May 8th: Gilles Villeneuve

http://www.radio-can...ortgilles.shtml

There's an interview with one of the marshall's that was present at Zolder in this article. In the picture that accompanies the text, he shows the distance from the point of impact between the March and the Ferrari to ( the arrow ) where both car and driver landed.

Today, a remembrance ceremony was held by the people of the Ferrari Club Genk (Belgium).
You can see the participants at the Zolder circuit, on the spot where Gilles lost his life, 25 years from now…

It was my father who got me hooked on racing in the first place, with his stories of a little French-Canadian performing seemingly impossible feats and continually upsetting the odds. I was a bit dubious until I saw the video evidence for myself. Salut Gilles. Thanks for getting me into this

Originally posted by cheesy poofs


Fact was, GV was supposed to leave Ferrari and start his own team with the backing of Rothmans and Alfa-Romeo.

Didn't that dream of 'team Villeneuve' collapse before Gilles actually really wanted out of Ferrari? Ive always thought he would have been McLaren bound after 1982.

Originally posted by former champ


Didn't that dream of 'team Villeneuve' collapse before Gilles actually really wanted out of Ferrari? Ive always thought he would have been McLaren bound after 1982.

Not according to his old manager who once said this was in the works.

Originally posted by cheesy poofs


Not according to his old manager who once said this was in the works.

I think that was before 1982, mate; as far as aI know the deal fell through and was never close to realisation. It's widely believed he was off to Mclaren.

By the way, Joann has been doing the rounds on french canadian tv.. It seems she's preparing a book about Gilles that's due to come out this autumn.

I was happy to see that she seemed "de bonne humeur" : last (very) few times I saw her on tv, or interviewed, she looked like she was still devastated. As if as soon as Jacques & Melanie were sent to college, she'd crawl in her Monaco cavern and mourn. -- She looked quite the same as Shelley Duvail near the end of 'The Shining', complete with tired, fearfull eyes. -- Well no more.

Anyway, she was recounting many memories she had of Gilles. On thing that made me smile was her contradiction of prof. Watkins`story of his car trip with Gilles and Jo. According to her, she was the only person *not* to be scared by Gilles` driving -- said she didn't know better, everyone around Bertierville drove like they wanted to be Villeneuves and she didn't learn to drive because she thought she wouldn't cope on a road full of Gilles-s -- and that she would *sleep* (and not cower in fear) when she'd lie on the back seat.

I don't know much about the book. Will it be any good? I think yes, in that it ought to bring some other views of Gilles from some other people. Life on the circuits, in a motorhome, along with all the family? No wonder Jacques *really* wanted in. Probably a lot more about his beginnings, snowmobiles, Atlantics, ...? And maybe some more about Team Villeneuve?

I'll probably pick it up soon as it comes out.

Oh well, Salut Gilles!

Only able to write now, but: my personal greatest hero on track. I will never forget his driving (absolutely FANTASTIC) and his death (everything was not the same after that). Hope to see you some day, Gilles, and to be able to race with you! R.I.P., dear GILLES!!!

Originally posted by MaxScelerate
I don't know much about the book. Will it be any good? I think yes, in that it ought to bring some other views of Gilles from some other people. Life on the circuits, in a motorhome, along with all the family? No wonder Jacques *really* wanted in. Probably a lot more about his beginnings, snowmobiles, Atlantics, ...? And maybe some more about Team Villeneuve?

Well it was stated in Donaldson's book on Gilles' that Joanne was very skeptical and didn't trust the people who were supposed to be backer's of team Villeneuve and bring in the tobacco money that was required. Seemed her skepticism was justified so in this new book that is coming, I'd say she will have a bit to say on it. Should be interesting reading on all topics.

As posted previously on this thread, the book written by Joanne Villeneuve has finally been released here in Quebec, Canada. It should be an interesting read!!

AFAIK - The work is only available in Fench. For those interested in purchasing the book, follow this link:

http://www.archambau...02094064&type=5

Originally posted by cheesy poofs
As posted previously on this thread, the book written by Joanne Villeneuve has finally been released here in Quebec, Canada. It should be an interesting read!!

AFAIK - The work is only available in Fench. For those interested in purchasing the book, follow this link:

http://www.archambau...02094064&type=5

Do you know anything about an English version being releasd too?
That would be one that I buy blind.

about 26 years ago, it still feels like last week...

