Sports car racing in the 50s
#1
Thread Starter
Sports car racing in the 50s
For those of us who followed sports car and F1 racing in the 50s and 60s this article will be a stark reminder of how motor sports has changed over the past 50 years. And, for the younger audience you will get a feel for the men who
#2
An interesting article. Very different times and attitudes. I think the change started with Mark Donohue the driver/engineer and Jackie Stewart, the first driver to make an issue of safety.
In my opinion, racing became a better sport when the attitudes changed and safety became a topic to consider. I stopped following racing when Donohue, my idol, died. How could you love a sport that consistantly took the lives of the best participants?
With all due respect to the drivers of Portago's era and before, I like it better when my hero's remain alive.
In my opinion, racing became a better sport when the attitudes changed and safety became a topic to consider. I stopped following racing when Donohue, my idol, died. How could you love a sport that consistantly took the lives of the best participants?
With all due respect to the drivers of Portago's era and before, I like it better when my hero's remain alive.
#3
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by ralper,May 12 2005, 08:12 PM
With all due respect to the drivers of Portago's era and before, I like it better when my hero's remain alive.
#4
Originally Posted by dlq04,May 13 2005, 03:57 PM
Like you, I reached a point where I could no longer follow motor sports due to the heavy toll. In fact, I think it was Mark that was the straw for me as well. There was a period of three or four years where deaths became so common place I could not follow it any more either. It was an exciting period because the driver accounted for so much more; as it wasn't all just about who the dominant car. That's the part I do miss.
Still, if the trade off is that of less deaths of drivers, I'll settle for a little less excitement.
#5
Registered User
50's is a little before my time, the first I remember is Clark. In Formula 1 I don't think there has been a death since the 2 at Imola '94. Yesterday Dana broke his back in IRL but Hornish walked away after flipping and sliding on his cockpit for several hundred feet. The guys of old had some cojones there is no doubt and there was definite lag in safety vs. speed but in some classes it has swung too far the other way IMHO.
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#8
Thread Starter
Great shot. Although I'm not sure things have change a lot. I stood at the curb that was 10 people deep for the Vintage downtown festival and the race cars were 3 across. There was a whale tale Porsche that came down the curb side doing a good 60+ mph. One unintentional shove in the crowd and someone would be dead.
#9
^^ Great pic Conedodger.
One of the images that is etched in my mind was Eddie Sachs at Indy (If I remember correctly it was 1961).
It is a good thing that things have changed.
One of the images that is etched in my mind was Eddie Sachs at Indy (If I remember correctly it was 1961).
It is a good thing that things have changed.