Wheel Men...Drivers of the Lotus 49

[BDA]

Brave man! Sadly dying because he had the wings taken off his car at Monza - an untested configuration. Ironically, he was probably the only driver (up till that point anyway) who refused to drive a car because he thought it was unsafe.

[Bainford]

Brave man! Sadly dying because he had the wings taken off his car at Monza - an untested configuration. Ironically, he was probably the only driver (up till that point anyway) who refused to drive a car because he thought it was unsafe.

Was that not the incident that landed Colin in hot water with the Italian authorities who want to put him on trial for murder, or some charges similar to that?

[4129R]

I think that was Frank Williams for the Senna crash.

[jbcollier]

The first Lotus incident with the Italians crying foul was in the 1961 Italian Grand Prix on 10 September at Monza, Wolfgang von Trips in his Ferrari collided with Jim Clark's Lotus. Von Trips's car became airborne and crashed into a side barrier, fatally throwing von Trips out of the car and killing fifteen spectators. (Wikipedia).

[Lou Drozdowski]

The first Lotus incident with the Italians crying foul was in the 1961 Italian Grand Prix on 10 September at Monza, Wolfgang von Trips in his Ferrari collided with Jim Clark's Lotus. Von Trips's car became airborne and crashed into a side barrier, fatally throwing von Trips out of the car and killing fifteen spectators. (Wikipedia).

Life and Karma...Jochen's parents were killed in an allied bombing raid near the end of WW2, and was raised by relatives in Austria. Always the wild one, he was influenced to motorsports as a young boy and his idol was the German ace Von Trips. Was it his fate to perish only meters away from the same place?

As for Senna, it is Italian law that all motor vehicle deaths are to be investigated...and, as in this case, Frank Williams would be summoned to a trial to determine if fault was present. Homicide investigators scoured the equipment and all black box data. It was revealed that during construction of the Williams chassis, Senna did not like the position of his steering wheel and requested it be altered. The column was cut and a 3" splice was welded in...It was this splice that failed during the Imola race, causing the loss of steering control.   

[Roger]

The cause of the Senna crash is still a subject of debate. I'd suggest reading the Nostalgia forum for some very erudite opinions.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Once in a while I'll come across a couple of shots taken at the exact moment in time by different photographers...

The first privateer win for Rob Walker at Brands Hatch in 1968 with Jo"Seppi"Siffert in the 49B.   

[BDA]

More great pictures, Lou. I wonder why the Lotus steering wheel hub was taped over?

[Roger]

Lou, what about Stirling Moss winning the Argentinian Grand Prix, Trintignant at Monaco in 1958, 2 more GPs for Moss in 1959, all in Coopers, and further wins by Moss, like
Monaco 1960, incidentally the first GP win for a Lotus, Moss again at US GP, Monaco and Nurburgring, etc., etc. All for Rob Walker.
Seppi's win wasn't Walker's first, but I think it might have been his last.

[4129R]

I wonder why the Lotus steering wheel hub was taped over?

Because the Lotus emblem was a bad fit, it kept falling out, and Chunky hadn't paid the suppliers so they hadn't delivered the new batch.

[BDA]

I guess that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone!


 

[Lou Drozdowski]

Lou, what about Stirling Moss winning the Argentinian Grand Prix, Trintignant at Monaco in 1958, 2 more GPs for Moss in 1959, all in Coopers, and further wins by Moss, like
Monaco 1960, incidentally the first GP win for a Lotus, Moss again at US GP, Monaco and Nurburgring, etc., etc. All for Rob Walker.
Seppi's win wasn't Walker's first, but I think it might have been his last.

Roger...It's about the 49, not about who won where, when, and what chassis was used...I did not want it to sound like his victory was the first privateer to win a GP. Sorry you interpreted it that way...ld   

[Lou Drozdowski]

In 1967 the French Grand Prix was held at Le Mans...

I love this shot because it captures the feeling of tension and excitement of the pit lane on race day. Closer examination shows another Worlds Champion in the photo...care to identify him?   

     

[jbcollier]

Other than Hill and Clark?

[4129R]

I'm looking for a 6 year old.

Haven't seen him yet..............