38 replies to this topic

[sstiel]

An announcement by Jochen Mass's family:

 

https://www.instagra.../p/DHv7NVVolSQ/

"The family of Jochen Mass, wishes to share that he is currently recovering from a medical emergency.

 

While Jochen's condition is stable, he will be stepping back from all public appearances and engagements for the foreseeable future as he focuses on his recovery.

 

We as a family are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and kindly request privacy during this time.

 

We are wishing Jochen a speedy recovery."

[Richard Jenkins]

Sorry to hear this, wishing Jochen a super quick recovery

[AJCee]

Absolutely all best wishes to Jochen and his family.

[JacnGille]

Get well soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nick Planas]

Very best wishes to Jochen for a speedy and full recovery.

 

He absolutely would not remember this but in 1978 I was driving courtesy buses for a well-known car hire company at Heathrow when he got on board the automatic Ford transit bus (what a pile of poop that was!), sat next to me on the front seat and when I said one day I wanted to race, he encouraged me to just go for it - "Just do it!". One year on and I was doing Formula Ford...

[John Ginger]

Sorry to read this, another of my favourites

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery Jochen

[absinthedude]

Very best wishes to Jochen for a full recovery. I can't say I met him, but I can say he nodded at my video camera as he blasted past me at Brooklands in 2007 in the Mercedes W196

[Doug Nye]

Jochen is such a good guy - he and his family are having a very tough time right now.  I am sure wife Bettina would thank you all most sincerely for your good wishes...

 

DCN

[ensign14]

 

You've got to be a good egg to be entrusted with such artwork.  It's a shame we can't tell during someone's career how genuine they are about motor sports.  It's mostly ex post facto that you see that so-and-so is still giving it a lash or will turn up to demonstrate as many historics as they can, as I at least might have paid closer attention to what they were doing.  It was always there in Dario for instance, but who would have though, when he was struggling at Benetton in 1989, that Emanuele Pirro would be constantly hustling to drive anything that looked interesting 35 years later?  So I've ended up appreciating Mass' career after it happened.  Not many drivers with a Grand Prix and Le Mans win - and Jochen entrusted so much by Mercedes (after being trusted by Porsche) to bring along new bugs like Wendlinger, Frentzen, and some other chap in the proper Group C.

[Gabrci]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I've had the pleasure of chatting to him at Goodwood several times, he always seems so genuinely happy to talk about his racing days or anything else about life in general, and just to be there at all! He always seems accessible to the fans and anyone who just says hi to him can count on some good stories. Except if someone asks him about the ATS that is, then they can count on some f words (and a laugh)! I remember once he asked where I was from and I was living in Sweden at that time. His eyes lit up and he started talking about his different adventures in Sweden (none racing related) for what must have been at least 5 minutes, all this standing next to a 956. Such an amazing man, I hope he recovers very quickly. 

[AllanL]

Best wishes for a full recovery to Jochen and his family. As mentioned by others he is one of racing's true gentlemen. I once saw him go out of his way to give his condolences to someone who had just lost their father at a Goodwood event.

 

I first met Jochen at one of the earlier Festivals. He was in earnest conversation with Emanuele Pirro as they tried to figure out where a tie could be obtained for dinner with Lord March that evening. When they realised that my young son was nervously hovering in hope of getting his first autographs at Goodwood, they immediately broke away from their discussion to sign his programme for him. I hope the tie was found, his grace must have forgiven any lack of one over the years.

[FastReader]

He is, indeed, one of racing's good guys as witnessed by his unstinting support for all things Goodwood and passion for the history of the sport, and his always being prepared to chat, sign autographs and such like. Get well soon Jochen!

[10kDA]

Best wishes for a quick and full recovery!

[Gabrci]

I'm seeing alarming news on Facebook but let's hope they will turn out to be wrong...

[Gabrci]

It does seem true, sadly. 

 

https://www.antennem...ot-2315653.html

 

RIP Jochen, what an honour it has been to meet you a few times. 

Edited by Gabrci, 04 May 2025 - 21:22.

[ktrhe]

Sad News:

google bilder hochladen kostenlos

From Jochen´s Instagam Account

 

It was a pleasure to have met you and had some pleasant conversations with you.

 

Rest in Peace.

Edited by ktrhe, 04 May 2025 - 19:46.

[LittleChris]

This is such sad news. RIP Jochen

[cpbell]

It does seems true, sadly. 

 

https://www.antennem...ot-2315653.html

 

RIP Jochen, what an honour it has been to meet you a few times. 

R.I.P, so sad.

[Tim Murray]

I’m so very sorry to read this. Jochen impressively won the first major race I attended (F3 at Combe, 1971) and I was a fan from then on. He always came across as a really nice guy. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

[wheadon1985]

Over the last 10 years, my Mrs and I been able to spend some quality time with Jochen and Bettina at Goodwood. One of the most genuine good guys I have ever had the pleasure to meet and get to know, his 'The Truth' stories about James Hunt were always a highlight for me. This one's hit hard... RIP friend.

