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[feeutfo]

Anywaaaaay, getting back to the original topic.
A great programme Chris, quite emotional, and a very strong reminder of what a different place the world was back then.
What seems inhumanly crual now was just normal practice then.
Two major things came to my mind watching it.
1.The reason I have always had a lot more respect for those drivers than the current ones is, that they got into those cars knowing that if they had a big shunt there was a very good chance that they wouldnt come out of it. But they still got in them and drovethem on the ragged edge. Incredible imo.
2. David Purley was not only a hero but a really decent human being. I still remember when  he was killed flying his stunt plane.A sad loss.

The real "men" if you insist on putting it in those terms where those that stood up to be counted, spoke their mind, and said "no" !

And if you want to blame someone for the road F1 went down to where it is now "blame" Sir Jackie Stewart. See how your argument stacks up with him.

If those are the days you call the Golden years, well...

Easy being wise after the event though I suppose. But those days where criminal. 

[albitz]

I dont think you have read a single one of my posts.  :-/


P.S Jackie Stewart says pretty much the same as I do about F1 going down the wrong road in recent times. Which is why that piece of crap Mosley called him "a certifiable idiot".

P.P.S. The era that I would think of as the golden years began several years after the period covered by that film.

[dbug]

Watched the BBC2 programme - very emotional and nostalgic for me.  I was very friendly with Roger Williamson (the guy that burned to death in Holland 1973) when I lived in Leicester.
Can still see him now driving a racing S, which he was trying to sell to me, on trade plates out of leicester (I was "sat" next to him) on a dual carriageway at very high speed.
Remember racing against him at Mallory and other circuits when he was running his Holbay Anglia.
A talanted guy and a sad and unnecessary loss due to the ineptitude of track/fire marshalls at that time.

[jonnycool]

Horrifying footage of a racer burned to death in his car and being lifted out when it had finally been put out, the race just kept going around him 

[feeutfo]

It's a hard enough game, even with all the open space in the world, there is still other cars and the floor to hit. Can't do much about that other than give up altogether, but can do all the other stuff.

Enclosed canopies next probably.  :-/

[Rods2]

Men with big "sphericals" between their legs raced in those days knowing the dangers. I think it was a very brave and good decision (much criticized at the time) Jackie Stewart made when he quit at the top after his 3rd world championship. To turn his back on racing at the top of his career for his families sake.

The only racing that now compares to this is motorcycle road racing at the IOM TT, North West 200 etc. Guy Martin at this years TT races when asked about the danger of being killed, he replied "That's why I race here as it is the ultimate test knowing if you make a mistake you can be killed"   

[cem_devecioglu]

think in an other way,
your mother and father didnt give you life and all those efforts for you to waste in a boy racer game..

honestly ,there are far more important things in life if you want to die for .. more honorable things.. not a rather race for some car company..  

[Martin_1962]

Definitely a Philistine.Read a few books on the history of bike racing from the 70,s to the present. And then watch a few DVD,s.
500 racers used to until recently refer to 4 strokes as diesels.4 strokes - any 4 stroke, is much more forgiving to ride,a tamer beast altogether.They switched to 4 strokes for marketing reasons due to 2 strokes being virtually outlawed by the tree huggers.200bhp with all the power in a power band of less than 2000rpm somewhere above 10,000rpm - mans bikes.
Took real talent and guts to ride those things on the limit, more so than any 4 stroke without a doubt. Ask Rossi, Doohan,Rainey,Schwantz,Gardner, Sheene,Roberts,etc,etc...

I still remember the Sheen Roberts race in the 70s when it was neck and neck all the way - FANTASTIC

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Definitely a Philistine.Read a few books on the history of bike racing from the 70,s to the present. And then watch a few DVD,s.
500 racers used to until recently refer to 4 strokes as diesels.4 strokes - any 4 stroke, is much more forgiving to ride,a tamer beast altogether.They switched to 4 strokes for marketing reasons due to 2 strokes being virtually outlawed by the tree huggers.200bhp with all the power in a power band of less than 2000rpm somewhere above 10,000rpm - mans bikes.
Took real talent and guts to ride those things on the limit, more so than any 4 stroke without a doubt. Ask Rossi, Doohan,Rainey,Schwantz,Gardner, Sheene,Roberts,etc,etc...

I still remember the Sheen Roberts race in the 70s when it was neck and neck all the way - FANTASTIC

As do I , Martin. Silverstone "79" if memory serves...

[Scarlet Reynolds]

My dad view guys like Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda being somewhat different  to the drivers of today.

[albitz]

With good reason imo.