103 replies to this topic

[BRG]

The thread on "Monza 78" and the reminder about Piquet setting about Eliseo Salazar with hands and feet after a "two into the same chicane won’t go" incident got me thinking about great displays of emotion, temper tantrums and fits of pique.

For me, the Piquet/Salazar incident was one of the most memorable as it took place right in front of the TV cameras and had the added bonus that Piquet was probably in the wrong.

Away from F1, my absolute favourite was the Rally of GB 1998 when Carlos Sainz retired from the event with a huge engine failure just 100 metres short of the finish and thereby lost the World Rally Championship. Carlos was visibly despondent but managed to be very dignified, but co-driver Luis Moya had no such scruples. After violently slamming the door of the Toyota, he kicked it and finally slung his helmet through the rear screen. I think most of us felt it was a pretty fair reaction and I bet he did really feel better afterwards. Shades of John Cleese in Fawlty Towers giving his broken-down Morris 1100 a "damn good thrashing" with a branch!

There must be lots of others eg Senna/Irvine (Japan), Senna/Mansell (Belgium) - both in the garage and not caught on film - and doubtless many others. Do you have any favourites???



------------------
BRG

"all the time, maximum attack"

[Falcadore]

Winton 1994. Paul Morris and Tony Longhurst, factory BMW team mates are fighting for the lead in the Super Touring race. Morris climbs up Longhurst outside into the braking zone and the two cars touch breaking Morris steering column and wrenching both cars off the track, into the wall.

Longhurst, incensed, believing Morris had deliberately put them both off the track leapt from his 318i raced around to Morris drivers door and started swinging punches at Morris' helmet.

Morris is a very large boy, 6 foot and 90kgs plus, compared to Longhurst who, while tall is a bit weedy.

James Kaye (Toyota) in third almost spun off himself he was laughing so hard. He wasn't laughing so hard later when the race was declared and Longhurst still won the race from Morris and Kaye, although Longhurst was later disqualified for allowing the pugilist in him to express himself.

[This message has been edited by Falcadore (edited 03-03-2000).]

[ZippyD]

I'm not sure of the date or place(memory problem - see 78 Monza thread) but I remember reading about Chris Amon violently shaking his fist at Pedro Rodrigez as the plucky Mexican was holding him up badly. Chris got so immersed in the fist shaking(He was probably at the RED woblies stage at this point) that he neglected to notice a corner coming up and proceeded to stuff his car in the fencing. Too bad there was no TV coverage at the time. I would have loved to have seen it. I'm sure our resident Chris Amon expert Keir can give us the exact date and race.

------------------
"Pete, Do you sometimes get tired? Of the driving? Lately I have been getting tired. Very tired."

[Psychoman]

NASCAR over here has a lot of incidents like this--just last year Tony Stewart tossed his helmet through Kenny Irwin's car window And who can forget Yarborough and Allison at Daytona 1979???

------------------
"Hey there, all you middle men
Throw away your fancy clothes
And while you're out there sittin' on a fence
So get off your ass and come down here
'Cause rock 'n' roll ain't no riddle man
To me it makes good, good sense"
-Brian Johnson

[Art]

Tony Stewart was a very lucky boy. When he reached into the car and Irwin accelerated that he didn't get his arm ripped off. It spun him part way around.

Art NX3L

[CVAndrw]

A little more detail on the Piquet/Salazar punchup: what very few people ever realized was that the two had a history dating back to Salazar's arrival in England literally with nothing to his name except a briefcase stuffed full of cash with which he hoped to begin his F3 career (this is all gleaned from Mike Doodson's Piquet bio). Nelson literally picked Eliseo up on the road on the way back from Thruxton; Nelson and manager Pee Wee Siddle helped Eliseo quite a lot with advice, references, etc. But Eliseo always kept reverting to his approach of trying to buy everything, including friendship, with that same briefcase full of money. Nelson, perhaps in contrast to his public image, was always a warm and generous person in private. He more or less adopted Jean Alesi when he came on the scene, offering advice and friendship (although Nelson always swore he had nothing to do with Alesi's decision to go with Ferrari instead of Williams). Nelson even claims to have offered friendly advice and encouragement to Senna (!) when he arrived in England, actually suggesting to Ayrton that he should sign on with Brabham as Nelson's number two, so that he could be promoted to number one when Nelson inevitably left Bernie's employ.

