60 replies to this topic

[simonlewisbooks]

A friend of mine, who was there (as a schoolboy) with his uncle and who saw the crash said that once he re-started Moss was driving so fast that an accident seemed inevitable and that he (a big Moss fan) and that Moss simply attempted something that was never going to come off.

This ties in with my late father's view - he was at Goodwood that day and he always said Moss was driving 'like a maniac' before the accident.
He was a great admirer of Stirling and saw him in action many times but remained of the opinion that he could be 'bloody rough on a car' when the mood or the need presented themselves.

[JacnGille]

You and I seem to have traveled in a few of the same circles.

My Dad and I were at Turn 5 and saw it on the Jumbotron.

[Rob G]

I don't know what happened to Merle Bettenhausen. Gary had a severe accident, I think it didn't end his career, but put some limitations to it. And yes, he ran well into 90's; I remember him in US500 in 1996, the first year I folllowed CART.

Gary's accident at Syracuse in 1974 resulted in the loss of mobility of his arm, although he eventually was able to regain some use of it. Merle's crash at Michigan in 1972 resulted in the loss of his arm entirely.

[Jim Thurman]

It was Merle who suffered the career-ending injury. Happened at Michigan in '72.

But, it only ended his Champ Car career, he continued in midgets for a few years.

[Paul Parker]

Going back in time somewhat how about Peter Walker after his 1956 Le Mans crash where he suffered head injuries

From memory he did race once more, for Rob Walker in 1957, but that was it and as we know he ultimately died destitute and alcoholic in 1984. Was he in fact already too fond of the sauce as some were in period or did the accident trigger this? I have read elsewhere long ago that his head injuries had affected him mentally but is anybody posting on here able to comment accurately.

In an age where serious injury or worse is far less commonplace thankfully (although never quite absent sadly) in past times drivers returning from major shunts/serious injuries were surely never quite the same again, physically and psychologically although there were rare exceptions.

[Tim Murray]

Walker was the subject of this earlier thread:

Peter Walker

[Paul Parker]

Walker was the subject of this earlier thread:

Peter Walker

Thanks for that, I had forgotten this having read it at the time and always forget to check earlier threads.

[theracer120]

Bob Flock, brother of Tim and Fonty Flock retired when he broke his back in a crash.
Don Duckworth had career ending injuries after a crash at Darlington in 1955.
Dink Widenhouse retired after the 1956 Southern 500 because, "He was in a wreck and got a cut arm. As he climbed out of his car, he noticed he was bleeding, and like some people due when they see their own blood, passed out. Tbe track officials saw Dink unconscious, tangled in his safety belt, and upside down, head in helmet, with the helmet resting on the race surface!"
Herb Thomas, three time winner of the Southern 500 and two time NASCAR Grand National champion, suffered more or less career-ending injuries in a crash at Shelby, NC in 1956.
Fonty Flock, 1952 Southern 500 victor, retired after being involved in a crash which killed Bobby Meyers in the 1957 Southern 500. Later in that race, Joe Caspolich had to be revived after crashing.
Johhny Beauchamp, the man who nearly won the 1959 Daytona 500 (the first one) in a photo finish with Lee Petty, retired after he, ironically with Lee Petty, sailed through the fence in a qualifying race for the '61 Daytona 500. Lee ran 8 more races and then retired, too.
Reds Kagle lost a leg when the guardrail ripped through his car at the 1961 World 600. He retired, although he eventually returned to racing.
AJ Foyt was seriously injured at Riverside in 1965 when he flipped end-over-end. Legend has it, Foyt was pronounced dead, but then Parnelli Jones saw him breathing and AJ was taken to the hospital.

[litrico]

A bit reluctant to join this thread, somewhat macabre, but my boyhood hero Brian Shawe-Taylor broke his neck in 1951, and retired from racing, "when a chap breaks his neck, maybe it is time to stop".
Peter Scott-Russel also quit after "getting out to walk ... at 120 mph" when he engine seized an the Hangar Straight in his Lotus Bristol.

Hi my name is Antonio.
Have you any information about Scott Russell's car Lotus 10? Immages, etc. Or someone who knows?

Thanks

Antonio

[rl1856]

Two obvious ones that spring to mind are Graham Hill's crash at Watkins Glen in October 1969, in which he broke both legs.... recovered sufficiently to take part in competition, Hill was no longer a front-runner in F1.

Hill was no longer a front runner prior to his crash. He did win Monaco in 69, but that was more due to luck and attrition than anything else. While Hill was the reigning WDC, he was the effective #2 driver to Rindt in 69. That said, Hill sufficiently recovered from his crash to more or less compete with the same level of skill as before his accident. In 1970 he drove a Lotus 49 for Rob Walker. The car was a step or 2 behind the factory and was essentially a 1969 car competing in 1970. If you examine Hill's qualifying times from 1970 you will see that he either matched or bettered his times from 1969 on the same tracks. However in 1970, 1969 practice times put him well down the starting grid. Consider that it was his performance in the Walker car that caused Brabham to sign him as their #1 for 71 and 72. He did win a non championship race in 71 for Brabham and did quite well in F2 for them. I have long been of the opinion that Hill was not as naturally gifted as many others and that he did much more with with his talent than what others did with theirs. I would not put him in the class with Clark or Stewart, or even Gurney and Surtees. But I do give him his due.

Another career ending crash that comes to mind is Jim Hall in his Chaparal at the Stardust Can Am race of 1968. He suffered massive leg and back injuries that caused him to give up driving to concentrate on ownership and preparation.

Best,

Ross

[Michael Ferner]

Hill was no longer a front runner prior to his crash...

Now, here's someone putting w a y too much weight on qualifying times! Hill being number 2 to Rindt in '69? He was leading the Austrian in championship points as long as he was competing, prior to his crash. He may have been a second slower in qualifying at Kyalami, but overtook him in less than ten laps and finished a strong second, while Rindt retired from a distant sixth. At Brands, he was more than a second ahead in qualifying, and again finished second, leading Rindt all the way. Hill's Monaco win "was more due to luck and attrition than anything else"? C'mon, you must be joking! He also caught and passed Rindt at Monza before his car failed him. Hill may not have been a match for Jackie Stewart in 1969, but so wasn't Rindt, or anyone else for that matter. And he was way more race savvy than young Jochen at the time. Rindt was a spectacular and promising number two, but it was usually Hill who was bringing home the bacon in a difficult season for Lotus.

I would not put him in the class with Clark or Stewart, or even Gurney and Surtees. But I do give him his due.

Good for you.