Ayrton SENNA: R.I.P.

[SennaMan]

15th anniversary of a terrible weekend where two men lost their lives:

the rookie Austrian driver: roland RATZENBERGER on 30 April;

and

the champion ayrton SENNA on 1 May, 15 years ago today at San Marino.

Always remembered

both were the last drivers to lose their lives racing in F1 although track officials have since been tragically killed

[FW14B]

RIP to both racers, stewards, and everyone who has died for the passion of F1.

[Willy]

Truly a sad day in the history of F1. And we must remember that before them many more had died.
Once again all fans and everyone involved in F1 should take a mpment to thank Sir Jackie Stewart, who had the courage to speak out and risk being a pariah in the interest of F1 safety.
Others have taken up the torch since, but it was Sir Jackie that started it all.

[cosworth151]

Quite true, Willy. Some of us are old enough to remember when the sport lost several drivers a season. It's hard to believe that even some drivers were opposed to the safety reforms that  Sir Jackie championed.

[Willy]

I read in Sir Jackie's bio about Innis Ireland standing in the pitlane with his hands tucked in his armpits flapping his elbows and  making chicken noises at Jackie as he walked to his garage. As if Jackie Stewart could be called a chicken.
This all because he was saying and doing what others wouldn't, in the interest of saving all the driver's lives, not just his own.

Ireland couldn't drive half as well as Sir Jackie on his best day and here he was doing that.

I have a copy of "All Arms and Elbows" by Ireland and quite enjoyed reading it but once I read what Sir Jackie had to say about that incident, I found that I had a little less respect for Innis.