The 1971 Imola 500kms Interserie race was held in foul, wet conditions on the circuit fresh with it's newly intalled Armco. On lap 12 the Alfa Romeo T33-3, which Reisch had qualified 5th, spun at Rivazza. For some reason - possibly to do with the bodywork - Reisch got out of the car. Once he'd done what he needed to do, he got back in the Alfa only to lose control at the next corner, which in those days was a flat out right-hander onto the start/finish straight.
The car slammed into the pit wall, spun and hit the pit wall again about halfway down. As aresult of this second impact Reisch, who'd not re-fastened his belts, was thrown out of the car and landed at the other side of the track and sadly died from his injuries. The car ended up on fire at the pit exit.
This is what I've been able to deduce from photos, diagrams and the odd word of Italian having seen the coverage in Autosprint. I'd be very interested in any more informaton that might be forthcoming regarding this strange incident - for example, why was he going so fast? Did he crash attempting to go into the pits and made a mistake? And if so, why again was he going so fast - the accident took up the length of the entire pitlane! And all this with no belts on...
TW
Klaus Reisch - a bizarre accident...
Started by
Twin Window
, Jun 26 2004 18:56
16 replies to this topic
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#2
JB Miltonian
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Posted 26 June 2004 - 19:45
There is a picture of the wrecked Alfa and several paragraphs of "testimoni oculari" (eyewitness account?) in my issue of Quattroruote, October 1971. I can't translate. I suppose this may be the same material as you found in Autosprint. I can scan and PM to you if you wish.
#3
Twin Window
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Posted 26 June 2004 - 20:02
Thanks JB, but don't worry - the coverage in 'Sprint is quite comprehensive, it's that I can't read it!!
Cheers for offering,
TW
Cheers for offering,
TW
#4
MPea3
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Posted 26 June 2004 - 21:17
perhaps someone else can translate for us.
#6
Twin Window
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Posted 27 June 2004 - 21:13
Hi Mischa - thanks for the link.
However from what I've seen in photos, diagrams, the speed of the accident and the fact he didn't have his belts done up, I can't really see how that can be the case. Surely there must be more to it than that!
TW
However from what I've seen in photos, diagrams, the speed of the accident and the fact he didn't have his belts done up, I can't really see how that can be the case. Surely there must be more to it than that!
TW
#7
Muzza
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 03:06
Quote
Originally posted by Mischa Bijenhof
According to this site , someone had thrown a coca cola bottle on the track at the straight...
The Coca Cola bottle episode was also replayed to us at Motorsport Memorial, but we have not been able to confirm it (our "Italian experts" such as Nanni Dietrich and pyrytus have dug on this subject, but so far no confirmation).
Anyway, the circumstances that surround Reisch's death are very similar to the accident that killed Silvio Moser in the 1974 1000 km di Monza (the Trofeo Filippo Caracciolo). Moser crashed a first time, unfastened his safety belts to check his cars, went back to the car and crashed again suffering head injuries that proved to be fatal...
Muzza
#8
Frank de Jong
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 07:21
There should be a report in german Sport-Auto 10/1971, page 81. Unfortunately, it is one of the magazines I don't have. Anyone else?
#9
fines
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 10:41
Accidentally I found the "Powerslide" report of the accident last night - nothing about mysterious circumstances, just that it rained.
Twin Window, is there something I have missed or why do you think this accident was "bizarre"???
Twin Window, is there something I have missed or why do you think this accident was "bizarre"???
#10
Twin Window
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 10:57
Hi Michael
Well, perhaps I'm looking at it from a driver's perspective and that's why it doesn't stack-up.
If I'd had to get out of my car at last the corner before the pits, and been unable to re-fasten my harness when I got back in, I think it's fair to assume that I would have driven round the next corner at reasonably sensible pace, pitted to get fastened up, and carried on. I cannot see myself as having attained enough speed (whether intending to pit or not) to have had an accident which took up the length of the entire pit straight - flying coke bottles or not...
The accident makes no sense to me whatsoever - Reisch must have absolutely nailed it leaving Rivazza! WHY??
TW
Well, perhaps I'm looking at it from a driver's perspective and that's why it doesn't stack-up.
If I'd had to get out of my car at last the corner before the pits, and been unable to re-fasten my harness when I got back in, I think it's fair to assume that I would have driven round the next corner at reasonably sensible pace, pitted to get fastened up, and carried on. I cannot see myself as having attained enough speed (whether intending to pit or not) to have had an accident which took up the length of the entire pit straight - flying coke bottles or not...
The accident makes no sense to me whatsoever - Reisch must have absolutely nailed it leaving Rivazza! WHY??
TW
#11
fines
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 11:49
Well, perhaps you aren't a racing driver, then?There are numerous examples of racing drivers carrying on with their deeds despite this or that, small unimportant matters like deflating tyres, loose bodywork, unfastened seatbelts. Think of Graham Hill, USGP '69 for example!
"Enough time lost with that silly spin, damn the torpedos, let's get going again!"
#12
Twin Window
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 12:11
I prefer to think that I'm not an idiot, actually...! 
TW
TW
#13
Patrick Italiano
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 13:48
I have the relevant Autosprints from 1971, and I happen to have read them recently, so I can try to explain the overall content of the articles covering the accident, albeit I have not them at hand.
Indeed, Reisch had a first spin earlier, but while some commenters had suggested that the fatal accident may have been caused by any sort of failure of the Alfa's rear suspension, possibly damaged, the pictures show that only the body was damaged, and even not so much. The article says that Reisch, who under strong rain was then lapping in very fast times according to the track conditions, overtook an Abarth just before the slight right-hand curve in front of the pits on the external side. He was thus out of the race line, and most probably ran into water puddles which caused aquaplaning. While the car indeed took fire, it's probable that Reisch would have survived the crash if he had not benn thrown out of the car.
Indeed, Reisch had a first spin earlier, but while some commenters had suggested that the fatal accident may have been caused by any sort of failure of the Alfa's rear suspension, possibly damaged, the pictures show that only the body was damaged, and even not so much. The article says that Reisch, who under strong rain was then lapping in very fast times according to the track conditions, overtook an Abarth just before the slight right-hand curve in front of the pits on the external side. He was thus out of the race line, and most probably ran into water puddles which caused aquaplaning. While the car indeed took fire, it's probable that Reisch would have survived the crash if he had not benn thrown out of the car.
#14
fines
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 13:57
Quote
Methinks you're a little bit harsh on them - maybe "competitive spirit" would be a more balanced description of this prevailing mindset. With the benefit of hindsight this all may look crazy, but a racer is used to taking chances. Some take one too many...Originally posted by Twin Window
I prefer to think that I'm not an idiot, actually...!
TW
#15
ReWind
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 21:20
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Does that mean you WERE a racing driver? If so: Would you mind to tell us WHO you are?Originally posted by Twin Window
I'm looking at it from a driver's perspective.
Your profile is pretty blank... (so there's no clue)
#16
Twin Window
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Posted 28 June 2004 - 21:49
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As indeed yours is, Reinhard!Originally posted by ReWind
Your profile is pretty blank...
TW
#17
ensign14
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Posted 29 June 2004 - 08:13
Autosport from 16/9/71 says that he spun on lap 12, but his fatal accident came near the end of the heat, on lap 23 (at which point Reisch was a couple of laps down).
The report suggests he aquaplaned on a wet area near the pit road wall whilst he was lapping an Abarth, so he was probably on a bit of track he had not used before.
The report suggests he aquaplaned on a wet area near the pit road wall whilst he was lapping an Abarth, so he was probably on a bit of track he had not used before.
