39 replies to this topic

[Mischa Bijenhof]

He did win the 1986 Formula Ford Festival at Brands, so he must have had some talent. But how good was he? What kind of guy was he?
There was a quote from Nick Wirth in Autosport last month that gives a pretty good impression of his determination to get to F1: "I can't imagine too many F1 teambosses being impressed by someone trying to demonstrate their driving skills in a Ford Fiesta hire car, but he terrified the life out of me!"
Any other memories of this man who will probably be remembered as 'the other one'..?

[Richard Jenkins]

He was a lovely guy, full of warmth. His elderly parents were shattered when he left us as he cared so much for them. He's still very, very much missed & well thought of.

He would never have been a World Champion, but his enthuiasm, his humour & his willingness to try anything will be long remembered. A driver whose personality was of the old school, a la Salo & Irvine, not a corporate clone - what kind of driver was he? Probably equal, at best to someone like Heidfeld, probably would've achieved something like an Erik Comas type F1 career at best & then probably gone on to much more success in another field of motorsport, such was his verstalitality.

I remember how thrilled he was to make F1 - for him, it wasn't progression - it meant everything to him - I remember his F1 test with Simtek & the joy he had from qualifying from his first race. It was a real tragedy he never got the chance to prove fully what he could've done. Also very intelligent, in & out of the car.

Roland Ratzenberger, rest in peace - you'll never be forgotten by some.

[RX-7]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
He was a lovely guy, full of warmth. His elderly parents were shattered when he left us as he cared so much for them. He's still very, very much missed & well thought of.

He would never have been a World Champion, but his enthuiasm, his humour & his willingness to try anything will be long remembered. A driver whose personality was of the old school, a la Salo & Irvine, not a corporate clone - what kind of driver was he? Probably equal, at best to someone like Heidfeld, probably would've achieved something like an Erik Comas type F1 career at best & then probably gone on to much more success in another field of motorsport, such was his verstalitality.

I remember how thrilled he was to make F1 - for him, it wasn't progression - it meant everything to him - I remember his F1 test with Simtek & the joy he had from qualifying from his first race. It was a real tragedy he never got the chance to prove fully what he could've done. Also very intelligent, in & out of the car.

Roland Ratzenberger, rest in peace - you'll never be forgotten by some.

Very nice.

[Ruairidh]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
He was a lovely guy, full of warmth. His elderly parents were shattered when he left us as he cared so much for them. He's still very, very much missed & well thought of.

He would never have been a World Champion, but his enthuiasm, his humour & his willingness to try anything will be long remembered. A driver whose personality was of the old school, a la Salo & Irvine, not a corporate clone - what kind of driver was he? Probably equal, at best to someone like Heidfeld, probably would've achieved something like an Erik Comas type F1 career at best & then probably gone on to much more success in another field of motorsport, such was his verstalitality.

I remember how thrilled he was to make F1 - for him, it wasn't progression - it meant everything to him - I remember his F1 test with Simtek & the joy he had from qualifying from his first race. It was a real tragedy he never got the chance to prove fully what he could've done. Also very intelligent, in & out of the car.

Roland Ratzenberger, rest in peace - you'll never be forgotten by some.

I agree. A very nice tribute to the kind of driver who adds more to F1 than his results may suggest.

[Felix]

I suggest you read the TOP LOTUS NEWS thread (which has wandered somewhat sadly into this territory) for some more input regarding Roland Ratzenberger.

And, Mischa, thank you for starting this thread: I had intended starting one, then the TOP LOTUS NEWS sort of concentrated my mind for reasons which become clear when you read it.

I did not know Roland personally (know plenty who did), but by all accounts he was a really humble person who just dreamed of racing in Formula One - and had the talent to do so. He fought overwhelming odds to get there, and it is just tragic that his dream became a nightmare so, so soon.

After I paid my respects at Senna's grave in 2000 I figured it would be plain hypocritical to not try to do the same for Ratzenberger (or others who gave their lives for that which they loved), and am exteremely pleased that I did so - for it showed me in how much esteem Ratzenberger is held in Salzburg.

