Formula 1 Canada GP - Holy F'n sh!t!

[RobinB]

Perhaps, but back in Lauda's days, folks weren't nearly as lawsuit-happy if bad things were to happen .

Yeah - shame ain't it ? Anyway, I still watch the GP's but I miss the 70's era when things were much simpler and far more friendly. Just to illustrate that point, at the 1977 SA GP prior to the race the teams had 2 weeks of tyre testing and during that time my friend and I rocked up at Kyalami when the teams were unloading and moving into the pits, we chatted to the Team Surtees outfit and ended up assisting with the unloading, set up of the cars etc etc - drinking beer with John Surtees and his team, chatting to his drivers, all without any hassles from anyone - Aaah - them were the days !!!!!

[DAL767-400ER]

Bloody wimps ! Niki Lauda was back at the wheel 6 weeks after his shunt at the Ring.

Perhaps, but back in Lauda's days, folks weren't nearly as lawsuit-happy if bad things were to happen .

[v1images]

The race steward on the bottom of the frame was also lucky not to be taken out by Kubica's BMW....

[RobinB]

...."as I'd expect that either BMW or the FIA doctors will tell him to not take part as a safety precaution until he is fully fit again. Better safe than sorry".

Bloody wimps ! Niki Lauda was back at the wheel 6 weeks after his shunt at the Ring.

[DAL767-400ER]

Even if he is almost uninjured, I have my doubts he'll actually be racing in Indy, as I'd expect that either BMW or the FIA doctors will tell him to not take part as a safety precaution until he is fully fit again. Better safe than sorry.

Yeap it's almsot official now that he only suffered a broken ankle. He left the hospital less than 24 hours after the accident and immidiately after drove his car home. BMW managers will tell on thursday whether he will race in US or no.

[brianw999]

And finally - "real F1's"

Yup, definately my era. Real racing.

Race tickets at affordable prices !!!!!!

You are not joking. I flatly refuse to pay the demanded entrance fees for F1 these days. For my wife and I to go to the British GP, get in and get a half decent seat ( without any weather protection ! ) would cost the best part of £300 - £350. Throw in a hotel and evening meal and transport to/from the circuit and you're up to £500-£600......for one days' motor racing ?

No thanks, I'll sit in my leather armchair with a few beers and watch the ITV coverage.

[Paul Maier]

Johnny herberts crash where he lost both legs below the knee
FG

Johhny Herbert lost both his legs?
Are yo confusing him with Alex Zanardi?

[RobinB]

And finally - "real F1's"

[RobinB]

I know where you're coming from, I would stab a guess that we were brought up in the same era of motorsport ( middle/late 60's onwards ).

Hi Brian - my first GP I attended was the 1971 SA GP - Mario Andretti won that one. Yes there is arguement on the safety aspect re the 70's era and todays F1's. It's difficult to pin down the comparrison between crashes in the 70's vs today - no two crashes are alike in all aspects. In the 1972 SAGP - John Love lost his Surtees TS9 at "the Kink" on the old Kyalami circuit (result of a puncture 6 laps from the end of the race) - also at full speed and the car disintegrated around him - he got out and walked back to the pits.

This discussion could go on forever - in short, my humble opinion - F1 should be as follows:
1: 3 litre engines (normal aspirated only)
2: Slick tyres a-la those 23 inch fat slabs of rubber on the rear
3: Aerodynamics limited to front and rear aerofoils
4: Manual gear changes (IE - car has and uses a clutch)
5: No radio communication and no telemetry transmission to the pits
6: Limited to 1 pit stop per race for tyres/fuel
7: Current limitations on engine changes stand (1 engine for 2 races minimum)
8: Current qualifying rules stand
9: Current safety features remain
10: Race tickets at affordable prices !!!!!!

PS: There are other sports equally or more "dangerous" than F1 was in the 70's. Rugby springs to mind - more in the "serious injury" category as opposed to fatalaties. Climbing Mount Everest has claimed many lives as well.

have fun

RB

[AlanF]

I think the Merc was carrying the Doctor because it was stopped at the scene of the accident and the Honda took over for 1 or 2 laps till the Merc was free again

[MaDbOy]

And speaking of the SC, did my eyes give up on me or was there a Honda as a safety car during the second SC period?!?

Indeed there was a Honda in there, allthough later on it looked like it was on the Crash site...and further on in the video I could not see if the Benz was there as SC

[v1images]

That was one of the most exhilarating races I have seen in a LONG time. It seems that the excitement and unpredictability of F1 has returned finally .

I feel sorry for Button who had a gearbox problem at the race start and did not get a single lap in. As for Hami, what a race, he had it totally under control despite loosing his leads 4 times.

Just a pic if anyone wants to see the crash:

I am not suprised if a leg or ankle was broken, you can see Kubica's feet hanging out of the car.

[brianw999]

Hm, can you imagine Takuma Sato driving under those circumstances

Yes.......possibly for as much as almost a whole lap.

[DAL767-400ER]

Yes, this race was ceratinly dramatic - just needed a shower of rain to complete the dramatics.

THAT would really have added to the dramatic, being how rare rain races have become (unfortunately).

If Kubica had been driving as little as 10 - 15 years ago we would probably be mourning the loss of another driver.

No doubt about that. As said, had it not been for HANS, you can guarantee his neck would have been broken.

His crash was very similar to the ones that took Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenburger.

Can't remember Ratzenberger's crash, but Senna's car just went straight in curve and it was the straight in impact that killed him. Kubica's car was essentially atomised, save for the monocoque, not so sure I'd compare these two crashes.

Crash resistant driver cell technology has moved on leaps and bounds in recent years but taking away traction control, going to narrower tyres and going back to manual gearboxes would put F1 back into the era of terribly violent crashes.

Hm, can you imagine Takuma Sato driving under those circumstances .