19 replies to this topic

[Muppetmad]

Whilst we all gear up for qualifying tomorrow, I ask that we take a moment to remember Wolfgang von Trips, who was on course to win the 1961 F1 season before a tragic accident at Monza 49 years ago today. With two races to go, 3rd was all von Trips needed to win the championship, and was on course to do this after starting from pole position, but was killed after an unfortunate collision with Jim Clark that killed both himself and fourteen spectators. As a result of this accident, the oval was permanently abandoned and Phil Hill took his only championship.

When I think of instances like this, I can only feel sadness. I ask we all take to count our blessings and remember the sacrifices drivers in this era made so racing today can be less dangerous - and so we hopefully don't have to ever witness such horrific events.

Edited by Muppetmad, 10 September 2010 - 15:50.

[Dunder]

Although I wasn't even born at the time, the images of that crash are still etched in my mind every time we come to Monza.

I think that Jim Clark's move was slightly ambitious but it was an era where the consequences of mistakes were, to put it mildly, severe.

[Muppetmad]

Clark said the following of the incident:

Von Trips and I were racing along the straightaway and were nearing one of the banked curves, the one on the southern end. We were about 100 metres from the beginning of the curve. Von Trips was running close to the inside of the track. I was closely following him, keeping near the outside. At one point Von Trips shifted sideways so that my front wheels collided with his back wheels. It was the fatal moment. Von Trips' car spun twice and went into the guardrail along the inside of the track. Then it bounced back, struck my own car and bounced down into the crowd.

Clark describes it as if von Trips did a Vettel - but as with any of these sort of things, you can never really be sure.

[goat0063]

Clark said the following of the incident:


Clark describes it as if von Trips did a Vettel - but as with any of these sort of things, you can never really be sure.

Yeah it was a horrid crash. I suspect Von Tripps changed line slightly but I wonder if he even knew Clark was there. An accident and a tragedy.

[Slyder]

I always wondered what Michael Schumacher had to say about Von Trips, in the sense that if he knows this small but important piece in German racing history....

Has he ever?

[VicR]

Don't forget about Ronnie Peterson who passed away today (September 11th) 32 years ago.

RIP Ronnie! The greatest swedish sportsman next to Björn Borg.

Edited by VicR, 11 September 2010 - 00:36.

[LittleChris]

RIP Ronnie and Wolfgang. Should point out however that the banked circuit at Monza, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the Von Trips accident which happened at the entry to the Parabolica, was used at international level until 1966 for sportscars ( which at the time were quicker than F1 cars ) and I believe is still used for the Monza rally whose participants have included Jean Alesi and Valentino Rossi

Edited by LittleChris, 11 September 2010 - 00:43.

[scheivlak]

RIP Ronnie and Wolfgang. Should point out however that the banked circuit at Monza, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the Von Trips accident which happened at the entry to the Parabolica, was used at international level until 1966 for sportscars ( which at the time were quicker than F1 cars ) and I believe is still used for the Monza rally whose participants have included Jean Alesi and Valentino Rossi

The banked part was still used in 1969 for the 1000 km race - see http://vodpod.com/wa...0-km-monza-1969 starting at 1:15.

[aditya-now]

Clark said the following of the incident:


Clark describes it as if von Trips did a Vettel - but as with any of these sort of things, you can never really be sure.

If you have watched the video, you can be sure. He did a Vettel, although it was an error of judgement, nothing more. Sad that in those days such errors decided over life and death.

[aditya-now]

RIP Ronnie and Wolfgang and Jochen.

[britishtrident]

I always wondered what Michael Schumacher had to say about Von Trips, in the sense that if he knows this small but important piece in German racing history....

Has he ever?

The Schumacher family go-kart track was originally started by Von Trips

[britishtrident]

Jochen & Ronnie both truly dazzling stars.

Thinking of Ronnie also makes me remember Gunnar Nilsson a star who never got the chance to shine.

[britishtrident]

Clark said the following of the incident:


Clark describes it as if von Trips did a Vettel - but as with any of these sort of things, you can never really be sure.

jimmy's version will be as near the facts as makes no difference, Clark's brain was like a data logging system he could recall every detail that ever happened out on the track, he was also probably the most honest straight forward guy every to sit in an F1 car.

[Madras]

I have looked on youtube and there's no footage of the cars actually hitting each other, it seems to start with Von Trips' car already heading off the track.

[MrMonaco]

Don't forget how traumatic it was for Clark. He was devastated for being involved in such a tragic accident and possibility of prosecution wasn't helping him either. Surely it was the most difficult days of his career.

[cannell]

My sense is that WvT more or less overlooked Clarke in his hast to pull out and move up. Phil Hill was still so far ahead of him, and he must have felt enormous pressure to make up ground.

More about von Trips on the blog I'm writing about a von Trips book: www.crimsoncars.blogspot.com.

[sherer]

The Schumacher family go-kart track was originally started by Von Trips

Correct, there is also a Von Trips museum.

Having heard some comments from MS before where he didn't even know if Ferrari had had a one two before I doubt he has any info on Von Trips at all. He may know the name but would doubt if he had any more info than than

[raceannouncer2003]

Sunday was the 50th anniversary of Wolfgang von Trips' victory in the 1961 Dutch GP. At Monterey a few years ago, Phil Hill signed a Michael Turner print of that race for me. He said "That's Taffy!", but I pointed out Hill's car behind von Trips.

Vince H.

[PayasYouRace]

Awesome anecdote

[H2H]

It is actually one of those strange, tragic coincidences that Wolfgang von Trips almost became the first posthumous WDC and another German by birth, Jochen Rindt won it indeed in that tragic ways. Certainly two great champions and back than mistakes by the drivers or mechanics were certainly more costly.

RIP for all the persons who died.

Edited by H2H, 25 May 2011 - 20:00.