His grave is amongst the neatest and well-kept I have ever seen (and I was there on an ordinary day), with a replica of his helmet included. The inscription reads: He Lived For His Dream.

Enough said.

(I have photos of the grave, and will gladly post here if I am taught how or if somebody can do so on my behalf.)

[x_acto]

Lovely words, Fenix!

I really like to see those pictures, but i also don't know how to post them...

[Mischa Bijenhof]

Felix, I've sent you a pm

Mischa

[Nikos Spagnol]

I remember Roland Ratzenberger being pushed back to the pits after the end of the second qualifying in Brazil. I remember seeing this on TV and wondering how frustated that guy could feel, failing to qualify in his first outing. I couldn't imagine that fellow being taken away from us just weeks later...

I have a question about Imola '94 that wasn't answered in another thread: was Nick Wirth forced to keep Brabham's entry on the race, after Ratzenberger's accident? Why didn't he withdrew, as would be standard in situations like that?

BTW, rest in peace, Roland, we won't forget you.

[Felix]

The way I understand it, Nikos, was that Nick Wirth could have withdrawn the David Brabham entry as sign of respect, but, as they knew the cause of the accident (broken frt wing after RR hit the kerbs) they decided that structually there was no risk - and David decided to race 'for Roland'. The choice was his and his alone, and was respected as such. Ironically he retired with steering failure...

[panzani]

Originally posted by Henri Greuter
I clearly remember that on TV it was told shortly before the start that Simtek was forced to start the next day by I believe ecclestone himself at the expense of risking tremendous repercussions!
They wanted to withdraw but I kind of remember Ecclestone personally told him the better had the remaining car on the grid that morning because otherwise.....
I remember that because the TV commentator was also using harsh words for this to happen but explaining the audience why.
Henri Greuter

This quote is from this thread in response to a post after I realised it was the first time ever a team had a car running after a fatal accident.

[Wolf]

Felix, You need to zupload pictures to Your webspace before posting them here (then put their address in image tag. If you don't have the website You can upload them to, send them to me ( wolf@email.atlasf1.com ) and I'll do it.

[Nikos Spagnol]

Originally posted by Felix
The way I understand it, Nikos, was that Nick Wirth could have withdrawn the David Brabham entry as sign of respect, but, as they knew the cause of the accident (broken frt wing after RR hit the kerbs) they decided that structually there was no risk - and David decided to race 'for Roland'. The choice was his and his alone, and was respected as such. Ironically he retired with steering failure...

That's what I thought, too, but see Panzani's quote above. Is that real or not?

Anyway, I think it was a nice attitude of the Simtek guys to put that "For Roland" message written on the airbox of the cars for the rest of the season.

[Felix]

Although I was working for a major motorsport magazine - but was not, unfortunately (fortunately?) at Imola that weekend - at the time, I never heard that Bernie Ecclestone 'forced' Nick Wirth's team to run.

The story I relayed is as I heard it then, and I have heard nothing since to change my mind - despite numerous discussions with some 'in the know'. But, maybe somebody can positively disprove my information?

[Paolo]

I posted this in an old thread about "most noble driver". Worth remembering today :

About bravery : on occasion of Roland Ratzenberger's death , HH Frentzen recalled that RR confronted a knife armed Arab in a Japanese disco to protect a molested local girl (source : Autosprint).

A man.

[Lutz G]

Posted for Felix:





Lutz

[11]

I have never forgotten Roland and to me he will never be "the other one" he will always be remembered by me as a man who kept fighting to live his dream no matter the odd's and carried himself with dignity and was a geniunly nice person no matter what.

I would love to hear any more stories or comments if anybody has them.

[Ghostrider]

Thanx for posting those pix Lutz G!

Roland Ratzenberger.

[Mark A]

For me I knew people in F1 at the time but not the drivers personally but the death of Roland for me was a bigger shock than Senna.

One of the reasons was that I was only 10 at the time Gilles was killed and other than the ex-F1 or racing elsewhere deaths, tragic as they were they were never publicised as much as in F1. Roland was the 1st for a very long time.