Thus at Hockenheim that day Nelson, really anxious to put up a decent showing for the assembled BMW brass, felt that he got blatantly nerfed off by a guy he had tried to befriend but had eventually concluded was an ungrateful, boorish horse's ass. So far as losing his temper- not entirely. In the moments before he sailed into Salazar, Nelson decided cooly NOT to head-butt him in the chest (Nelson had acquired certain rough and tumble street fighting skills during his wild youth in Brasilia), as he merely wanted to punish Salazar, not put him in the hospital.

I find it interesting that a lot of these colorful helmet thumping incidents (which Niki Lauda neatly defines as an inability to turn the racing switch off when forced out of the car by mischance) actually have a history of mutual animosity or bruised egos behind them (and we all know the size of the egos in the people typically involved), rather than simple, childish examples of the famous red mist descending.

[ZippyD]

BRG,
Thanks for the Faulty Towers reference. I always thought he was flogging a Mini.

"Sorry.......Duck's Off"

------------------
"Pete, Do you sometimes get tired? Of the driving? Lately I have been getting tired. Very tired."

[Keir]

Den and company,
The Amon/Rodriguez incident was at Monaco 1970. Chris was desperate to keep up with Jackie Stewart's qualifing time and reclaim the pole position, when he came upon Pedro, who was never known for looking in his mirrors. (Looking at the BRM,I don't even know how Pedro saw out of the car to begin with.) Anyway, Chris was pushing, Pedro wasn't looking, and when Chris shook his fist in the traditional fashion, he missed his braking point and nudged a barrier, all to the complete surprise of the Mexican.
Chris's comments afterward were typical of the laconic New Zealander, "They don't call me stupid for nothing!!" Could that little nudge have contributed to his retirement in the race?? Who knows!!!

------------------
"I Was Born Ready"

[Viss1]

Originally posted by Psychoman
And who can forget Yarborough and Allison at Daytona 1979???

Resurrecting an old thread here... I just watched that race again yesterday. Reminded me why I used to watch NASCAR. David Hobbs was one of the announcers, believe it or not.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Viss1
David Hobbs was one of the announcers, believe it or not.

Of the race or the fight?

[Simpson RX1]

Originally posted by ZippyD

Thanks for the Faulty Towers reference. I always thought he was flogging a Mini.

"Sorry.......Duck's Off"

Definately an 1100 (the Mini Estate was a totally different shape), and not a Morris, but an Austin; you can tell by the shape of the grill, and the position of the badge.

'Kin 'Ell, how sad am I?!

[Pikachu Racing]

Paul Tracy and Kim Green arguing at the pits. Tracy knocked himself out when mistimed his pass on his then-teammate Dario Franchitti at Houston.

Michael Waltrip punching someone in the car.

Last year Bristol night race. Bunch of angry drivers, finger pointing, and trash talk. Ward Burton throwing his heat pads at Dale Jr. was my favorite.

John Andretti wrecked and blame it on Jeremy Mayfield. He waved down Mayfield and gave him a mouthfull.

David Coulthard giving Michael Schumacher the finger

Kyle Petty and Bobby Hillin at Daytona. Petty was leading the race when Hillin car who just involved in a wreck with Al Unser Jr. gliding down the grass and back on track right in front of him.

Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon at Daytona. Both should fight each other in a boxing ring.

AJ Foyt and a computer. This was when Kenny Brack run out of fuel. Foyt threw down a laptop.

