Great quote on the racer's mindset
07-07-2004, 04:34 PM
#1
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Great quote on the racer's mindset
This from a review in today's WSJ on Brock Yates' new book
Someone once asked Tazio Nuvolari why he risked his
life in a racing car.
He responded by asking a question of his own: "How do
you want to die?"
His questioner said: "In my bed, in my sleep."
To which Nuvolari replied: "Then how do you find the
courage to turn out the lights at night?"
Someone once asked Tazio Nuvolari why he risked his
life in a racing car.
He responded by asking a question of his own: "How do
you want to die?"
His questioner said: "In my bed, in my sleep."
To which Nuvolari replied: "Then how do you find the
courage to turn out the lights at night?"
07-08-2004, 10:54 AM
#6
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My father in law has a bounch of videos of the early days of racing. Nuvolari, Rossmeyer, Caraciola, and all the rest were a breed apart. Imagine going 150mph+ in a car with no rollover protection, no belts, on tires that were narrower than what are on most motorcycles these days. I think Rossmeyer broke the 200mph barrier in an AutoUnion in the late 1930s. That didn't happen a Indy until the late 60s or early 70s, right?
07-08-2004, 11:15 AM
#7
Race Director
Yeah back in those days there were two types of crashs.
1) The driver was thrown free and suffered only minor scrapes and bruises.
2) Driver was killed instantly.
Not much in between.
1) The driver was thrown free and suffered only minor scrapes and bruises.
2) Driver was killed instantly.
Not much in between.
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07-08-2004, 11:17 AM
#8
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3) Suffered horrible burns.
Yates' book is about the four deadly accidents of '55. I'm only 20 pages into it, but full of interesting trivia as well as capturing the major events.
Yates' book is about the four deadly accidents of '55. I'm only 20 pages into it, but full of interesting trivia as well as capturing the major events.
07-08-2004, 12:13 PM
#9
Race Director
Originally posted by Mike in Chi
3) Suffered horrible burns.
3) Suffered horrible burns.
I seriously doubt I would have been racer back in those days.
I just finished "Fangio". It was a book written about the life and racing exploits of the great Juan Manuel Fangio.
My Wife got it for me for my birthday!
I now have new apperication for the man and understand why his still regarded as the best driver ever.
07-08-2004, 01:54 PM
#10
Wayne Jackson owns the one and only Porsche Indy car, which is representative of open wheel racers of the early 80's. A J Foyt managed to leverage the dispute raging between USAC and CART to force rule changes which basically made the Porsche car non-competitive.
One of the things that amazed me when looking at this car is that the driver is sitting in a bathtub of fuel. A sheet Aluminum fuel tank extends down both sides of the cockpit, behind the driver and under the seat bucket. This car was capable of 240 MPH.
Even as late as the early 80's, drivers knew that they were risking their lives in the event of a serious shunt. It took large stones to race thees cars.
One of the things that amazed me when looking at this car is that the driver is sitting in a bathtub of fuel. A sheet Aluminum fuel tank extends down both sides of the cockpit, behind the driver and under the seat bucket. This car was capable of 240 MPH.
Even as late as the early 80's, drivers knew that they were risking their lives in the event of a serious shunt. It took large stones to race thees cars.
07-08-2004, 04:06 PM
#11
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Porsche built one Indy car in the early 80's then a couple in the late 80's which were replaced with March chasses and raced by John Andretti and Teo Fabi for a few years. One year they finished second in points but only won one race Mid-Ohio.
Most formula cars put the fuel under your butt or behind your back to this day, but now there's a fuel cell in there.
Most formula cars put the fuel under your butt or behind your back to this day, but now there's a fuel cell in there.
Last edited by Mike in Chi; 07-08-2004 at 05:09 PM.
07-08-2004, 05:11 PM
#13
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thanks Greg
That's the car Ongais was supposed to race in 1980 or thereabouts that was legislated out of competition.
That's the car Ongais was supposed to race in 1980 or thereabouts that was legislated out of competition.
07-08-2004, 09:24 PM
#14
Mike,
Thanks for the extra info on the later Porsche Indy cars - did not know that.
The Ongais car fell victim to IRL's appeasement of A J Foyt, who was threatening to move to CART. Foyt had seen what the Porsche car could do, and insisted that the rule be changed to significantly restrict the max boost pressure limit, which made the car uncompetitive.
Thanks for the extra info on the later Porsche Indy cars - did not know that.
The Ongais car fell victim to IRL's appeasement of A J Foyt, who was threatening to move to CART. Foyt had seen what the Porsche car could do, and insisted that the rule be changed to significantly restrict the max boost pressure limit, which made the car uncompetitive.
07-08-2004, 10:08 PM
#15
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Originally posted by Mike in Chi
3) Suffered horrible burns.
Yates' book is about the four deadly accidents of '55. I'm only 20 pages into it, but full of interesting trivia as well as capturing the major events.
3) Suffered horrible burns.
Yates' book is about the four deadly accidents of '55. I'm only 20 pages into it, but full of interesting trivia as well as capturing the major events.
He actaully tied a police car to a tree and baited them to chase him. A bunch of crazy stories.