Henri

Originally posted by Henri Greuter




Do you know anything about an English version being releasd too?
That would be one that I buy blind.

about 26 years ago, it still feels like last week...

Henri

Not that I know of, but I'll try and reach the publisher to see if I can get an answer from them.

Originally posted by Maldwyn
I've just come across this piece by Peter Windsor on Gilles, which includes this:
Gilles may very well have won the '82 title, but retirement I find it hard to imagine him walking away from the sport he loved so soon.

Retire from racing not likely, his brother to this day is racing in and winning (plus taking the beating wrecking one causes) on snowmobiles.
As he, violating his Ferrari contract, secretly tested the Ski-Doo F-1 twin-track snowmobile, at the very least he would be out in winter with his brother.
Bob

new link:

http://s7.photobucke.....s Villeneuve/

Originally posted by Bruno
Villeneuve. "Gilles" Villeneuve. . .

http://s7.photobucke.....s Villeneuve/

Originally posted by Bruno
new link:

http://s7.photobucke.....s Villeneuve/

Nice pics!!

The following link is to my site where I've added over 35 photographs of Gilles Villeneuve that I shot between 1977 and 1980. Included are Can-Am, Formula Atlantic and Formula 1.

www.trackthoughts.com


Bill

Originally posted by Bill Wagenblatt
The following link is to my site where I've added over 35 photographs of Gilles Villeneuve that I shot between 1977 and 1980. Included are Can-Am, Formula Atlantic and Formula 1.

www.trackthoughts.com


Bill

Bill, those photographs are stunning Thank you so much for sharing them.

Originally posted by Bill Wagenblatt
The following link is to my site where I've added over 35 photographs of Gilles Villeneuve that I shot between 1977 and 1980. Included are Can-Am, Formula Atlantic and Formula 1.

www.trackthoughts.com


Bill

I particularly like the Can-Am pics, and the ones of Gilles from the Glen in '79. Thanks for posting the link.

As regards Villeneuve books, for me the Donaldson biography is close to being definitive. It would be difficult to improve on that one.

Pinched from Bill Wagenblatt's site:

“with the death of Gilles Villeneuve Grand Prix racing will not be the same. It will still go on and one day another star will appear and shine brightly, but until that day something has gone out of racing that will be hard to replace.” - Denis Jenkinson, Motor Sport June 1982

It says it all doesn't it.

I just found out that there's a new website for the Gilles Villeneuve Museum and also discovered this amazing link. Its Gilles' original contract with McLaren from 1977. This is the original copy that was in possession of GV's manager, Gaston Parent.

Website: www.villeneuveF1.com
Contract: http://www.museegill...Larengrosse.jpg


Also, the french weekly magazine Auto-Hebdo published last week a remarquable 120 page Collector's Edition with GV.

27 years since the bravest driver to ever jump in a Grand Prix car was tragically taken from us...

Here's hoping that David Hutson will decide to post one of his spectacular images of Gilles on this thread!

I read with interest Doug Nye's piece about not "getting" the Gilles phenomenon in the May issue of Motor Sport. I do sympathize - I agree he was nuts, although "nuts" and "genius" have never been mutually exclusive. As a teenager in small-town Quebec in the '70s, I decidedly did "get" the Gilles thing, so here's my take:

He was an artist who could make a car dance; who could tease astounding tricks from a poor car and whose every lap seemed to express the sheer joy of racing. He was a warrior, who never ever gave anything less than 100%. He raised the job of "driving around into circles" (as Niki Lauda once so picturesquely put it) into something inspiring and uplifting. For me, that's worth more than a hundred world titles.

in 1990 Ferrari wanted Riccardo.
but it is FIAT which chose Prost. …
bad choice. verry much bad

Really? You think that Ferrari would have won races with just Mansell or even with Patrese? I think not. Prosts made mistakes at Ferrari, but the marriage failed because both parties made mistakes. Pity.

I also have to express my reservations about the Villeneuve "legend", or rather "myth" - someone very recently here posted his opinion that GV is the most overrated racing driver of all time, and I very much agree. He seemed to lack a certain sense of pace, and took way, way too many chances! Actually, not unlike myself, when I try my hand at racing computer simulations: fast and furious, always maxed out and, consequently, always trying to make up time for the mistakes I invariably commit!

But still, he had a magic in the way he drove, and I think PCC has expressed it very well in the previous post!