[rdrcr]

Speaking of A.J., one tough customer right or wrong...

I remember when Foyt punched Luyendyk in the winner's circle at Texas Motor Speedway, 1997, after Luyendyk disputed the electronic scoring that gave Foyt's driver Billy Boat the victory. A review of the telemetry showed Luyendyk was right, and he was awarded the victory a day later.

I watched the race and I saw that one coming.

Then there is the reformed hot-head Tony Stewart... numerous run-ins with press and drivers alike. Several resulting in fines and reprimands from team owner Joe Gibbs and Major sponsor, Home Depot. One very brave move was when he squared off against Robbie Gordon. He got one shove in and both were restrained, heaven help Tony if Robbie was able to break free of his crew. If you ever get a chance to look at the tape of the incident, Robbie had him in his sights for a KO.

In 1979, NASCAR grabbed a television audience like it never had before when the Daytona 500 was broadcast in its entirety for the first time. A blizzard had hit the East Coast that weekend, keeping many inside their homes and tuned to their TVs, where they watched a thrilling finish. Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison crashed vying for the lead on the final lap, and Richard Petty won while Yarborough and Allison's brother Donnie, were throwing punches at each other between the third and fourth turns. France milked that incident for all it was worth, and it worked. NASCAR was on the map for good.

Then there was the Senna and Irvine altercation in Japan... Senna took issue with Irvine passing him in an unorthodox manner and punched after the race. I also heard one about Senna kicking a Marshal at a Mexican GP but I'm unaware of the cause of his lashing out.

[Bruce Moxon]

Alan Jones walloped a ticket-taker at Wanneroo in Western Australia when AJ didn't have his pass and wanted to rely on his fame to get him in.

No end of stories of drivers having punch-ups at the speedway.

Bruce Moxon

[Mark Beckman]

Originally posted by Falcadore
Winton 1994. Paul Morris and Tony Longhurst, factory BMW team mates are fighting for the lead in the Super Touring race. Morris climbs up Longhurst outside into the braking zone and the two cars touch breaking Morris steering column and wrenching both cars off the track, into the wall.

Longhurst, incensed, believing Morris had deliberately put them both off the track leapt from his 318i raced around to Morris drivers door and started swinging punches at Morris' helmet.

Morris is a very large boy, 6 foot and 90kgs plus, compared to Longhurst who, while tall is a bit weedy.

James Kaye (Toyota) in third almost spun off himself he was laughing so hard. He wasn't laughing so hard later when the race was declared and Longhurst still won the race from Morris and Kaye, although Longhurst was later disqualified for allowing the pugilist in him to express himself.

[This message has been edited by Falcadore (edited 03-03-2000).]

Longhurst got a few good ones in, but I can never understand why he got DQ'ed, fined yes , suspended yes but hell he won the darn race how can you take that off him ?

By the way I sat next to Longhurst in Tweed Heads at the beach and he is not weedy by any means and is well known for his training with Tri-Atheletes.

I liked it when Mark Skaife got angry at Alan Jones in Tasmania and AJ retorted "Your a minnow in a very small pond".

Then there was Jason Bargwana, (all 4 foot of him) being held back from Greg Murphy after Bargwana destroyed his Commodore at the start at Phillip Island.

[dbltop]

I was fortunate/UNfortunate? to witness James Hunt punch a marshall at Mosport in 77. He was in the lead,lapping his teammate Mass, who was in 3rd. Hunt committed to an outside line through turn 3 and when he got alongside the #2 McLaren, Mass moved over to give him the faster,inside line. CRUNCH. By the time the agitated World Champion extricated himself from the wreckage, Mass was due by any moment. Hunt stepped trackside to shake a fist at him and the marshall tried to pull him back for his own safety. Obviously disappointed at missing the opportunity to show his knuckle sandwich to his teammate, he provided said marshall wi th a close up view ;) I always forget the number, but he got fined a lot of money, and, I believe he apologized to the marshall.