Imola has a number of bad memories as far as I'm concerned as I remember watching the race when Berger hit the wall and his car burst into flames as if it was yesterday. I won't miss it as a venue when it goes.

As an engineering student I was a fan of Simtek as it was a really neat design which seemed to work well in the early days considering the budget/engine. I had also followed Ratzenbergers career and was delighted to see him in F1, even in a car as close to the back as the Simtek. It was a terrible day when Rolands accident took place and it is the part of the weekend which always strikes me as the most tragic because it was such a shock to hear of a driver in F1 being killed. Especially as Roland is seen as little more than a footnote on that tragic weekend.

RIP Roland a lot of us still remember you!

[Kuwashima]

Since Atlas and others have devoted much time and effort specifically remembering the 10th Anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna (and remembering Ratzenberger as part of that dreadful weekend), Enoch and I thought, heck, F1 Rejects may as well be the site to write something specifically looking back at Ratzenberger, on this the 10th Anniversary of his death also. Link below...

Remembering Roland

I hope a few of you will have a read, and post any further follow-up thoughts (or corrections) here. I think the article's a good tribute to Roland, and well written by Enoch, if I do say so myself.

I might also note that Atlas has thoughtfully included a "Remembering Ratzenberger" section in its photo gallery. We may also add a Ratzenberger photo gallery to our article over this week.

Cheers,
Jamie.

[Vitesse2]

A very good piece, Enoch and Jamie . Thank you.

The spate of safety measures introduced since then, from cockpit padding to narrow tracks, from more rigid crash tests to HANS, have all been attributed to Senna's crash, or maybe Wendlinger's or Hakkinen's. But surely Roland's death was not in vain, either.

Schumacher's straight-on shunt at Silverstone springs to mind ....

[Henri Greuter]

Originally posted by Felix
Although I was working for a major motorsport magazine - but was not, unfortunately (fortunately?) at Imola that weekend - at the time, I never heard that Bernie Ecclestone 'forced' Nick Wirth's team to run.

The story I relayed is as I heard it then, and I have heard nothing since to change my mind - despite numerous discussions with some 'in the know'. But, maybe somebody can positively disprove my information?

I was the one who made the quote about Simtek told to be forced by Ecclestone to race on.
I clearly remember that was said on TV by the commentator and I remember how bad I felt about that since, at that time I realized already, that was a first when a team raced the day after losing a driver.
So, up to that extend, I can only approve my own credability which is of course difficult to do and if people don't believe me or think I'm wrong. No harsh feelings to anybody on that.
But in addition I must tell that this very same TV commentator at that time also belonged to the crew that, a few weeks ago told that JPM and Sam Michael of Williams were not communicatioin with another anymore and that was a rumor that Atlas (Bira herself) declared by being not true.

Again, I can't do anything but defend myself as being 99% sure that's what I heard on TV that afternoon before the start. And that was one of those days that you do remember something that angered you. In that respect I still stand to my words: I know I have heard that on TV.
But maybe that commentator was misinformed and in that case I am repeating the mis-information. In the latter case: I apologize to anybody who feels misinformed as well because of me.
(Now there goes my credibility....)
Hopefully someone else is able to find more evidence too about this matter because by now I am also interested to knowm more about what really happened and if I'm proven wrong, I'll promise I'll swallow the served out humble pie.

My sincere apoligies for any bad feelings this may have caused to anybody.
The more while I feel very annoyed about this very same TV station devoting attention to Senna's fatality and totally ignoring `the other side` of Senna while in the last line ofwords by the studio commentator he briefly mentions that Ratzenberger also died that weekend which should not be overlooked. But by that time, the race preview was truly gonna start...

Once again: sorry everyone.


Henri Greuter

[Muzza]

I remember seeing Roland at the Interlagos paddock, and thinking that he looked very focused and dedicated. I had known of him and his career in Japan, but I was rather suprised to see Nick Wirth picking him as a driver. I made some captions of Roland at the paddock with a borrowed video camera, but the tape was lost in one of my moves, sadly... I still have the pictures I took of him and his Simtek - it looked a neat car, indeed, as others have pointed above (unfortunately these pictures are in Brazil, thus I am unable to post them).

