23 replies to this topic

[Arjan de Roos]

In 1967 racing and dutch racing in particular lost a talent that certainly would have shown a few things in international racing. However it was not to be.

Wim Loos was a pupil of Rob Slotemaker (the dutch skid expert and founder of the well known and still active skid school at Zandvoort), just like Jan Lammers would become in the years to follow.

Loos was killed when racing a Alfa 1600 GTV at Spa Franchorchamps during the 1967 24 hours. Date: 22 and 23rd of July that year. The young driver (21) avoided rescue cars (out on the track for the fatal accident of Eric de Keyn) he only noticed at the last moment due to fog.

For me Loos is a name with emotion as he was so promising. There even was a rumor he was invited to come down to Maranello as EF was in search of new talents.

Looking at www.motorsportmemorial.org, which is in my opinion a great work, initiave and reference, I found some details missing and think they should not be hard to retrieve.

When was the accident? Before or after midnight?
Are there more details around this incident?
What was his cars number?

Also if anyone has more info on Loos, feel free.
E.g. what was Loos date of birth?

[Nanni Dietrich]

Searching informations for the Motorsport-memorial, some months ago I've read my old magazines and I've found in Auto Italiana issue n. 31-1967 an article about the accidents of Loos and De Keyn, during the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 1967.
This is what they wrote:
"The accident of Wim Loos happened some minutes before midnight of Saturday (22 July 1967), at the Holowell bend. Cause of the accident was perhaps a fog bank."
"The accident of Eric De Keyn happened after Wim Loos crash. Cause of the accident was perhaps the fog, Eric de Keyn crashed into the ambulance that arrived for Wim Loos at the Holowell bend. He died some days after his transport to the hospital."

[hhh]

If I remember well, Wim had just done his pitstop and left the pits without fitting his seatbelts.
What he hit in the crash I can't remember but I think he either ran into another car or just flew off in the fog; in any case because of not wearing his belt he didn't have a chance.

When Rob Slotemaker came back from his vacation in the South of France on the Monday after the race, he heard about Wim's fatal accident at a fuel station just before Zandvoort.
During all Sunday it was tried to find him but without success as he was driving back.
He didn't know that Wim was asked to drive the Team VdS car at the last minute.

[FrankH]

Hello,

I was searcing the Internet for my family member "Wim Loos" and found this site.
I am a son of Wim Loos sister.

I saw the where some questions about Wim, which I can answer. His place of Birth is Zandvoort in The Netherlands.

I wil ask the date of birth to my mother and will post that later.

If you have any other questions about Wim Loos please feel free to ask.

Regards,

frank Heijne
The Netherlands

[Paul Newby]

There are a couple of photos of Wim Loos and the Alfa Giulia GTA (I don't think it was a GTV) from that race in Allegerita, which I have at home (I'm currently at work) including the Alfa after the crash. I'm not sure that even a seat belt would have helped poor Wim.

[Nanni Dietrich]

Originally posted by FrankH
Hello,

I was searcing the Internet for my family member "Wim Loos" and found this site.
I am a son of Wim Loos sister.

I saw the where some questions about Wim, which I can answer. His place of Birth is Zandvoort in The Netherlands.

I wil ask the date of birth to my mother and will post that later.

If you have any other questions about Wim Loos please feel free to ask.

Regards,

frank Heijne
The Netherlands

Hi Frank, thank you for the informations you will give us. I remember at the time the name of Wim Loos was considered one of the most promising young touring-car drivers from the Netherlands, and the emotion in the motorsport community after his tragedy was enormous.

We need more details on him - date of birth, racing career, accident description, car, team, race number, etc. - but also we want to know how good he was as driver, his dreams, his feeling on racing. Please ask your mother if she wants to tell us about her brother.
Thanks.

[Arjan de Roos]

Frank,

Van harte welkom bij TNF!

We are indeed interested in the career of your uncle. When I was a young boy I heard stories at the NAV (Dutch BRDC) winter meetings about him, when the "Wim Loos Trophy" was presented to a dutch racing talent. Stories about hi snatural speed, Slotemaker, international racing and of course Ferrari. In a way he remained unknown in many ways. Little information is to be found of him (at the net, in books, magazines).

Here at TNF we share information and memories on motor racing. We hope to learn more about him.

Regards,

[Frank de Jong]

Frank, I suppose you are familiar with the audio documentary here ?

[Arjan de Roos]

From a documentary I heard Frans Lubin state that Loos had his accident around 22:30.

[lil'chris]

Link to a picture of Wim Loos car resting on the embankment on the inside of Hollowell corner


http://www.gyle.be/m...?album=11&pos=0

[marib1958]

Hello,

I was searcing the Internet for my family member "Wim Loos" and found this site.
I am a son of Wim Loos sister.

I saw the where some questions about Wim, which I can answer. His place of Birth is Zandvoort in The Netherlands.