[Mohican]

Also remember that little episode.
But does the similarity to Gilles Villeneuve's accident at Zolder in '82 strike you. there also poor Mass was moving off-line to let a faster car through - and there also the faster car chose the wrong line.

Scary coincidence.

[mikedeering]

Jan Lammers had a run in with a Scandinavian woman driver (I forget her name unfortunately) at Russell Bend, Snetterton in the 94 BTCC. He basically missed his braking point and took her into the gravel trap. She stormed out of her car and proceeded to rant at a bemused Lammers.

Murray Walker made some memorable comment along the lines of "Hell hath no fury like a woman punted from behind." Or maybe I just like to remember the line that way!

[BRG]

I see my thread has been revived from the depths!

Another favourite of mine, from British F3 only a few years back, was Nicholas Minassian at Thruxton. Coming up to lap the class B (Scholarship) car of Michael Bentwood on the flat-out back section of the track, Minassian unusually took to the inside instead of staying on the outside (racing ) line. Bentwood helpfully moved further off the line to help the lapping traffic but Minassian persevered with his inside line until the two touched and went onto the grass, spinning to a standstill. An enraged Minassian set about the bemused Bentwood, flinging stones at him. Sadly this was all well out of sight of the spectators, but was caught beautifully on TV. The stewards took a very dim view and suspended Minassian for at least one race.

[BRG]

Originally posted by mikedeering
Jan Lammers had a run in with a Scandinavian woman driver (I forget her name unfortunately)

Peggan Andersson?

[Henri Greuter]

Mentioned already?

Patrick Head at indy last year when his two drivers ran into another....


Henri Greuter

[David Beard]

I recall watching Hunt's infamous Crystal Palace F3 incident live on British TV. Who was it he thumped....Dave Morgan? It clouded my image of him for sometime : I just couldn't believe it when he began to show good F1 form in the Hesketh March.

[Viss1]

Originally posted by ensign14
Of the race or the fight?

He was in the announcer's booth for the whole race. I believe it was he who said, "OH! And there's a fight in turn three!"

[ian senior]

Originally posted by David Beard
I recall watching Hunt's infamous Crystal Palace F3 incident live on British TV. Who was it he thumped....Dave Morgan? It clouded my image of him for sometime : I just couldn't believe it when he began to show good F1 form in the Hesketh March.

Yes, it was Dave Morgan. But the incident that provoked the attack was no better or no worse than the usual standard of driving in 1-litre F3 . Morgan was made the scapegoat for the unruly tactics of most F3 drivers at the time, and lost his competition licence for a while.

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by BRG


There must be lots of others eg Senna/Irvine (Japan), Senna/Mansell (Belgium) - both in the garage and not caught on film - and doubtless many others. Do you have any favourites???

John ("Radio Le Mans") Hindhaugh, losing his rag on an accidentally open mic after qualifying for the ALMS Miami round this year:

http://www.atlasf1.c...light=hindhaugh


pete

[theunions]

Originally posted by Pikachu Racing
Paul Tracy and Kim Green arguing at the pits. Tracy knocked himself out when mistimed his pass on his then-teammate Dario Franchitti at Houston.

Michael Waltrip punching someone in the car.

That was Barry Green in the former and Lake Speed the victim in the latter.

And I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Sergio Paese vs. Oriol Servia in the infield at the '98 Fontana Indy Lights race.

[theunions]

Originally posted by Henri Greuter
Patrick Head at indy last year when his two drivers ran into another....

I don't believe there were fisticuffs involved or even attempted...?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by rdrcr

Then there is the reformed hot-head Tony Stewart... numerous run-ins with press and drivers alike. Several resulting in fines and reprimands from team owner Joe Gibbs and Major sponsor, Home Depot. One very brave move was when he squared off against Robbie Gordon. He got one shove in and both were restrained, heaven help Tony if Robbie was able to break free of his crew. If you ever get a chance to look at the tape of the incident, Robbie had him in his sights for a KO.