A sad curiosity about Senna and Ratzenberger: Ayrton carried a small Austrian flag with him in the cockpit of the Williams he crashed at Tamburello. Senna had planned to display the red-and-white flag during the victory lap, and take it to the podium in respect to Ratzenberger.

(This is reported by journalist Eduardo Correa in his book "Pela Glória E Pela Pátria", ISBN 85-250-1213-O)

Remembering Ratzenberger made me think of Jeff Krosnoff. They were very close friends in Japan, very different personalities brough together by a strong cammaraderie - what, by the way, seemed to bind all foreigners racing in Japan at the time. Jeff asked Roland to record the greeting message in his answering machine: in typical Krosnoff's style, it was a prank, with Roland saying "I'll be back" with a strong Austrian accent - as the famous line of the character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the "Terminator" movies.

Jeff was devastated when Roland died. Two years later, he would face the same fate in Toronto...


Muzza

P.S.: Henri, you are more than excused. You repeated what you heard, from a source that you judged credible and well informed.

Unfortunately the quality of narration and comments of Formula 1 tv broadcasts is appaling in just about any country (with a few exceptions, namely Switzerland). Even here in the United States, with a booth that includes professionals like Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Peter Windsor, I can count an average of some five rather inadmissable errors per broadcast.

Quality-wise, the worst of all tv broadcasts I have seen (and I have seen quite a few) is the one by Brazilian TV Globo. My opinion on their work is such that it should not be included in such a noble thread.

[11]

Originally posted by Kuwashima
Since Atlas and others have devoted much time and effort specifically remembering the 10th Anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna (and remembering Ratzenberger as part of that dreadful weekend), Enoch and I thought, heck, F1 Rejects may as well be the site to write something specifically looking back at Ratzenberger, on this the 10th Anniversary of his death also. Link below...

Remembering Roland

I hope a few of you will have a read, and post any further follow-up thoughts (or corrections) here. I think the article's a good tribute to Roland, and well written by Enoch, if I do say so myself.

I might also note that Atlas has thoughtfully included a "Remembering Ratzenberger" section in its photo gallery. We may also add a Ratzenberger photo gallery to our article over this week.

Cheers,
Jamie.

Ratzenberger was also due to drive for Toyota again at Le Mans; his friend Irvine took his place, but Roland's name nevertheless remained on the door.

I did not know that, very touching. I enjoyed the article very much and I am a regular visitor to your site, well done

[masterhit]

He also had a sense of humour. Here in Britain we had this kids show hosted by a charcter called Roland Rat. I was young and obsessed with the character as he was so anarchic. He'd say what a load of rubbish everything else on the show was etc, how he was saving the show from being axed. He was so funny he really did save the breakfast show TV AM from being axed.

In '86, Roland Rat went to BBC1 for "Roland Rat: The Series".

Anyway someone noticed that Ratzenberger was in Formula Ford at the time. There was a classic sketch where Roland Rat in his pink "Ratmobile" raced Roland Ratzenberger in his Formula Ford, and won at Silverstone.

Here is the only pic I can find:



Nice of him to take part.

[Wouter]

Roland Ratzenberger is still remembered

[Mark Bennett]

As I recall, Roland was actually sponsered by Roland Rat at one point!

[tyrrellp34]

I remember well 10 years ago, a friend of mine bought an apartment near my home in the city of Salzburg. During my first visit we met Roland on the floor who just had bought the apartment upstairs. I went home and was a bit proud to live so close to Roland Ratzenbergers home. This all was in April 1994, one week later we lost Roland...


Good to see that you remember him well

[Kuwashima]

Thanks masterhit for that info...! When I was 4 years old, I lived in England for a year, before my family returned to Australia, and watching Roland Rat on TV is still my fondest (only?) memory of that time! I loved the show! Seeing that Ratzenberger took part in some of the fun, I think we should make an addition to the article to cover it!

