any information of this driver during or since his short F1 career would be appreciated very much
Moody
Johnny Servoz-Gavin
Started by
moody
, Dec 23 2000 19:18
8 replies to this topic
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#2
Rainer Nyberg
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Posted 23 December 2000 - 21:26
I believe poor Johnny lost his vision on one eye during a race when a stone (?) penetrated his visor and he has been retired since.
Don´t recall what race it was, but I am sure the forum will fill in the details.
Rainer
Don´t recall what race it was, but I am sure the forum will fill in the details.
Rainer
#3
Keir
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Posted 23 December 2000 - 21:32
You might be thinking od Helmut Marko, who was hit in the eye by a stone at Clermont Ferrand at the '72 French GP.
Johnny was having difficulty getting "up for the game" and so retired after Monaco in 1970. As Jackie Stewart said at the time, "Now he can pay all his attention to his women."
Johnny was having difficulty getting "up for the game" and so retired after Monaco in 1970. As Jackie Stewart said at the time, "Now he can pay all his attention to his women."
#4
David M. Kane
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Posted 23 December 2000 - 21:44
Yes, Johnny did retire after Monaco for many years people did believe it was exclusively because he had lost interest; but recently Ken Tryell stated that he did indeed
injure his eye at Monaco. The flying stone didn't damage his
eye as badly as Helmut Marko's injury; but he did have blurred vision which took away a lot of his depth perception. I belief he carried on for one or two more races and THEN threw in the towel. I believe the source of my information was from the Nigel Roebuck column on the web,
"Ask Nigel'.
injure his eye at Monaco. The flying stone didn't damage his
eye as badly as Helmut Marko's injury; but he did have blurred vision which took away a lot of his depth perception. I belief he carried on for one or two more races and THEN threw in the towel. I believe the source of my information was from the Nigel Roebuck column on the web,
"Ask Nigel'.
#5
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 23 December 2000 - 22:16
Right here we go,
After a patchy F3 & lower formulae record, JSG made his F1 debut in the Matra MS7 Cosworth F2 car in the 1967 Monaco GP, qualifying 11th & a fine drive was ended after a fuel injection problem.
After an injury to team leader Jackie Stewart, JSG was given a chance to show his worth. He sensationally led the Monaco GP, but showed his inexperience by clipping a barrier which broke his driveshaft. He appeared in the French GP in a Cooper but spun off & hit a tree before tackling the end of season races back in the Matra MS10 Cosworth. He came 2nd in the Italian Gp but recorded retirements in Canada & Mexico.
Still without a full-time drive, JSG concentrated on the European F2 series. He won the Rome GP & once again drove for Matra on sporadic ocassions, retiring from the German GP (in F2 car), took a point for the Canadian GP, was 16 laps down after numerous car problems at Watkins Glen & then finished 8th, two laps down at Canada.
In 1970, Johnny became number two to Stewart at Tyrell, then running March 701 Cosworths. He finished 5th at Spain, retired from South Africa & then failed to qualify for Monaco & on the day before the race annouced his retirement.
The eye problem, which had been mentioned (I think double vision) was the real factor, but also Johnny liked his life, a playboy one at that & the death of Bruce McLaren was probably a deciding factor as well.
Johnny is now 58 (59 on the 18th January) & looks like an older & plumper Mika Hakkinen, these days, still good for his age. F1 appearances are relatively few, although he has driven at the Goodwood Festival of Speed events for the last two years at least.
After a patchy F3 & lower formulae record, JSG made his F1 debut in the Matra MS7 Cosworth F2 car in the 1967 Monaco GP, qualifying 11th & a fine drive was ended after a fuel injection problem.
After an injury to team leader Jackie Stewart, JSG was given a chance to show his worth. He sensationally led the Monaco GP, but showed his inexperience by clipping a barrier which broke his driveshaft. He appeared in the French GP in a Cooper but spun off & hit a tree before tackling the end of season races back in the Matra MS10 Cosworth. He came 2nd in the Italian Gp but recorded retirements in Canada & Mexico.
Still without a full-time drive, JSG concentrated on the European F2 series. He won the Rome GP & once again drove for Matra on sporadic ocassions, retiring from the German GP (in F2 car), took a point for the Canadian GP, was 16 laps down after numerous car problems at Watkins Glen & then finished 8th, two laps down at Canada.
In 1970, Johnny became number two to Stewart at Tyrell, then running March 701 Cosworths. He finished 5th at Spain, retired from South Africa & then failed to qualify for Monaco & on the day before the race annouced his retirement.
The eye problem, which had been mentioned (I think double vision) was the real factor, but also Johnny liked his life, a playboy one at that & the death of Bruce McLaren was probably a deciding factor as well.
Johnny is now 58 (59 on the 18th January) & looks like an older & plumper Mika Hakkinen, these days, still good for his age. F1 appearances are relatively few, although he has driven at the Goodwood Festival of Speed events for the last two years at least.
#6
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 23 December 2000 - 22:17
Oh & statistics:
12 Gp's, 1 DNQ, 9 points, 1 podium.
12 Gp's, 1 DNQ, 9 points, 1 podium.
#7
moody
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Posted 24 December 2000 - 07:24
Thanks for all your replys, I had heard that Johnny had written a biography but it is in French of course so I wouldn't be able to read it anyway. His story fascinates me for some reason, the photograph of his Matra leading by a Stewartesque margin into the Tabac at Monte Carlo on the first lap of the 68 Grand Prix is one of those images that have stuck in my head...thanks again...M
#8
Boniver
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Posted 24 December 2000 - 07:45
I the winter of 1970 , he drive with his motor, and had a branch of a tree in his face,
it was the start of his vision problems,
not qualify in Monoca (2° time in 1968 ) , his vision problem, his wonen, BUT THE MOST OF ALL, Tyrrell-Stewart-Matra will Cevert (the new France start) in the car,
let hem stop.
In 1982 he had a accident with a gas burner, and burn his bad,
it was the start of his vision problems,
not qualify in Monoca (2° time in 1968 ) , his vision problem, his wonen, BUT THE MOST OF ALL, Tyrrell-Stewart-Matra will Cevert (the new France start) in the car,
let hem stop.
In 1982 he had a accident with a gas burner, and burn his bad,
#9
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 24 December 2000 - 10:47
Originally posted by Boniver
In 1982 he had a accident with a gas burner, and burn his bad,
Yes, that's right. I think, if I recall from Nigel Roebuck's legends series, he was on a boat at the time & the gas burner exploded & he was lucky to survive. Am I right in thinking it was a boat & in the Cote D'Azur at the time?