I just happen to have that clip on tape and I watch it from time to tme just for kicks. Tony says something to Robby as he's walking away and you can see the sphincter tighten in Stewart's eyes when Robby turns around.

Originally posted by BRG
I see my thread has been revived from the depths!

Another favourite of mine, from British F3 only a few years back, was Nicholas Minassian at Thruxton. Coming up to lap the class B (Scholarship) car of Michael Bentwood on the flat-out back section of the track, Minassian unusually took to the inside instead of staying on the outside (racing ) line. Bentwood helpfully moved further off the line to help the lapping traffic but Minassian persevered with his inside line until the two touched and went onto the grass, spinning to a standstill. An enraged Minassian set about the bemused Bentwood, flinging stones at him. Sadly this was all well out of sight of the spectators, but was caught beautifully on TV. The stewards took a very dim view and suspended Minassian for at least one race.

Is that what happened? I thought he got held up or maybe they touched and Kane went through for the win and then post-race Minassian ran Brentwood off the track or something. On Darren's site its listed as

Thruxton 13 April
1 Jonny Kane Dallara Mugen Honda F397 23:19.723
DQ Nicolas Minassian Dallara Renault F397
2 Martin O'Connell Dallara-TOM's Toyota F395/6 23:25.382
3 Peter Dumbreck Dallara Mugen Honda F397 23:27.817

Originally posted by theunions
And I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Sergio Paese vs. Oriol Servia in the infield at the '98 Fontana Indy Lights race.

When I saw you post in this thread I thought "oh man I hope he doesnt remember Fontana before I do" Great moment. Very Piquet/Salazar, except more frenzied and one of the antagonists was quite a bit shorter than the other.

btw is it the onions or the unions? I keep pronouncing it in my head as onions

[bill moffat]

Originally posted by mikedeering
Jan Lammers had a run in with a Scandinavian woman driver (I forget her name unfortunately) at Russell Bend, Snetterton in the 94 BTCC. He basically missed his braking point and took her into the gravel trap. She stormed out of her car and proceeded to rant at a bemused Lammers.

Murray Walker made some memorable comment along the lines of "Hell hath no fury like a woman punted from behind." Or maybe I just like to remember the line that way!

Don't remember that one. I thought that this Murrayism was prompted by Jonathan Palmer taking out Ms Nette Lundgren (forgive the probably inaccurate spelling) during the ? 91 BTCC season. Both were BMW E30 M3 mounted and Palmer's in car camera captured the moment as the lady loomed across the gravel trap. He had the good sense to keep his helmet on.

Both JP and Derek Warwick were rather mediocre in tin tops after impressive F1 careers..why ?

[bill moffat]

Originally posted by bill moffat


I thought that this Murrayism was prompted by Jonathan Palmer taking out Ms Nette Lundgren (forgive the probably inaccurate spelling) during the ? 91 BTCC season.

Nettan Lindgren..well I was fairly close.

Talking of excitable Scandinavians reminds me of the extrovert rallycrosser (and sometime Le Mans racer) Martin Schanche. You may have seen the video of him being punted out of contention whilst racing his RS200. On the following lap he has abandoned his car and is seen standing in the middle of the circuit with arms waving, doing his best to stop the approaching pack. Always a bit of a character...

[oldtimer]

From the '50s: A DSJ description of Jean Behra loosing his cool with his crew during a pit stop as they fumbled fastening the engine cover of his Gordini. Behra jumped out of his car, pushed the mechanics aside and proceeded to fumble and rage equally ineffectively. He then walked back and climbed sheepishly back into the cockpit, leaving his crew to finish the job.

