DaShowstoppa
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2007
- Messages
- 693
- Location
- Hampshire Berkshire borders
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- 2010 Vauxhall Astra 1.6L SRI
As you may know, I'm something of a fan of Ayrton Senna. But I must confess that it hasn't always been the case.
Growing up in the 1980's I was too young to really appreciate the drivers - other than they drove nice cars fast (I was born in 1980 - so was a toddler when Senna stormed the rain soaked Monaco Gp in 1984) Being English I always found myself cheering for Nigel Mansell at the age of 11 (when I really got into Formula 1in a big way) Because "Nige" was driving a Williams, they became "my" team and consiquently I saw Senna as the "seemingly invincible bad guy" that would thwart Nigel at every turn (see the 1992 Monaco GP for an example) But when he moved to Williams in 1994 was when he became my "favorite driver" sadly it was never to last. I witnessed as millions did on that Summer afternoon, Senna's Williams FW16 losing traction at the flat out left handed kink at Imola, the corner whose name would echo through the ages "Tamburello"
Initially it looked no worse than most Formula1 accidents. I remember expecting to see the Brazillian fling the steering wheel out of the cockpit and angrilly stalk down the road to the pits. The only movement was the yellow helmet rocking back (I guess as he lost conciousness) gradually as the medical staff swarmed round I knew he wasn't coming back. It was unbelievable, only 24 hours since Roland Ratzenberger had met his demise at Tosa, and 48 hours since Rubens Barrichello had taken off into the retaining wall at 100mph (unharmed barring a broken nose).
I remember when I heard. The BBC's spinning globe came on as a sombre voice announced "Ayrton Senna is clinically dead"
Only 12 years later did I watch the video of the impact again - on youtube. I can't explain why but I felt I needed to see it to try to understand how it happened and how it had affected me.
Senna was a big part of my early years - I knew he was the best, regardless of the fact he wasn't my favourite.
I guess now, having read about him and seen the videos - I can truly appreciate what a great man, as well as a great driver he was. I actually feel guilty that I didn't appreciate him when he was alive.
Have you ever gone through anything like this with a motor racing driver?
Growing up in the 1980's I was too young to really appreciate the drivers - other than they drove nice cars fast (I was born in 1980 - so was a toddler when Senna stormed the rain soaked Monaco Gp in 1984) Being English I always found myself cheering for Nigel Mansell at the age of 11 (when I really got into Formula 1in a big way) Because "Nige" was driving a Williams, they became "my" team and consiquently I saw Senna as the "seemingly invincible bad guy" that would thwart Nigel at every turn (see the 1992 Monaco GP for an example) But when he moved to Williams in 1994 was when he became my "favorite driver" sadly it was never to last. I witnessed as millions did on that Summer afternoon, Senna's Williams FW16 losing traction at the flat out left handed kink at Imola, the corner whose name would echo through the ages "Tamburello"
Initially it looked no worse than most Formula1 accidents. I remember expecting to see the Brazillian fling the steering wheel out of the cockpit and angrilly stalk down the road to the pits. The only movement was the yellow helmet rocking back (I guess as he lost conciousness) gradually as the medical staff swarmed round I knew he wasn't coming back. It was unbelievable, only 24 hours since Roland Ratzenberger had met his demise at Tosa, and 48 hours since Rubens Barrichello had taken off into the retaining wall at 100mph (unharmed barring a broken nose).
I remember when I heard. The BBC's spinning globe came on as a sombre voice announced "Ayrton Senna is clinically dead"
Only 12 years later did I watch the video of the impact again - on youtube. I can't explain why but I felt I needed to see it to try to understand how it happened and how it had affected me.
Senna was a big part of my early years - I knew he was the best, regardless of the fact he wasn't my favourite.
I guess now, having read about him and seen the videos - I can truly appreciate what a great man, as well as a great driver he was. I actually feel guilty that I didn't appreciate him when he was alive.
Have you ever gone through anything like this with a motor racing driver?
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