[Doug Nye]

Thoughts with Bettina and Jochen's children, wider family and countless other friends - one of the most popular and most admired of racing drivers, and a wonderful human being.  Comfortably at peace now, and freed from the damage of his devastating stroke - at least that is a comfort.

 

DCN

[10kDA]

R.I.P. Jochen

[ellrosso]

RIP Jochen Mass and sincere condolences to his family. From all accounts he was one of the good guys.

[JacnGille]

Edited by JacnGille, 05 May 2025 - 12:49.

[FastReader]

Goodwood won't be the same without him. Farewell to a truly great man.

[chr1s]

Very sad news, RIP Jochen.

[Michael Clark]

Adelaide 1989 - or was it 91? - one of the two wet ones. A very damp Kiwi is looking for a cab through the rain but demand far exceeds supply. 

 

The driver of a passing car stops and invites the drowned Kiwi to jump in - there is no time to stop and wonder if that 'jump in' sounded like German accent. The profound thank-yous were shrugged off but yes, it was a German accent...'Hang on are you Jochen Mass?'

 

Dropping the Kiwi to his accommodation was clearly not an issue - even after it was discovered that it was w-a-y out of his way. It would have been a wonderfully generous act from a normal person - but from a Le Mans and GP winner, it was an incredibly memorable gesture.

 

RIP Jochen 

[68targa]

Extremely sorry to hear this very sad news. He always entertained and has left us with many good memories from a very long career.

 

 

RIP

[Huberg]

Sad, so very sad...

I met him at Hockenheim, Jim Clark memorial on 50th anniversary in 2018. An amazing guy he was.

Edited by Huberg, 05 May 2025 - 10:38.

[absinthedude]

I got the news while I was out at a gig yesterday so I've waited until today to post.

 

I never actually met Jochen, but I will always remember how he smiled and winked at my video camera at Brooklands in 2007 as I leant over the barriers to get a good recording of him going by in the Mercedes-Benz W196. A small but important gesture from a man who wanted to connect with the spectators. 

 

I put that video up on YouTube and the inevitable comments about him "murdering" Gilles Villeneuve followed. I always felt it was tremendously sad that a small minority of people chose to remember him for an accident (which it clearly was) rather than his Grand Prix career, his Le Mans win, his coaching of Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger and his later role as an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz which he seemed to relish. 

 

RIP Jochen.

Edited by absinthedude, 06 May 2025 - 08:31.

[tampaguy]

Shortly after Al Holbert  passed the family held a brief memorial at Daytona. All his family and crew pushed the Lowenbrau 962 out to the finish line. It was a very moving experience for those in attendance. I noticed a gentleman walking through the grass infield back to the it area . It was Mr Mass . I approached him when he stopped for a moment and watched the 962 driven by his father slowly circle the track. Sad sight I mentioned ! His reply was “It always is” ! 

Edited by tampaguy, 05 May 2025 - 19:39.

[ReWind]

The words of Bobby Rahal:

I am greatly saddened by the passing of my friend Jochen Mass today. He was not just a distinguished driver but a gentlemen and true sportsman, who represented so well the sport we all love.
 
The RRDC sends its sincere sympathies to Bettina Mass and their lovely family. And to say we’ve all lost a great friend is a monumental understatement.
 
RIP, my friend, and thank you for the memories.
 
Bobby Rahal
President, Road Racing Drivers Club

Unfortunately it is not possible to show the direct link to the news article on the website of the RRDC.

[chr1s]

Its disappointing that there doesn't appear to be any mention of Jochens passing on Mclarens official web site...

[BRG]

Sad news.  He was one of the good guys and we don't have enough of those.

 

(Maybe the thread title can be amended now?)

[wheadon1985]

Its disappointing that there doesn't appear to be any mention of Jochens passing on Mclarens official web site...

 

Nor on Motorsport Magazine's website or app. 

Edited by wheadon1985, Yesterday, 13:10.

[sabrejet]

I expect Mercedes did.

 

Incidentally shouldn't the thread say "passed away"?

[Nigel Beresford]

Its disappointing that there doesn't appear to be any mention of Jochens passing on Mclarens official web site...

Deeply disappointing, but at least there is an acknowledgement of his passing on their “X” feed.

Edited by Nigel Beresford, Yesterday, 13:01.

[D28]

RACER.com in a short obit for Mass fails to mention he was a credible writer for them, indirectly at least with the magazine Vintage Motorsport. Jochen was a columnist for VM when RACER acquired it.

[70JesperOH]

My personal experience of Jochen Mass was him flooring a then current, just about, NASCAR Busch Series car (a red Ray Evernham Dodge) during demonstration runs at sweltering heat at the yearly historic race meeting at Fælledparken, Copenhagen ca. 2010; big noise and big slides for the crowd!

 

Not that I recognised his past, but rather I knew he was a driver to do it with his past career. It seemed like this was his ethos when he appeared at Goodwood meetings.

 

Jesper

Edited by 70JesperOH, Today, 15:35.