[TODave2]

Odds and sods:

Fawlty Towers: yep, it's an Austin. In the director's commentary on DVD he even tells you the garage they got it from

The Senna/Mexico/marshal punch was when Senna spun off and a gaggle of marshals crowded around the rear wing and proceeded to push start Senna. However, for some odd reason they didn't really give a damn good push - they just sorta walked along merrily pushing the McLaren gently with Senna furiously waving for them to push him faster so he could drop the clutch. Eventually I believe Senna just gave up, steered the car over to the armco, jumped out and in his rage at having been unable to carry on with the race because the marshals simply hadn't pushed hard enough punched one in the gob

Oh, and a new contribution: Schu having a pop at Coulthard after that rain hit race at Spa where he clattered the Ferrari into the back of the McLaren and trundled back to the pits on 3 wheels. Coulthard's 'family friendly' version of the things Schu said in the pits was 'You tried to effin' kill me'

[Geoff E]

Originally posted by Simpson RX1
Originally posted by ZippyD

Thanks for the Faulty Towers reference. I always thought he was flogging a Mini.

"Sorry.......Duck's Off"

Definately an 1100 (the Mini Estate was a totally different shape), and not a Morris, but an Austin; you can tell by the shape of the grill, and the position of the badge.

'Kin 'Ell, how sad am I?!

It was an 1100, but I'm fairly certain it was an estate car.

[Simpson RX1]

Yeah it was; point was, the Mini and 1100 estate were different shapes.

[baggish]

Two more Hunt incidents: Holland in 1976 or '77. Mario Andretti attempted to overtake Hunt around the outside at Tarzan only for them both to collide. Hunt told Andretti, 'In Formula 1, we don't overtake around the outside'. A few races later, Andretti proved in the best possible way that that was not true .

And I have a very vague memory of Hunt having an incident with Patrick Depailler at Long Beach one year. The result was Hunt standing at the edge of the track waving his fist at Depailler each time he went past.

Jon

[stuartbrs]

And of course, that poor toilet that Greg Murphy inflicted all his rage on at Bathurst last year....coped an absolute pounding!

[Ralliart]

Emerson Fittipaldi in, I believe, his first race back, at the '84 Miami IMSA race. He stopped, or was stopped from continuing, and he went over and gave the (possibly) offending official an earful. Said official then tried to get Fitti thrown out of the pits (it looked like). Never have I seen Fitti so livid.
Senna riding on the back of someone's GP car at the end of a race as he had retired and hadn't walked to the pits. As the car approaches the pit straightaway, the crowd moves towards them in their enthusiasm and Senna kicks them as they approached.

[Ralliart]

Luigi Fagioli brandished a knife at, I think, Hermann Lang, one year, in the pits.

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by Ralliart
Senna riding on the back of someone's GP car at the end of a race as he had retired and hadn't walked to the pits. As the car approaches the pit straightaway, the crowd moves towards them in their enthusiasm and Senna kicks them as they approached.

As I rmember that incident at Silverstone, Mansell stopped to give Senna a lift and Senna kicked at the ever zealous British marshall who did not approve.

[stuartbrs]

As I rmember that incident at Silverstone, Mansell stopped to give Senna a lift and Senna kicked at the ever zealous British marshall who did not approve.

I always thought that incident a little strange, Mansell giving Senna a lift and Senna accepting the offer. Then I found out that Senna took a very keen interest in Mansell`s dashboard and relayed all the information back to his engineers as soon as he got back to the McLaren pit.

[Pikachu Racing]

Paul Tracy aruging with a official at Loudon. He was black flagged and they found an oil leak in the car. Tracy called it a "bogus" move.

Derrick Cope made remarks on Larry McReynolds how he costed them and glad he didn't whip his ass.

Eliseo Salazar made a remark on Sarah Fisher how she crashes all the time. Fisher got revenge the following year when she passed Salazar at Miami near the final laps.

