23 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

Jim Clark could not race in the 1965 Rand Grand Prix because he was injured because of a snow ball battle

Niki Lauda had an accident with a tractor in 1976, but he could race the following race.

Are there some strange reasons, why drivers have not competed in races?

[john winfield]

I think Clay Regazzoni missed the French and British races in 1972 following an injury playing football with the Ferrari mechanics. Nanni Galli was a disappointing replacement at Clermont-Ferrand but Arturo Merzario was very impressive at Brands.

[kayemod]

I can't really see any of these as 'strange reasons'. Drivers all have lives away from their day jobs, they're as likely to suffer minor day to day injuries as any of us are, shouldn't you be after something more along the lines of feeble or unconvincing excuses to teams, such as Montoya's 'tennis injury' ?.

[scheivlak]

I can't really see any of these as 'strange reasons'. Drivers all have lives away from their day jobs, they're as likely to suffer minor day to day injuries as any of us are, shouldn't you be after something more along the lines of feeble or unconvincing excuses to teams, such as Montoya's 'tennis injury' ?.

Indeed, though Bertrand Gachot's way to handle the London traffic should have a mention.

[GD66]

Californian bike racer Dave Aldana, brought to Australia to race the Hannan Yoshimura Kawasaki in the 1980 Swann Series, missed the start of the first leg at Oran Park because he was sitting in the toilets with his leathers round his ankles...

[HistoryFan]

Indeed, though Bertrand Gachot's way to handle the London traffic should have a mention.

Yes, of course.

By the way: Has anyone quotes of Bertrand Gachot of that topic?

[kayemod]

Yes, of course.

By the way: Has anyone quotes of Bertrand Gachot of that topic?

I think I remember quite a good quote from Bertrand, describing what took place after he'd dropped the soap in the prison shower...

[Vitesse2]

There was a driver in the 30s - I think it was at Chimay - who did an all-nighter on his car and then fell asleep in the paddock: missed the race completely. Hans Stuck withdrew from a race because he'd twisted his ankle playing skittles with the mechanics ... de Graffenried once turned up too late to race at Crystal Palace because he'd missed his ferry ... de Graffenried also allegedly "disabled" John du Puy's car on at least one occasion because the American was too to drive ...

[scheivlak]

Yes, of course.

By the way: Has anyone quotes of Bertrand Gachot of that topic?

An interesting interview with Bertrand shortly after he was released from prison: http://www.f1seasonr...son-review/1316

[HistoryFan]

Thank you very much.

[kayemod]

An interesting interview with Bertrand shortly after he was released from prison: http://www.f1seasonr...son-review/1316

Most would agree that Bertrand's initial sentence was a little too harsh, but he knows quite well that he wouldn't have been treated any more leniently by French or Belgian courts. If anyone doesn't believe me, try squirting CS gas in a cabbie's face by the Arc de Triomphe, and see where that gets you...

[Rob G]

Then there's the story of Josef Bradzil, who in 1934 was jailed for nonpayment of debts. A few of his fellow drivers lobbied for his release so that he could participate in the Masaryk GP. The authorities acquiesced, and on Bradzil's first lap in practice he ran off the road at top speed and was killed. If it was indeed suicide as many have surmised, that would indeed be a crazy reason for not competing.

[Amphicar]

The sorry story of the Andrea Moda F1 team, as related by Perry McCarthy in Flat Out: Flat Broke, includes plenty of laughable reasons for not competing in races.

[Glengavel]

I have heard a rumour that someone (the name wasn't given!) missed the Monaco GP sometime in the late 50s/early 60s because they were entertaining a young lady and either took longer than anticipated, or fell asleep afterwards.

[elansprint72]

I have heard a rumour that someone (the name wasn't given!) missed the Monaco GP sometime in the late 50s/early 60s because they were entertaining a young lady and either took longer than anticipated, or fell asleep afterwards.

That was me and it was in the very late 60s.

[ryan86]

There was Bob Williams who got locked in his caravan.

[D-Type]

Fangio couldn't start the 1958 Cuban GP because he'd been kidnapped.

[john medley]

Damon Beck, on pole in a Vee race in Australia, yawned mightily and dislocated his jaw

[GMACKIE]

Damon Beck, on pole in a Vee race in Australia, yawned mightily and dislocated his jaw

Hope you're not suggesting that Vee racing was boring, John.

Edited by GMACKIE, 25 April 2011 - 22:44.

[Glengavel]

That was me and it was in the very late 60s.

Did you enjoy your nap?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Most would agree that Bertrand's initial sentence was a little too harsh, but he knows quite well that he wouldn't have been treated any more leniently by French or Belgian courts. If anyone doesn't believe me, try squirting CS gas in a cabbie's face by the Arc de Triomphe, and see where that gets you...

The Gachot story always makes me chuckle, because who carries around CS gas with them?

[kayemod]

The Gachot story always makes me chuckle, because who carries around CS gas with them?

Exactly. It surprised me afterwards, the degree of sympathy he seemed to get from some misguided people, in the UK even possessing CS is illegal, you don't need to use it to commit an offence.

[Bauble]

That was me and it was in the very late 60s.

Not bad for such an old man then.

[ensign14]

There was a driver in the 30s - I think it was at Chimay - who did an all-nighter on his car and then fell asleep in the paddock: missed the race completely.

Viglielmo Matozzi, in his self-built VM. Has anyone a pic of that most obscure of entries in that most obscure of races?