I was a big Elio fan from the first moment I saw that fantastic white Simpson Bandit helmet in the gorgeous black and gold Lotus. Thank you Autosport for the gallery, particularly the great shot of Elio from Rio. I was so disappointed to see how much he struggled with the radical low line BT55, and then the tragedy of his death, which was just so unnecessary. I continued to support Lotus and inparticular Senna when Elio left. Almost everyone remembers the anniversary of Senna's death but it is still heartening to see that Elio has not been forgotten, may he rest in peace.
Elio de Angelis (merged)
Started by
deangelis86
, May 13 2001 18:16
119 replies to this topic
Advertisement
#102
mfd
-
- 2,987 posts
- Joined: May 03
Member
Posted 15 May 2011 - 13:31
A slight aside, but the two variants of Simpson helmet M12 & M14 worn by Elio de Angelis was never ever called a Bandit.I was a big Elio fan from the first moment I saw that fantastic white Simpson Bandit helmet in the gorgeous black and gold Lotus.
Edited by mfd, 15 May 2011 - 13:32.
#103
willini
-
- 86 posts
- Joined: March 06
Member
Posted 15 May 2011 - 13:50
I stand corrected. Always thought of it as a bandit, maybe the fact that later versions based on that original styling were called bandits has confused me. No matter, I thought it looked great.
#104
mfd
-
- 2,987 posts
- Joined: May 03
Member
Posted 15 May 2011 - 14:41
There was a nickname "Star Wars" used by some for the Model 12 he wore. The name Bandit was a model description used by Simpson for a later helmet from the mid 80's, by which time EdA had changed to a Bell XFM1I stand corrected. Always thought of it as a bandit, maybe the fact that later versions based on that original styling were called bandits has confused me. No matter, I thought it looked great.
#105
mfd
-
- 2,987 posts
- Joined: May 03
Member
Posted 15 May 2011 - 14:41
There was a nickname "Star Wars" used by some for the Model 12 he wore. The name Bandit was a model description used by Simpson for a later helmet from the mid 80's, by which time EdA had changed to a Bell XFM1I stand corrected. Always thought of it as a bandit, maybe the fact that later versions based on that original styling were called bandits has confused me. No matter, I thought it looked great.
#107
E1pix
-
- 23,469 posts
- Joined: January 11
Member
Posted 15 May 2011 - 21:55
About 25 years ago, back in my sign painting days, I had a client-friend named Tom de Angelis.
When I first met him I asked him the spelling, he asked if I was a race fan, and we both knew something....
They were first cousins.... Tom was speechless for months after Elio died.
RIP.
When I first met him I asked him the spelling, he asked if I was a race fan, and we both knew something....
They were first cousins.... Tom was speechless for months after Elio died.
RIP.
#108
Twin Window
-
- 6,611 posts
- Joined: May 04
Nostalgia Host
Posted 12 September 2011 - 17:32
Looking for something unrelated to circuit racing I've just come across a previously unknown-to-me fact, namely that Elio took part in the 1974 Embassy / Daily Express Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Powerboat Race! Here's the paragraph which caught my eye in the 'Motor Boat & Yachting' race report;
It was originallv planned that Eraf would carry British crew member Derek Lloyd but at the last minute the ltalian de Angelis took his l7-vear-old son Elio in his place. This could have proved his undoing for Dry Martini gained almost a mile by closing the gap before the Skerries mark and rounding Torbay at l2.l7pm in the lead.
The full report can be read here.
It was originallv planned that Eraf would carry British crew member Derek Lloyd but at the last minute the ltalian de Angelis took his l7-vear-old son Elio in his place. This could have proved his undoing for Dry Martini gained almost a mile by closing the gap before the Skerries mark and rounding Torbay at l2.l7pm in the lead.
The full report can be read here.
#111
B Squared
-
- 7,349 posts
- Joined: September 08
Member
Posted 15 May 2016 - 10:58
Elio waiting out the end of a Friday practice session at Montreal in 1980 after a problem with the Lotus:
B² photo
B² photo
#112
Coral
-
- 6,788 posts
- Joined: January 07
Member
Posted 15 May 2016 - 11:06
Elio was one of my favourites. Rest In Peace. 
#113
F1matt
-
- 3,294 posts
- Joined: June 11
Member
Posted 16 May 2016 - 11:27
I remember been really angry when Elio died, his death was tragic and avoidable, it had come a couple weeks after I lost another one of my hero's Henri Toivonen so it was a low point for my love of motorsport.
RIP
#114
SophieB
-
- 24,726 posts
- Joined: July 12
RC Forum Host
Posted 15 May 2018 - 12:27
On this day the poor Elio de Angelis lost his life in 1986, at the wheel of the Brabham BT55. So much bad luck, rear wing detaching at high speed, trapped in the car, the lack of marshals, helicopter took 30 minutes to arrive, and in the end death from smoke inhalation. Tragic.
#115
charles r
-
- 8,403 posts
- Joined: January 07
Member
Posted 15 May 2018 - 18:03
RIP Elio. What driver protection?
#116
Ibsey
-
- 525 posts
- Joined: January 10
Member
Posted 15 May 2018 - 18:05
Wonderful talent who paid his dues during some tough years at Lotus. Deserved better from F1. RIP
#118
FLB
-
- 29,883 posts
- Joined: February 01
Member
Posted 15 May 2021 - 11:23
I got up randomly thinking about him this morning. Then, I looked at the date.
I can't believe it's been 35 years already...
#119
F1matt
-
- 3,294 posts
- Joined: June 11
Member
Posted 15 May 2021 - 11:40
I still get angry about Elio's death, in the same way I got angry about Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto dying. May 1986 wasn't a good month. RIP to all.