He was an artist who could make a car dance; who could tease astounding tricks from a poor car and whose every lap seemed to express the sheer joy of racing. He was a warrior, who never ever gave anything less than 100%. He raised the job of "driving around into circles" (as Niki Lauda once so picturesquely put it) into something inspiring and uplifting. For me, that's worth more than a hundred world titles.

That day, a quarter of a century ago, we lost someone special - An artist? A warrior? Gilles Villeneuve.

photo: B²

Friday morning October 5, 1979 in the Kendall Garage. Gilles Villeneuve would go out in the rain shortly after this photo was taken and demonstrate to me and everyone gathered for the race weekend what made him special to me and countless others.

Brian

The great one

The great one

Thank you!! And, dare I add... Encore!!

I never heard it on May 8th yet since I was on a late nightshift, so I found out the next day,

But ever since, May 8 still pains me every year.

Thanks for the memories Gilles,


Henri

He was an artist who could make a car dance; who could tease astounding tricks from a poor car and whose every lap seemed to express the sheer joy of racing. He was a warrior, who never ever gave anything less than 100%. He raised the job of "driving around into circles" (as Niki Lauda once so picturesquely put it) into something inspiring and uplifting. For me, that's worth more than a hundred world titles.

Brilliantly put. Thank you, Peter, you've put my feelings into words.

As a teenager in small-town Quebec in the '70s, I decidedly did "get" the Gilles thing, so here's my take:

He was an artist who could make a car dance; who could tease astounding tricks from a poor car and whose every lap seemed to express the sheer joy of racing. He was a warrior, who never ever gave anything less than 100%. He raised the job of "driving around into circles" (as Niki Lauda once so picturesquely put it) into something inspiring and uplifting. For me, that's worth more than a hundred world titles.
[/quote]

Not only eloquent but so true with regards to "growing up in the 70s".

I was sadly too young to have witnessed the supreme skill of Fangio, Moss or Clark

But in Gilles from 1977 onwards here was a driver whose car control made him stand out from the crowd.

Ok in hindsight not perfect ..............but for a motor racing mad teenager he was my hero and will remain so however future generations choose to judge him

PAR

I'm brand new to the nostalgia forum as of yesterday, so I don't exactly know fully what I'm doing yet. I was going to upload a photo from my hard drive that I took of Gilles on the "Linden Leap" at Long Beach in 1979, a race that he won. When I clicked on the "insert image" icon, it wanted a URL. Is there no way to upload a photo in the same way you do an avatar, by choosing a file?

27 years for the number 27, by the way.

I'm brand new to the nostalgia forum as of yesterday, so I don't exactly know fully what I'm doing yet. I was going to upload a photo from my hard drive that I took of Gilles on the "Linden Leap" at Long Beach in 1979, a race that he won. When I clicked on the "insert image" icon, it wanted a URL. Is there no way to upload a photo in the same way you do an avatar, by choosing a file?

Hello Bob, and welcome!

As to your question: sadly, no! If you don't have webspace to host your picture, I suggest you read the thread at the top of the "front page",

Sticky: ATTENTION EVERYONE: how to post your images

I would love to see that picture!

Edited by fines, 08 May 2009 - 19:42.

Hello Bob, and welcome! As to your question: sadly, no! If you don't have webspace to host your picture

Well, it is at my Web site, but only as one of the rotating "slides" on the front page, and they're quite small. Since it isn't from an event I've shot in the last 10 years, it isn't in one of the galleries. I did read the sticky about posting images here, but since I do have a Web site that procedure seems like an awful lot of unnecessary effort with a high risk of failure (because I don't always follow instructions all that well the first time). It was easier to just send the JPEG to my Webmaster and ask him to put it at my site, which is what I did. Here it is, finally (I hope).

Well, it is at my Web site, but only as one of the rotating "slides" on the front page, and they're quite small. Since it isn't from an event I've shot in the last 10 years, it isn't in one of the galleries. I did read the sticky about posting images here, but since I do have a Web site that procedure seems like an awful lot of unnecessary effort with a high risk of failure (because I don't always follow instructions all that well the first time). It was easier to just send the JPEG to my Webmaster and ask him to put it at my site, which is what I did. Here it is, finally (I hope).

Well worth the effort

PAR

Well, it is at my Web site, but only as one of the rotating "slides" on the front page, and they're quite small. Since it isn't from an event I've shot in the last 10 years, it isn't in one of the galleries. I did read the sticky about posting images here, but since I do have a Web site that procedure seems like an awful lot of unnecessary effort with a high risk of failure (because I don't always follow instructions all that well the first time). It was easier to just send the JPEG to my Webmaster and ask him to put it at my site, which is what I did. Here it is, finally (I hope).

