45 years ago

[skeggysteve]

45 years ago Jochen Rindt lost his life at Monza. He was only 28 years old.

A couple of months earlier I'd been at Brands, first time I been to watch a GP, and watched Jochen drift the Lotus round Clearways - he was my first F1 hero.

RIP Jochen

[longshot]

Yes, very sad.

Another victim of Chapman's fragile cars......allegedly.

[williamp]

They were fragile, but he wanted to race the 72 without the aero wings, when it was designed for them. I remember an interview with Tony rudd where he explained Rindt refused to wear the crotch belt, just lap and shoulder belts. When he crashed, the lap belts cut his throat.

Still an awful shame....

[longshot]

williamp said:

They were fragile, but he wanted to race the 72 without the aero wings, when it was designed for them. I remember an interview with Tony rudd where he explained Rindt refused to wear the crotch belt, just lap and shoulder belts. When he crashed, the lap belts cut his throat.

Still an awful shame....

...but if one of the brakes hadn't failed......

[Eric Mc]

And the Armco barriers of better quality.....

[Smollet]

Sadly a race that also cost the lives of Wolfgang von Trips(1961) and Super Swede Ronnie Peterson(1978)

[onyx39]

Smollet said:

Sadly a race that also cost the lives of Wolfgang von Trips(1961) and Super Swede Ronnie Peterson(1978)

THREE fatalities in ONE race?

[Eric Mc]

Not unheard of - sadly.

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tragedy-mars-uls...

[Smollet]

onyx39 said:

Smollet said:

Sadly a race that also cost the lives of Wolfgang von Trips(1961) and Super Swede Ronnie Peterson(1978)

THREE fatalities in ONE race?

Now reread my post and pay attention to the years after the names.

Edited by Smollet on Monday 7th September 13:04

[onyx39]

Smollet said:

onyx39 said:

Smollet said:

Sadly a race that also cost the lives of Wolfgang von Trips(1961) and Super Swede Ronnie Peterson(1978)

THREE fatalities in ONE race?

Now reread my post and pay attention to the years after the names.

Edited by Smollet on Monday 7th September 13:04

Apologies.
"must pay attention"

[longshot]

Moominator said:

Would he have survived even if the seatbelt hadnt cut his throat?

What a fking grim era

It is thought that he would have had leg injuries but would have lived.

Even though he hadn't worn his seat belt properly (something he apparently did often) the blame for his death has always been pointed at the car for leaving the track as it did.

[Eric Mc]

And the poor barriers. The car went under the bottom barrier and then hit a support post.

[crankedup]

IIRC the Late great Gilles Villeneuve also lost his life when thrown out of the drivers seat when he lost control of the car. Another massive loss.

[Eric Mc]

I think the seat itself, with Villeneuve still in it, was thrown from the car as it broke up.

[freedman]

Smollet said:

Sadly a race that also cost the lives of Wolfgang von Trips(1961) and Super Swede Ronnie Peterson(1978)

Ronnie's accident (37 years ago today) shouldn't have cost him his life.

Incompetence by Italian medical personnel at the track and hospital sadly made sure it did

[Smollet]

Eric Mc said:

I think the seat itself, with Villeneuve still in it, was thrown from the car as it broke up.

Yes it was.

[EagleMoto4-2]

Smollet said:

Eric Mc said:

I think the seat itself, with Villeneuve still in it, was thrown from the car as it broke up.

Yes it was.

The anchor points for his seat belts came away from the chassis as the cockpit disintegrated around him, after the initial impact and cartwheeling across the track. The opinion however was that he broke his neck on the initial impact with a sand bank after the car became airborne.
It was a massive accident and having been thrown out of the car he landed in the catch fencing, with the seat still attached to him. His helmet also came off as he was wearing one of those GPA SJ models that clamped round your head, rather than having a neck strap.