[theunions]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
When I saw you post in this thread I thought "oh man I hope he doesnt remember Fontana before I do" Great moment. Very Piquet/Salazar, except more frenzied and one of the antagonists was quite a bit shorter than the other.

btw is it the onions or the unions? I keep pronouncing it in my head as onions

From an interview I did with Oriol in 2000:

Yes, we had an accident there. It was a racing incident where we raced into turn one; we tagged each other and got knocked out of the race. I was very, very disappointed because it was on the first lap and way too soon. Still, I had chances of finishing in the top five in the championship. I was kind of in the middle and they did kind of a sandwich, so there was nothing I could do, and the race was over.

Suddenly I see Sergio Paese come running up to me, screaming and wanting to fight! It was his fault! I just wanted to leave, and he just wanted to fight, but you cannot fight there. First, I have never fought with anyone. Then, there were all those cameras there showing it on TV, so you're not gonna fight there. But he kept wanting to fight, and he tried to fight me, so they took his license away for a year. So it wasn't a very pleasant season from his side.

Wonder whatever happened to Sergio?

And yes, it's "theunions," or more correctly. "The Unions."

[Ross Stonefeld]

I find that oddly hard to beleive. The dash has almost no pertinent data to a rival team. And especially in first gear idling along

[stuartbrs]

I always imagined it was more than just what the readout on the dash said, things like fuel remaining, maybe what the engine had revved too, positions of various switches pertaining to ride height, traction control, fuel mixture etc... might not mean much to me, but Im sure to another driver those things would be very interesting.

[TODave2]

I seem to recall it was a fan who sorta stuck his head into the cockpit or tapped Mansell on the crash helmet and Senna kicked him away, not a marshal.

If anyone has the race on tape perhaps they could have a look? I'm also interested because I believe the exact same fan - a bit annoyed at Senna's kick - proceeded to turn his back on the car as it went away and pulled his shorts down to perform a perfect 'moon' The whole thing was captured perfectly by the BBC cameras (it's a bit of a long shot, but if you just keep your eye on the bloke I'm certain he does it!)


Why oh why does my brainbox choose to remember such details...

[Geoff E]

Originally posted by Geoff E


It was an 1100, but I'm fairly certain it was an estate car.

Ah well, apparently it was a 1300. You can buy a model of the incident:-



http://uk.geocities..../fawlty1300.gif

[TODave2]

[peetbee]

Another BTCC incident, can't recall the exact year, but early '90's was the coming together of Steve Soper and John Cleland. Cleland tried to get hold of Soper after they'd both ended up out of the race but Soper wisely stayed in the car!

The race was just as memorable for the drive Soper made from the back of the grid after someone smashed into the back of his BMW at the start. I think Soper's team mate (Tim Harvey?) went won the title as a result of Cleland not finishing hence his loss of temper!

[FrankB]

Copied from http://www.jimbonet....uk/3series.html

"A cherished M3 memory is former sensational failed Radio 1 disc jockey and failed helicopter pilot, Mike Smith, being interviewed at (I think) Donington by Grandstand with a nosebleed - he had pulled in from a drying wet race to fit slicks which gained him positions but cost the Sytner team's standing quite dearly, and Frank Sytner had smacked him one in the pitlane after the race ."

All from memory...by going in for new tyres (from very near last place) Smith took the fastest lap which until then had been held by Sytner - his team mate. Sytner was then denied the point (points?) for fastest lap which then affected his championship standing. I recall seeing Sytner being interviewed more or less as he got out of his car, complaining to the interviewer about "some clown that had got dry weather tyres right at the end of the race just so that he could get a fastest lap!" The interviewer then broke the news to him that the clown was in fact his own teammate.

Exit Frank Sytner with bloodlust in his eyes.

[Leif Snellman]

Originally posted by Ralliart
Luigi Fagioli brandished a knife at, I think, Hermann Lang, one year, in the pits.

Tripoli 1937, Fagioli, his ex-team mate Caracciola and wheel hammer. (But some source says that Fagioli grabbed a knife after the hammer had missed Caracciola's head.) See
http://www.kolumbus....man/gp371.htm#9