19 replies to this topic

[LucaP]

Hello

 

I'm attempting to reconstruct the lives and careers of the japanese drivers Hiroshi Kazato and Seiichi Suzuki, who both competed in international races (notably in American Can-Am and Nascar series... I'm also trying to understand whether they were competing on America at the same time).

 

Regarding the fatal crash in which both lost their lives (in the summer of 1974), I've read in various sources (also in this board) that a manslaughter process followed, apparently a backmarker had caused the pileup as he was (supposedly) driving in order to prevent another driver to win the championship. In another source I've read that it was a pretty complicated story with sponsors involved, sums of money, etc..

The race in which this crash happened was a Japanese Grand Champion prototype race. 

 

Can anyone shed some light on the forgotten, yet fascinating, story of these drivers?

 

Thank you 

Edited by Luca Pacchiarini, 15 October 2015 - 14:14.

[Allen Brown]

Kazato raced in Can-Am in the Haas Lola T222 in 1971, and in F2 in Europe in 1972 and 1973, but I have no record of him racing single seaters in the US.  I have no record of Seiichi Suzuki racing outside Japan.

[E1pix]

All I can add is Kazato was the Real Deal. I saw him take a 5th at the Road America Can-Am in 1971, and even at that age (11) it was obvious how good he really was. To this day, the most-memorable Japanese driver I ever saw.

[E1pix]

Kazato raced in Can-Am in the Haas Lola T222 in 1971...

The ex-Revson Haas T220, or a customer T222?

[ensign14]

 

Regarding the fatal crash in which both lost their lives (in the summer of 1974), I've read in various sources (also in this board) that a manslaughter process followed, apparently a backmarker had caused the pileup as he was (supposedly) driving in order to prevent another driver to win the championship.

 

It was the 2nd race in the season, so I doubt the crash was to prevent someone from winning the title.

 

There was a Seiichi Suzuki who was 8th in the 50cc world motorcycle championship in 1962 - same chap?  He won the last race of the 1973 Grand Champion season, in a Lola, and was 37 at the time of the fatal accident, so the years work out.

[ensign14]

The result of the race incidentally is here.  It was a two-heat affair, the accident happening at the start of heat 2, so they declared the result as at heat 1. 

[TomFitch]

You can find a short bio of Kazato here: http://www.motorspor...php?db=ct&n=138 It should get you started.

 

Apparantly, he even drove European Formula 2.

 

And a bio of Suzuki here: http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=942

 

They also provide some comments on the accident that took both their lives.

 

Motorsport Memorial is a great resource by the way.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Tom

Edited by TomFitch, 16 October 2015 - 10:09.

[giffo]

The definitive Hiroshi Kazato album. (refer to image below)

Everything you wanted or needed to know about him can be found in Racing On issue 447. The only problem is if you can't read Japanese. (Which I cant) could be a problem. Over 3/4 of the magazine is on Kazato. 

 

If you look deep enough on Japanese sites there are post accident images (nothing morbid or that shouldn't be in circulation)

 

as noted already above Motorsport Memorial has the best in english notes on Kazato 

 

http://www.freisinge..._908_press.html

Info on the Kazato 908 Porsche.

 

info on his F2 car here on FB  - https://www.facebook...rew.gifford.568

 

 

http://www.sun-a.com...il.php?pid=4164

 

Edited by giffo, 16 October 2015 - 11:52.

[Jim Thurman]

Seiichi Suzuki raced in the NASCAR Grand Touring/Grand American "Citrus 250" at Daytona in 1969, '70 and '71. It was held each February as part of "Speedweek." In 1969, he drove a Mercury Cougar entered by Bud Moore.

[PZR]

The definitive Hiroshi Kazato album. (refer to image below)

Everything you wanted or needed to know about him can be found in Racing On issue 447. The only problem is if you can't read Japanese. (Which I cant) could be a problem. Over 3/4 of the magazine is on Kazato.

 

 

Racing On no.447 is indeed a lovely issue (but then most of the Racing On specials - and in particular the Racing On Archives series - are very much worth having) but for me the definitive tome on Kazato is the 'Requiem' book by 'Bill' Tamama, published in 1977, with the foreword in English by Hiroshi's father Kenji Kazato. It's exquisite:

 

[giffo]

This place is amazing with what it throws up.    

Is this book English or Japanese and does anyone have one they would part with or know where one is?

It looks like a must have to complement his F2 car.

 

I have never seen Abraham used in any text previously either when naming Kazato, maybe someone could shed some like on that usage as well?

Edited by giffo, 16 October 2015 - 09:45.

