The Bad Old Days

[Rich Rock]

Yikes!!!!

http://www.vimeo.com/20247765

Rich Rock

[TKnorr]

Rich did a full tech inspection on all of those cars (He is older than he looks)
Tom Knorr

[NJ 03Mach1]

I'm no doctor, but a lot of that looked extremely painful.

[neonracer193]

HOLY CRAP!! I guess drivers were a dime-a-dozen back then. Im glad to be a racer in modern times, all of those people who were killed back then led to the improvements that help keep us alive today. You would think that after just one season of people being ejected and crushed at every other corner that they would figure out to add a roll bar and harnesses, but that probably didnt happen for another 20-30 years! Amazing video, cool song too.

[FV95]

Did you ever the the video of the 12 cylinder engine launched out of a Ferrari (I think) and flying into the crowd at Le Mans? I wish I had it to post and a means to show spectators. Up real close can be hazardous.

[wolf44]

have a vhs tape that has an engine going into a crowd plus other things,also has some footage from the Indy 500 fire that killed Swede Savage (?) and 1 other i think. has some footage i have never seen before but have heard about.

[Mel Horn]

John,

I believe you are referring to the Pierre Levegh accident in 1955. Levegh was driving a Mercedes 300SLR (not sure about the model but it was a Mercedes)

Strangely enough it seems that a fair amount of those guys in the video actully walked away...(not making excuses or anything...)

[Mel Horn]

I'm no doctor, but a lot of that looked extremely painful.

I'm no doctor either.

But I've PLAYED doctor...

[timurf]

when seat belts 1st started to be used in race cars many drivers avoided them, as most thought your chances were better bailing out. Without rollbars or effective helmets - take your pick.

Favorite story, not sure if it is a 'fish tale' or not. I heard that Masten Gregory once stood up on the seat and leaped out a stricken C-Type Jag that then hit the tire wall and erupted into flames. Masten tumbled up to the snow fence and asked a spectator if he could borrow a cigarette, stating "I left mine on the front seat."

More facts; apparently the death rate amongst drivers competing in open wheel, circle track racing (especially dirt tracks) through the mid 1950's had a higher death rate than Gladiators suffered in the days of the Roman Empire.