Any body see Grand prix 'The Killer Years'
 

Was on BBC four, may of been shown before;

I knew that the sixty and early seventies were dangerous but these guys literally risked their lives every time they raced, hard to think of how they found they motivation to race after losing friends during a race, I think the only thing comparable is in a war situation

I found the last scene very disturbing with race at Zandvoort in Holland where Roger Williamson was Burnt alive in his car with only one other driver David Purley actually trying to help get him out of the car.

Really sad thing to watch.....:(

yes i agree..i posted the last video clip you mention on here a while back and its very disturbing and upsetting :( and then 10 or 12 years later david purley was killled in a plane crash :(

I have seen it when it was on a year or two ago.

I suppose at the time it was just normal for them to take those risks.
It may be hard to believe but in another 50 years people may look back and think how crazy the current F1 drivers are.

I can't remember if it was on that program but One of the saddest things I remember/found out was that Jochen Rindt died in practice at Monza, only to still win the Championship. :(

Yes I watched that, very interesting how the attitude was back then, and how the track owners felt the drivers safety was not high on the agenda. And just as mad as the drivers were the spectators - couldn't believe seeing those spectators on the edge of the tarmac at eau rouge!

It finished early though, as there were of course many more deaths after the period the programme covered.

They had an interview with his wife who had to collect the drivers championship trophy at the time, very sad......

Cheers for mentioning this, I'll watch it later on :)

For anybody wanting to watch it heres a link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._Killer_Years/

But would you rather have been a miner, deep sea fisherman, asbestos dust sweeper upper, steel erector, etc. at that time?

I remember those years pretty well. I think it was very irresponsible for racing circuits to have areas which were full of deadly dangerous areas despite what some say was a part of motor racing which was acceptable. I personally did not go to a race to watch someone get seriously injured, I was only interested in the performance of the cars and the skill of the drivers concerned.

I fully applaud Jackie Stewart for all his efforts in making motor racing so much safer in modern times.

Les

Very true, I never thought of that, I guess the dangers in fishing haven't changed much just the higher possibility of being rescued..

I watched it the other night and thought some of it was very chilling

As Jackie Stewart was saying, they were'nt at war it was a sport. Something people would watch as entertainment
Different world

I was shocked how right at the end with the car in flames and the only person who trys to help is another driver.. then the stewards decide to help.

It's true, I couldn't understand the mentality of it until I spoke to a friends dad who took part in a couple of Grand Prix and he explained it to me. They didn't really see the risks involved in what they were doing (it wasn't as obvious back then how to make the sport safe) plus if the worst happened they died doing what they loved doing. They accepted death as part of the sport!

Seems an odd concept to me but that's how they lived and they accepted the risks and consequences.

My friend's dad still races and he's also an instructor and he still loves the sport and it's in his blood :cool:

I also raced in the days when circuits had dangerous parts to them and as you say it did not put me off, but I took a bit of extra care at those areas as did most of my fellow competitors.

No point in trying to prove how brave you were and getting killed!

If I could afford it I would still be racing as well.

Les