Memorials to racing drivers

I hope it's not too morbid to introduce another thread about racing drivers who lost their lives.

There has been some mention recently about the memorial to Dick Seaman which stood where he crashed fatally at Spa.




These pictures were published in Motor Sport in 1956. In case the captions aren't clear, the pictures are: top row, a street named after Raymond Sommer, the Seaman memorial, and an Avenue named after Georges Boillot. The Sommer and Boillot memorials are at Monthlery. Second row, Robert Benoist,at Monthlery, Tazio Nuvolari, Mantova, Georges Boillot, Monthlery. Bottom row, Mlle Renee Fridrich who died in the Paris - St Raphael trial of 1932, Freddy Charlier, who was killed in 1929 beside the starting line at Spa and PB Pagnibon who lost is life driving a Ferrari in the 12 hour sports-car race at Hyeres.

I wonder whether these memorials still stand and what others exist.

I know I've mentioned it before, but under the stands at Le Mans, seen by those passing to get to toilets, is a simply plaque to Robert Benoist.
Phil Garlick's headstone at the cemetery in Sydney where he was laid to rest includes a bust of him in his racing gear.

In the Frankfurt-Darmstadt Autobahnen, at about the 9-km post, just past the Langen-Morfelden bridge there is the Memorial to the great Bernd Rosemeyer.

In the pitlane at Zolder there used to be a memorial for Gilles Villeneuve.

In hockenheim there is a memorial for Jim Clark on the place he got of track.

In Imola there is a statue of Ayrton Senna somewhere in het proximty of the Tamburello corner.

At the Nurburgring there is a plaquette for some drivers (not al dead) at the enterence of the old paddock.

I think that somewhere in Paris is a memorial for Emille Levassor.

I knew that I knew of more than that. There was a Jack Myers memorial in the lower part of the pit area at Catalina Park, about 200 metres from where he died in 1961.
At Longford in Tasmania there was a plaque in a stone on the spot where Timmy Mayer died practising for the Tasman race of 1964. I wonder if it's still there?
If the Myers one is, I'm sure it would be vandalised by now...

there is a town clock in the town of duns in scotland,as well as a wonderful museum filled with some of clarks trophys,driving suits and photos spanning his entire career.

Senna's surprisingly tiny marker
in Cemiterio Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil



This photo is from a ghoulish, but interesting site
http://www.findagrave.com
under "claim to fame:sports figure"
Not really much in the way of F1 drivers, (Senna, Fangio, Clark, Ronnie Peterson is all I Saw) but it's pretty exhaustive in regards to the graves of anyone with a connection to the Indianapolis 500. If you ever wondered where all the old riding mechanic's are buried this is the place.

On the original 6.6mi Watkins Glen road course there's a stone marker at the site of Sam Collier's fatal accident in the 1950 race. On the engraved plaque is also the name of his brother, Miles, winner of the 1949 GP who later died in 1954.

There is a memorial to Antonio Ascari at Montlhery. The only photograph that I have seen suggests that it is out on the road circuit, presumably at the point where he crashed. This may be beyond the bounds of the attenuated circuit which is used for racing today. The photo was taken in 1952, so it is possible that the memorial no longer exists. Perhaps an interested Parisian would seek it out. It consists of a bronze (?) relief of Ascari's head surrounded by a laurel wreath. This is attached to a stone structure, which is on the bank immediately at the side of the track.
When I was in London last month I took the opportunity to visit the grave of Dick Seaman. It is located in the huge cemetary at Roehampton Vale on the A3 road. Like most cemetaries the majority of the graves are overgrown and long ignored, despite the well-meaning words "we will remember".
Not so Dick Seaman's grave which was a mass of pink impatiens(?). For this reason it is easy to find.
Clearly someone (could it be Chris Nixon?) still tends his his grave. While the other graves are left to rot like their contents, this man who died when he was only 26 years of age is still alive in people's memories and is now the subject of two biographies. The others around him no doubt lived full lives, but are now forgotten as if they had never been.

I believe that Daimler-Benz are responsible for the maintenance of Seaman's grave.

That fits... what a nice little bit of PR!
Recall Moss' comment about going to drive for them... he got out of the car after a test and couldn't believe his eyes.. a mechanic coming towards him with a dish of soapy water and a towel!
"This is motor racing in the grand manner," he thought!
All a part of the same package, as I see it.

Mercedes-Benz may be responsible for the flowers, but when I first visited the cemetary three years ago someone in the PR department must have goofed. Not a flower to be seen.

Some time ago there was a movement in the Guildford area to erect a commemorative plaque for Mike Hawthorn at the spot on the by-pass where he had his fatal accident. At that time the majority seemed to be against the idea and I believe nothing ever came of it. Please tell me I'm wrong.