Great Documentary

[cuda6666]

This is a BBC documentary about the evolution of F1 safety during the sixties and early seventies. Good thing they didn't have to deal with the dangers of windshield washer fluid.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.p ... 58981.html

[John F]

Thanks for posting that. Brings back a lot of memories. A terrible time that was accepted as part of racing.

[paultg]

Yeah, thanks for posting. I hadn't seen it, and this was before my time. Unbelievable to watch on video, can't imagine being a fan at those races and seeing such horrible tragedy. - Paul G.

[StephanAlfa]

Incredible. I recall "safety" started with Jackie (Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE) after his team mate Francois Cevert died at Watkins Glen (1973?).
He became adamant about safety.

[cfossum]

Literally rubbing elbows with the greats. I love that photo!

[Dave_G]

Incredible. I recall "safety" started with Jackie (Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE) after his team mate Francois Cevert died at Watkins Glen (1973?).
He became adamant about safety.

He was instrumental in pushing for safety improvements, but it started long before that. His crash at Spa in 1966, where he was trapped in the car for a half-hour, and the ambulance got lost on the way to the hospital, was the incident that got him started. He talks a bit about it in the documentary. By the time his friend and teammate Cevert died, Sir Jackie already had a long history of lobbying for safer conditions.

Cevert's death was all the more tragic since he and Stewart were good friends off the track, and spent lots of time together. When was the last time a Formula 1 team had a pair of drivers who were genuine buddies, and hung out together between races?

And yes, that was outstanding documentary. Thanks for posting the link!