77 replies to this topic

[sonar]

Who was the driver who refused to get married until he retired from racing? I remember reading this somewhere but not the name.

Roger Williamson, according to David Tremayne.
You probably read that in 'The Lost Generation'.
Sad, isn't it...

[brooster51]

Who was the driver who refused to get married until he retired from racing? I remember reading this somewhere but not the name.

I have a memory that it was Phil Hill. When did he marry Alma?

[Doug Nye]

I have a memory that it was Phil Hill. When did he marry Alma?

It is true of Phil - he felt that the life and dangers of being a professional racing driver were incompatible with getting tied-up with a woman. He married Alma years after his retirement and they became a great team. Richard Attwood retired when he felt that his profession was incompatible with parenthood.

Ooh - another fine example of marital longevity - Brian and Marion Redman's long marriage has endured despite his hazardous profession. They are another great team. As indeed are Tony and Pina Brooks, whose marriage must be one of the longest amongst racing drivers of such quality.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 30 December 2011 - 22:20.

[Nigel Beresford]

If we add the Unsers in, we'll be here a while.

One of Al Jr's more memorable remarks was "Infidelity runs in my family"

[WhatOh]

I think we've pretty much established grand prix drivers do not make very good husbands although I can't say much for their choice of wives either.

I think you right about the choice of wives. To be the spouse of a top sports person (in any sport) means that you have to accept that you will be always second to your partner's career needs (mainly because the career span is so short). This means making a lot of personal scrifices e.g. you own career, financial issues, loss of privacy etc. This is a massive ask and takes a special kind of person to do it.

[sonar]

It's a well known fact that women like racing drivers.
So, when you're a racing driver and you can have your pick of women, why bother getting married at all?
I'd say: live the good life, be rather promiscuous if you want and only get married when you're done with all that.

[BRG]

Leafing through the latest edition of Motorsport suggests the Brundles are of long standing and still going strong, as well as lady racer Maria Theresa de Fillippis.

[Nick Planas]

I believe Mario and Dee Ann Andretti recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary - many congratulations to them!

[RA Historian]

David and Margaret Hobbs have been married many, many years.
Tom

[Jim Thurman]

One of Al Jr's more memorable remarks was "Infidelity runs in my family"

Well, is that what led to the mulitple marriages in the Unser family?

For those wondering about my remark, I didn't mean "a lot" by figuring in the members of the Unser family, I meant "a lot" by figuring in the number of wives Bobby, Al and Al Jr. have had.

[simonlewisbooks]

I'm probably not alone amongst TNFr's in admitting that my own racing was largely curtailed by the cost of a divorce....

[Catalina Park]

Whereas my racing was enhanced by a divorce.

Why is divorce expensive?
Because it is worth it.

[Nigel Beresford]

As they say, getting married is like betting half of everything you've got that you can stay in love with the same woman for the rest of your life...

[RA Historian]

For those wondering about my remark, I didn't mean "a lot" by figuring in the members of the Unser family, I meant "a lot" by figuring in the number of wives Bobby, Al and Al Jr. have had.

As I understand it, that total may well exceed the total number of Unser Indianapolis 500 wins.
Tom

[Sharman]

I'm probably not alone amongst TNFr's in admitting that my own racing was largely curtailed by the cost of a divorce....

In my case she threatened and I stopped, she went anyway. After the effing judge finished so was my racing.

[sonar]

In my case she threatened and I stopped, she went anyway. After the effing judge finished so was my racing.

I think it's horrible if people forbid the person they're supposed to love to do the things they love to do.
And yet I see this happening all the time.
You shouldn't have to stop doing something you love just because your partner wants you to.
If you start doing this you're gonna find out one day that you're at the end of somebody else's life...

[raceannouncer2003]

Tony and Pina Brooks, whose marriage must be one of the longest amongst racing drivers of such quality.

DCN

See post 968 at this link...Monaco Historic 2008:

http://forums.autosp...w...2773&st=960

Vince H.

[Arjan de Roos]

Wasn't Michele Alboreto still married to Nadia when he died?

Yes, yes!
http://autenticospor...ta_Michele.html

[Amphicar]

Jos Verstappen's bid to become President of Relate may have suffered another setback: http://www.inautonew...lfriend-assault

[stevewf1]

OK, this really doesn't count, but... Although Paul Newman was married twice, his marriage to Joanne lasted 50 years until he died. Maybe even more remarkable because they were both Hollywood stars...

Edited by stevewf1, 05 January 2012 - 11:05.

[Glengavel]

I think it's horrible if people forbid the person they're supposed to love to do the things they love to do.
And yet I see this happening all the time.
You shouldn't have to stop doing something you love just because your partner wants you to.
If you start doing this you're gonna find out one day that you're at the end of somebody else's life...

Jackie Stewart has said that if Helen had ever asked him to choose "racing or me", it would have been "bye-bye Helen".

[Lee Nicolle]

OK, this really doesn't count, but... Although Paul Newman was married twice, his marriage to Joanne lasted 50 years until he died. Maybe even more remarkable because they were both Hollywood stars...

Yes Paul survived an industry where divorce is a regular thing and a sport where it is also quite common.

[Arjan de Roos]

Jackie Stewart has said that if Helen had ever asked him to choose "racing or me", it would have been "bye-bye Helen".

Olivier Gendebien's wife Marie-Claire urged him to quit, only to die in a road car accident early sixties while Olivier was still racing.

[Geza Sury]

BTW when did Emerson Fittipaldi divorce from Maria-Helena? I guess at the end of the 80s when Emerson's new wife(?) expected a baby. And what about Niki Lauda? When did he and Marlene go separate ways?

[BRG]

1982 and 1991 respectively.

[Emery0323]

Who was the driver who refused to get married until he retired from racing? I remember reading this somewhere but not the name.

Probably not whom you had in mind, but I can recall reading a quote to that effect in an interview Parnelli Jones (possibly in Vintage Motorsport).

He decided to retire from Indycar racing during 1968 because he was almost 35 years old and wanted to have a family. He was quoted as saying "I love kids."

Of course, he continued on in sedans (NASCAR/USAC stocks and Trans AM) for a couple of more years, but he no doubt felt the danger factor was far less in those cars.

[PCC]

I seem to recall Niki Lauda, early in his career, being quoted (by Rob Walker?) as saying something like "It is impossible to be a racing driver if you are married and in love with your wife."

I guess he changed his mind.

I guess he was right the first time.

As they say, getting married is like betting half of everything you've got that you can stay in love with the same woman for the rest of your life...

Ah but when you win, you win really big!

[king_crud]

Ah but when you win, you win really big!

I'm still waiting for my numbers to come in