[PZR]

I have never seen Abraham used in any text previously either when naming Kazato, maybe someone could shed some like on that usage as well?

 

The Kazato family are Japanese Christians. Hiroshi's first given name was Abraham.

 

The book is in Japanese - as you'd expect - but the 5 page foreword, by Hiroshi's father - is in English.

 

It's a rare book, even in Japan.

 

giffo, please send me a PM.

[Allen Brown]

Racing On no.447 is indeed a lovely issue (but then most of the Racing On specials - and in particular the Racing On Archives series - are very much worth having) but for me the definitive tome on Kazato is the 'Requiem' book by 'Bill' Tamama, published in 1977, with the foreword in English by Hiroshi's father Kenji Kazato. It's exquisite:

 

 

Very interesting library you have there!

 

My collection of Japanese magazines is still pretty thin, just Auto Technic from the early 1980s.  Should I be trying to get hold of Auto Sport as well?

[LucaP]

Impressive collections there   

 

Any chance of a small summary of the informations contained there and written in Japanese that refer to the original question of the thread? 

[GMiranda]

Indeed it would be great if we can discuss these issues with Japanese people, because there's no other way to know more about this.

[PZR]

Very interesting library you have there!

 

My collection of Japanese magazines is still pretty thin, just Auto Technic from the early 1980s.  Should I be trying to get hold of Auto Sport as well?

 

Yes. If you want to do the subject justice, you'll need to get everything you can. Auto Sport Japan (early 1960s onwards) and Auto Technic (late 1960s onwards) - along with their special issues, yearbooks and spin-offs are essential, but the likes of 'Car Graphic', 'Motor Fan','Driver, 'The Motor World', even Playboy Japan's 'Car For Young' spin-off all carried good national and international race (and rally) reports and good articles on the machinery and people from the Sixties onwards. Most of them make the contemporary Motor Sport, Autosport and Motoring News issues that I grew up with look rather spartan in comparison.

 

These days there are some really excellent publications that cover matters historical. The previously-mentioned 'Racing On' and its 'Racing On Archives' spin off are excellent, and I'm a big fan of Auto Sport Japan's archive '100 Great Races' series (now up to issue no.72 I think, off the top of my head) and San Ei Mook's 'Rally Cars' series. There are always good, in-depth books being published by the likes of Car Graphic, Neko Publishing, Studio Tac Creative and many others. I can't afford to buy them all, and my house is feeling the strain of storing what I've already got...    

[Allen Brown]

What is best for chassis numbers?  The Auto Technic have chassis numbers for F2 races, for many F3 races, and even for some GC races.

[PZR]

I'm attempting to reconstruct the lives and careers of the japanese drivers Hiroshi Kazato and Seiichi Suzuki...

 

With all due respect, this is something that requires proper research from original Japanese sources. If you try to use English language sources you'll just end up with the same old plagiarised references. If you're serious about it, you'll need to start mining the Japanese language articles in print rather than on the 'net. 

 

Kazato's life and short career is fairly well documented, but Suzuki's - a man from quite a different background than Kazato, and with a different career path - less so. Kazato the well-funded privateer stepping straight into top level machinery, Suzuki the grass-roots journeyman starting out in scrambling, driving pretty much anything anywhere and finally being retained by Nissan as one of their ace testers and drivers. I'm a fan of both, but for different reasons.

 

Japanese specialist magazines such as 'Nostalgic Hero' have covered Kazato, Suzuki - and many other Japanese drivers - in the past. Their articles are well researched, and often interview contemporaries rivals, friends and family. Recommended. I'll see if I can point you to the specific issues of the magazines.  

[LucaP]

With all due respect, this is something that requires proper research from original Japanese sources. If you try to use English language sources you'll just end up with the same old plagiarised references. If you're serious about it, you'll need to start mining the Japanese language articles in print rather than on the 'net. 

 

 

 

Yes, I'm fully aware that we would need to know the content of japanese sources on the subject, that's the reason I started this topic...asking someone who knows more than me / someone in possession of the original written sources.

Unfortunately, I can't read japanese.

 

If any japanese members could briefly shed some light on the controversial aspects of the fatal crash, it would be immensely appreciated 

[giffo]

I don't know how much searching you have done but this link contains considerable information. I found Google Chrome with auto translate worked best

 

http://wasedakikaku....y/series/kazato

This is a series blog by Takeshi Kubojima

 

A search using   レクイエムアブラハム風戸裕   and    レクイエム風戸裕  also yielded many results of which I have not gone thru too many of them. Google images also helped in narrowing down selections

 

And this link ----- http://blogs.yahoo.c...n/10844962.html

Edited by giffo, 26 October 2015 - 06:29.