SENSATIONAL pic - thanks for posting.

Edited by Speedy27, 09 May 2009 - 15:28.

Well worth the effort

SENSATIONAL pic - thanks for posting.

Thanks, guys!

I stumbled into the Formula Atlantic series in '75 as the result of my association with Tom Gloy. Westwood that summer was the first Atlantic race I went to, followed by Trois Rivieres and Brainerd.

I was hooked on the Atlantic series and blown away by the crazy Quebecer from Berthierville.

During that off-season I encountered the editor of Autoweek and pitched him to be their photog/reporter for the '76 Atlantic season. Thank goodness he went for it.

Not only did I get to see Gilles in all the rest of his Atlantic races, I got to know him as a person and as a friend. For that I will be forever grateful.

He was indeed magic.

Now that I have a scanner and flickr at my disposal I can let many more people see what I got to see during those years.

Not surprisingly there are a lot of Gilles pics in my Atlantic, F1 and people sets. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.

http://www.flickr.co...s/46681980@N03/

Wonderful photos.

Thank you.

I wish Gilles were still with us so he could enjoy them too.

A couple of years off pace but just in time to remember the the most entertaining Formula One driver of my life time 28 years after his passing, here are the few photographs my buddy RJC has to remember him by, all taken in Britain during practice sessions for the British GP and regrettably all in years where Gilles struggled.

First up Gilles T4 at the back of the pits, my overwhelming memory of this car was Gilles driving wheel to wheel with Rene Arnoux at Dijon for the most thrilling race to second place of all time, that and Murray Walker nearly self combusting while commentating on the dual, remain my all time favourite Formula One TV moments.



#12 Ferrari 312T4, British GP, 13 07 79, Q13 DNF, with owners permission.

Second up Ferrari's Annus horribilis represented by the T5, a year in which between them Scheckter and Villeneuve collected just 8 points and finished just one place further up in the World Constructors Championship than the debutant Alfa Romeo team.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#2 Ferrari 312T5/045, British GP, 12 07 80, Q19 DNF, with owners permission

Finally Gilles only managed four laps in the British GP in 1981 in his 126 CK/054 before a shunt but the memories are of those two drives in Spain and Monaco where somehow Gilles managed to finish first in less than ideal equipment and then that crazy drive in Canada where Gilles drove to third place virtually blinded by his twisted wing front wing for a good portion of the race.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#27 Ferrari 126 CK/054, British GP, 17 07 81, Q8 DNF, with owners permission

As Jody Scheckter reminded us at Gilles funeral 'The memory of what he has done, what he achieved, will always be there.'

Salut Gilles

Edited by arttidesco, 25 May 2010 - 00:01.

I posted this link in the Michael Andretti thread. It fits perfectly here.

This is a classic example of how I will always remember Gilles....

http://www.flickr.co...@N03/4385929467

I guess it is always best to find the limits of adhesion before the race than during it :-)

Fab link Marc :-)

This is buried in the Personal Photos from the Track thread. I apologize for repeating a favorite photo that I took of Gilles at Montreal in 1981. Pushing hard, as usual.

No need to apologies for repeating such a fabulous photo, I'd probably never have seen it if you hadn't :-)

Thanks for sharing it B Squared :-)

As it says......

http://www.motorspor...gilles-at-play/

And since Gilles was my all-time favorite I created a set on flickr of all the pics of him I've uploaded. There will be many more added in the future when I get the time to dig them out of my archives and get them onto flickr......

http://www.flickr.co...57624008130538/

Edited by Marc Sproule, 07 May 2010 - 01:15.

Blimey it's that time of year again.

Salut Gilles!

Just about this exact time of the day on May 08 for me here in Canada that the news came over the radio that Gilles was gone. I had the TV on watching the San Marino GP from the week prior as Gilles and Didier arsed about. I was watching them come up the hill towards the Piratella when the sport news opened with, "Gilles Villeneuve is dead." My finger was hovering over the on/off button on the radio and it was off in a blink. I sat and watched the balance of the race on TV thru misty eyes. A day to remember...a day to forget.

Saturday 8th May again, 28 years on, and the memory of that day still hurts.

Salut Gilles!