I wil ask the date of birth to my mother and will post that later.

If you have any other questions about Wim Loos please feel free to ask.

Regards,

frank Heijne
The Netherlands

Hi Frank,

My name is Mart Ribbink, I found this site because of my special interest in Wim Loos and Rob Slotemaker.
My father workt some time in zandvoort he was a auto mechanic. He often workt on the cars of Rob Slotemaker. This is where I (9 years old) met Wim Loos and Rob Slotemaker when I acompanied my father to the circuit.
I remember that a few days before the accident of Wim, my father told that Wim did some job on the alfa himself when the carjack collapsed and Wim was trapt under the Alfa!!
My father and a few of his collegues lifted the car to free Wim. Wim bruised his chest. In the days after the fatal accident there was a lot of guesing what exactly happend you can imagine, there was a rumour Wim didn't wear his seat belts ( or not tight enough) because of the bruised chest. My father adjusted the alfa for the burial, so it could drive slowly without stalling. Al this made such a huge impression on me , (on of my heroes died ) that i'm still interested in those years and people. Also some other people who raced at zandvoort but that is off topic.

Kind regards,

Mart Ribbink

[Arjan de Roos]

There will be a book published this summer on Wim Loos. It is written by Rob Petersen (former Zandvoort Track commentator) and Olof van Joolen. 160 pages, many pictures, interviewed many involved. Yet only a Dutch version is foreseen. 

 

https://wimloos.autosport.nl/

 

To answer some questions: 2h52 (later than reported before as around midnight was stated often).

#53

2nd of June 1946

[Arjan de Roos]

The book is now out and delivered.   It is a wonderful remembrance book depicting the life and career of this young Dutch driver who, had fate not intervened would have gone for bigger things in motor racing. The authors collected a lot of new information, photo's and opinions. They interviewed family members and many of his friends, including also the late Ben Pon.

The book describes his life from childhood, through his first job at Rob Slotemaker's anti-skid school to his international racing days.

Of course the possible interest of Ferrari is mentioned and discussed, but is placed into context: Loos surely would have developed into an international racing driver, with or without a drive with Ferrari.

 

The first print is now sold out. I am not sure if an English version is on the cards, which would be wonderful.

[MCS]

Thanks for the update, Arjan and, yes, it would be great to see an English language version. I absolutely agree.

 

But I wonder if marib1958 and FrankH ever made contact?   I really hope they did.

[Arjan de Roos]

Thanks for the update, Arjan and, yes, it would be great to see an English language version. I absolutely agree.

 

But I wonder if marib1958 and FrankH ever made contact?   I really hope they did.

 

Yes, the Loos family cooperated and the story from marib1958 has been integrated in the book. This book is truly made based on stories from many who knew him are simply were there. Even some spectators at the Spa track who actually heard what happened that awful night.

[GMiranda]

I had never heard of Loos - well, I might have seen him among the results on the ETCC website - until recently, while I was doing some research on Hans-Peter Joisten. When i was questioning people on Facebook, I heard about this book, and took a fast look about his career, which was absolutely surprising for me! I'm sure it will be a fitting tribute and I sincerely hop it's published in English one day.

[wsp77]

Hi everyone, Loos and Slotemaker tested a Parnell Lotus-BRM V8 in November 11, 1966 at Silverstone.

[Tim Murray]

Was this the test session where Lotus 25 chassis R7 was written off?

[wsp77]

I am unsure. Mays was also present with Maarten van Wamelen and Hans Hugenholtz. I believe Roy Pike also drove the car that day.

[Michael Oliver]

Mays? Are you sure? Perhaps you mean Tim Parnell? Also Hans Hugenholz was there. It is my understanding that only Slotemaker drove the car and it was crashed after a handful of laps (four or so).

[Michael Oliver]

Sorry, I should learn to read, I see you mention Hugenholz!

[Cavalier53]

The book is now out and delivered.   It is a wonderful remembrance book depicting the life and career of this young Dutch driver who, had fate not intervened would have gone for bigger things in motor racing. The authors collected a lot of new information, photo's and opinions. They interviewed family members and many of his friends, including also the late Ben Pon.

The book describes his life from childhood, through his first job at Rob Slotemaker's anti-skid school to his international racing days.

Of course the possible interest of Ferrari is mentioned and discussed, but is placed into context: Loos surely would have developed into an international racing driver, with or without a drive with Ferrari.

 

The first print is now sold out. I am not sure if an English version is on the cards, which would be wonderful.

 

Indeed the book contains a wealth of background information, and it is written in a factual style. It's not turned into a melodramatic hagiography, which I much appreciate.

 

It is unexpectedly sold out - but pre-orders for the second print due in March can be placed. Time enough for a crash course reading Dutch 

[Arjan de Roos]

And hopefully also an English version of this nice book. Obviously there is interest...

[nexfast]

I will certainly buy it if it is published