12 replies to this topic

[Paul Rochdale]

Shortly after Lauda's Nurburgring crash, it was reported in the daily newspapers that he intended to sue the makers of his helmet as it came off during the crash. What was the outcome of that? Did he sue them? Did they compensate him? What was the make of his helmet before and after the crash?

[Cirrus]

The helmet was an AGV (with the then-innovative feature of an airduct for head cooling). The story doing the rounds at the time was that there was only one shell size available, and to fit Lauda's small head size, there was a lot of padding in the back of the helmet. Apparently, the chinstrap was mounted towards the front of the helmet, and when the helmet received its sharp blow to the rear, the strap simply unhooked from his chin, and the helmet came off.

As I say, that was the rumour at the time, so it may not be totally correct - particularly as it was told to me by the boss of a rival helmet manufacturer!

[Twin Window]

As Alan says, it was an AGV X-1 Air System and the events he describes are exactly as I've always understood them to be. (I bought one a few weeks ago, actually, and am getting it restored as a Lauda replica!)

I'm sure T54 will land here soon and give us his knowledgeable input.

[MCS]

Originally posted by Cirrus
The helmet was an AGV (with the then-innovative feature of an airduct for head cooling). The story doing the rounds at the time was that there was only one shell size available, and to fit Lauda's small head size, there was a lot of padding in the back of the helmet. Apparently, the chinstrap was mounted towards the front of the helmet, and when the helmet received its sharp blow to the rear, the strap simply unhooked from his chin, and the helmet came off.

As I say, that was the rumour at the time, so it may not be totally correct - particularly as it was told to me by the boss of a rival helmet manufacturer!

More information than I previously knew. But, yes, it didn't fit properly - or so I was told by those very much in the know at the time...

[Ralliart]

Re: The Lauda crash. I've looked at the (amateur) film dozens of times and it looks like something (body work?), flies off BEFORE he hits the bank. The quality of the film is not that good (perhaps from an 8 mm camera) so it's very difficult to know for certain. Sure am grateful that someone filmed it, though.
I didn't know that story about his AGV, other than it came off. I believe he didn't want to use that brand helmet any more but was contractually bound for the rest of the year. From then on it was Bell, I believe.

[CSGPR]

Hi

As I recall. Lauda was still using the AGV helmet after the crash, just take a look at the pictures where he retires from the Japanese GP.

Best regards

[TonyCotton]

I thought the view at the time was that he wore a Bell marked up as an AGV for contractual reasons?

[f1steveuk]

I actually had one and used it in karting. I do remember the padding was extraordinarily thick. It used to push into the mouth and chin, and smelt awful. I also remember the strap was quite far back on mine, it rubbed on my neck. Now the funny thin is, my helmet colours are blue and yellow (actually denim blue metallic and ford daytona yellow) but the AGV was red, and when obtained for me had a Marlboro sun strip on it, and it was red. I kept it for years, and one day decided to at least paint it to match my other lids. When I removed the stickers off the side the words Niki Lauda appeared! Niki confirmed it was one of his (I still have the letter on Lauda Air paper), sadly I sold it years ago to an F1 shop in the Woking area. Now my Bieffe is a 57 I think, and fits like a glove, the AGV was very very tight (not as tight as the bloody GPA I had!!!!) so I can't see how the description of how Niki's came off fits (no pun intended!), and by the way, the air flow never worked!

[Simpson RX1]

I spose it's all to do with the individual, I'm sure they used to wear whatever company paid them the most money or whatever was in fashion at the time, although I don't remember any other frontline F1 drivers wearing the same AGV as Niki.

I seem to remember that one of Bell's selling points was that they offered 3 or 4 shell sizes, unlike most other companies who just did 1 big one and padded it down to suit.

I've worn Simpsons for many years (hence the handle) but one of the best lids I ever had was made by a company called Owens..........I had to go to their factory for a fitting and I was just a normal punter, not a paid wearer.

I just don't think they paid too much attention to how well it fitted in those days.

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by TonyCotton
I thought the view at the time was that he wore a Bell marked up as an AGV for contractual reasons?

I heard that he put Winstons into Marlboro packets when he was with McLaren.

[f1steveuk]

Originally posted by Simpson RX1
I spose it's all to do with the individual, I'm sure they used to wear whatever company paid them the most money or whatever was in fashion at the time, although I don't remember any other frontline F1 drivers wearing the same AGV as Niki.

In F1, Emerson Fittipaldi, Vittorio Brambilla, in others, Giacomelli, Alex Ribiro, actually quite a lot did!

[Simpson RX1]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by f1steveuk

In F1, Emerson Fittipaldi, Vittorio Brambilla, in others, Giacomelli, Alex Ribiro, actually quite a lot did!



Jeez, I really should have that memory bypass op reversed!

I do think there was a fashion thing going on in the 70's though (or maybe it was sponsorship fashion), there was a time when the World and his wife wore a Simpson, but only (I'm probably wrong!) Elio DeAngelis stuck with them, long after everyone else had moved on.

[f1steveuk]

Your right with the fashion thing. I remember the cover of Grand Prix magazine. Jochen Mass, Bell in one hand, Simpson in the other, which to use look on his face!

Again, Fittipaldi went with a Simpson, and Jones used one on and off, Geoff Lees etc etc, but as you say Elio stuck with them. I didn't like the first Bandits (I liked the look, not the fit), but I used an RX8 for three years, superb!