short .
On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
Agreed.On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
Not the most instantly like-able man by any means, but very difficult to have anything other than total respect for him. The paddock would be a far worse place without him.
FeelingLucky said:
coppice said:
The biggest story of all will be Ecclestone's. Nobody dare to speak frankly given how he can be as litigious as he likes and given how the entire F1 paddock is beholden to him in one way or another . It is a classic case study of how absolute power corrupts absolutely . I have read two biogs- the one by Susan Watkins was a hagiography and the Tom Bower one intriguing but ultimately fell short .
On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
Agreed.On topic- I don't have heroes but I admire Lauda more than anybody in the sport. Sublime driver (nobody changed gear quicker or smoother, his downchanges sounded like a modern F1 car's ) , he was superquick early in his career , then slowed down a bit but got even smarter and what he achieved in 76 was utterly extraordinary. The smartest man in the sport by far- and no bullst - ever. I saw him win in F2 at Oulton ,the 82 British GP and his last GP at Zandvoort and it was a privilege to be there
Not the most instantly like-able man by any means, but very difficult to have anything other than total respect for him. The paddock would be a far worse place without him.
There are many many tales about Frank Most of which will never be told until he is dead and even then probably not at all because the guys that know have died, are dying off, become ill themselves already, etc. Im in two minds about whether I should have sat down and recorded conversations with dad properly before his stroke as he can't communicate well enough to do that now, but Im also uneasy at that sort of thing. What right do I have to tell other peoples stories if they haven't told them themselves?
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