By the way, Atlas has posted an excellent tribute to Roland from Keith Sutton, along with many sensational pictures. Congrats

[D-Type]

I have a vague memory of an obituary where the writer focussed on his young son chanting something like " Roland Ratzenburger chips and beans " . He was highly embarassed whilst Roland thought it a big joke.

Does anybody else remember it?

[vivafroilan!]

D-Type, I think I just read that "Roland Ratzenburger chips and beans" story in a very nicely-written section on Ratzenburger and Imola '94 in David Tremayne's fine book, Echoes of Imola. Unfortunately, I'm at work and the book's at home, so I can't give a page number...

[Karen Hyland]

Hi all,

Whilst surfing the net earlier tonight, I was pleased to find a memorial web site for Roland at http://www.roland-ratzenberger.com/.

Unfortunately it is all in German, but I'll try using one of those on-line translators when I next get the chance to visit the site.

Karen

[Jungle Boy]

Originally posted by Karen Hyland
Hi all,

Whilst surfing the net earlier tonight, I was pleased to find a memorial web site for Roland at http://www.roland-ratzenberger.com/.

Unfortunately it is all in German, but I'll try using one of those on-line translators when I next get the chance to visit the site.

Karen

Great site! Thank you so much for the link

[Karen Hyland]

Originally posted by Jungle Boy


Great site! Thank you so much for the link

No problem Jungle Boy.

I am not sure how long this site has been on the web, as I have only seen it appear on search engines in the last few days.

Have you read the item written by Mika Salo? It is very moving.

Karen

[conjohn]

According to Autosport is was launched at 13.18, April 30 - to the minute 10 years after Roland's death.

[Jungle Boy]

Originally posted by Karen Hyland


No problem Jungle Boy.

I am not sure how long this site has been on the web, as I have only seen it appear on search engines in the last few days.

Have you read the item written by Mika Salo? It is very moving.

Karen

Hi Karen,

Yes I read the article by Mika Salo and yes it was very touching. I knew they were close friends in Japan (Irvine was also a friend of Roland's, maybee he will write an article for them?) but I did not know about how they knew each others parents and that Mika visit's Rolands grave every year.

The website is a very nice tribute, good articles and good picture galleries. I will check back often to see if they update.

Thanks agian for the link!

[Karen Hyland]

Originally posted by conjohn
According to Autosport is was launched at 13.18, April 30 - to the minute 10 years after Roland's death.

What a lovely thought.

It is nice to see that Roland has not been forgotten, and that the time has been take to produce such a wonderful tribute for him.

When I last visited, there were over 17 pages of Guestbook entries, so it is good to see that the site has been so well received by the visitors as well.

Karen

[Nikos Spagnol]

Eleven years this morning...

RIP Roland

[Admiral Thrawn]

RIP, Roland.

How time flies...

[uffen]

I was at Imola that awful weekend. Ruben's bad crash was right in front of me, and I watched the medical staff work on him.

I was around the corner when Roland crashed. I couldn't see that portion of the circuit from where I was but I remember hearing the high pitched scream of an engine. Then there was an all too sudden silence and suddenly a tyerrible "whump" and a cloud of dust rose into the air. I also remember seeing a wheel and tire sail into sight over the tops of the trees. I had no idea who it was or what happened but it sounded awful.

I well rmember the next day too, but that's off topic.

RIP Roland.

[BorderReiver]

Rest In Peace Roland. I remember that whole Imola weekend so clearly, I heard about Roland on the radio on a beautifully sunny day in Shropshire (where I was karting). Despite me only being 11 and not really having heard of Ratzenberger before, I can remember that day feeling very dull and muted. Things got worse from there on in.

The more I hear about Mr Ratzenberger the more I like him. A genuine character who's uncynical attitude to the sport he loved is an example to everyone, especially in this commercial era. A real Racing Driver and a real man. As someone else said, he deserves to be remembered for so much more than just being "the other one".

And just a word about Simtek. I remember being very very impressed with them and particularly David Brabham for the remainder of that nightmare season for them. They were real troopers that year and did Roland proud. A smart little team, with a good looking car, and a lot of steely grit. I think they won a lot of accolades for what they did that year.