Crash and Burn - The Story of Tommy Byrne
Discussion
Hi folks,
I watched this documentary last weekend and found it very interesting. Has anyone else seen it and, if so, what are your thoughts on his career?
Does anyone here remember when he was racing, either Formula Ford, Formula 3 or F1? Would be really interested to hear your opinions.
I watched this documentary last weekend and found it very interesting. Has anyone else seen it and, if so, what are your thoughts on his career?
Does anyone here remember when he was racing, either Formula Ford, Formula 3 or F1? Would be really interested to hear your opinions.
Edited by Johnny 89 on Wednesday 13th January 16:14
Raced against Tommy Byrne in the 1980 P&O FF championship at Croft - Tommy was in the works Van Diemen. Extremely talented driver who raced hard but fair. He was very confident of his own ability even then.
I recall in 1981 Tommy raced in FF2000 and F3 but returned to do the FF festival at Brands for Van Diemen whose driver Ayrton Senna had decided to retire and return to Brazil!!, thank goodness he reconsidered. Tommy won the final.
Should have progressed to the very top but arrogance and circumstances conspired to prevent this.
I recall in 1981 Tommy raced in FF2000 and F3 but returned to do the FF festival at Brands for Van Diemen whose driver Ayrton Senna had decided to retire and return to Brazil!!, thank goodness he reconsidered. Tommy won the final.
Should have progressed to the very top but arrogance and circumstances conspired to prevent this.
Edited by Matty3 on Wednesday 13th January 18:28
Tommy Byrne didn't make it to the top because he was never fit enough. It never seemed to dawn upon him that in order to wrestle a 600 or 700bhp malcontent around a track into the latter parts f race required a degree of strength and stamina which can only be obtained through fitness. He would rather go Party, drink and smoke which, while adding to the mystique, ensure that he became one of the sports lesser 'what ifs'.
Credit to him getting so far given where he came from (ie a border town more associated with terrorism at the time) and with absolutely no backing whatsoever. But for me hes probably only barely in the top ten of drivers Ireland has produced in either rallying or on the circuit, and especially bearing in mind the fact that they haven't produced very many. And this is from someone who is from near where hes from.
The greatest 'what if' from that island is Martin Donnelly.
Credit to him getting so far given where he came from (ie a border town more associated with terrorism at the time) and with absolutely no backing whatsoever. But for me hes probably only barely in the top ten of drivers Ireland has produced in either rallying or on the circuit, and especially bearing in mind the fact that they haven't produced very many. And this is from someone who is from near where hes from.
The greatest 'what if' from that island is Martin Donnelly.
rastapasta said:
Tommy Byrne didn't make it to the top because he was never fit enough. It never seemed to dawn upon him that in order to wrestle a 600 or 700bhp malcontent around a track into the latter parts f race required a degree of strength and stamina which can only be obtained through fitness. He would rather go Party, drink and smoke which, while adding to the mystique, ensure that he became one of the sports lesser 'what ifs'.
Credit to him getting so far given where he came from (ie a border town more associated with terrorism at the time) and with absolutely no backing whatsoever. But for me hes probably only barely in the top ten of drivers Ireland has produced in either rallying or on the circuit, and especially bearing in mind the fact that they haven't produced very many. And this is from someone who is from near where hes from.
The greatest 'what if' from that island is Martin Donnelly.
In a Motorsport podcast a few years ago they had an audience with Tommy Byrne. As echoed above he came across as a bellend.Credit to him getting so far given where he came from (ie a border town more associated with terrorism at the time) and with absolutely no backing whatsoever. But for me hes probably only barely in the top ten of drivers Ireland has produced in either rallying or on the circuit, and especially bearing in mind the fact that they haven't produced very many. And this is from someone who is from near where hes from.
The greatest 'what if' from that island is Martin Donnelly.
As for Martin Donnelly - a few years ago I was lucky enough to be taken out on a racetrack by him in an Alfa 4C during a car launch event. What an utterly charming gentleman.
generationx said:
In a Motorsport podcast a few years ago they had an audience with Tommy Byrne. As echoed above he came across as a bellend.
That was the one that sprang to my mind when I commented above! When a really interesting podcast drops I like to set myself a nice walk for an hour or so to enjoy it in the local woods, Tommy's was no different apart from grimacing through pretty much all of it. I think he did an American podcast, I forget the name of it but the one where they sit down to dinner with the interviewee and it was the same-a total boor that had a hugely inflated opinion of himself.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Great story but boy does he come across as a total knob when you hear him talk.
The McLaren test byrned into legend and mythology and easy to paint him as a victim if you didn't know much about the guy.I seem to remember Brundle's response, struggling to come up with something PC and non-libelous, was rather telling about Tommy's character even before contemporary footage was shown.
He's seems to have mellowed a bit these days.
Greater interview with Dinners WIth Racers https://media.blubrry.com/dinnerwithracers/s/s3-us...
Had it been two wheels he would've more likely to have been a proper legend with the accolades.
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