[windowlicker]

This wreck is the Ferrari of Mike Parkes at the Nurburgring 1000 km in 1963. Mike went on to drive for the F1 team in 1966 before a crash in 1967 ended his F1 career.

[AlvinKarpis]

Originally Posted by windowlicker ↗

For me the greatest will always be Jim Clark, absolute, total class...

Awesome choice

My favorite drivers are from my early childhood in the early 1980s watching the Indy 500 and CART with my dad and him explaining everything to me about every aspect of racing and the drivers, pulling out old books and magazines and even Beta Tapes (before the switch to VHS )

My favorite was Gordon Johncock, followed by Tom Sneva and Rick Mears

At first the only reason was because the first Indy 500 I remember is 1982, then 83 and 84

So as a young kid I was kinda a front runner, but during that time those three guys were always at or near the front of the pack, so they were easy to like as well as great drivers

When I started getting older is when I started looking into the driver and the teams they raced with and found out that all three were super class acts on (while still being ultra competitive)and off the racetrack

I packed all that stuff into my tiny little brain for later use

It would be great to know who the other DR members favorite driver(s) are?

[windowlicker]

This is all that remains of German sportscar driver Kurt Ahrens Porsche 917 after a testing accident at the wet Ehra-Lessien track.

The front of the car disintergrated against the barrier leaving Kurt strapped into what was left, he suffered very minor injuries.

[windowlicker]

Spa 1966, the Belgium GP and this race in a large part shaped Grand Prix safety as we know it today.

The drivers set off in the dry unaware that there was a rainstorm halfway around and when they drove into it mayhem ensued as over half of the field crashed out.

Jackie Stewart spun off in his BRM P261, crashed into a telephone pole and then landed in a ditch at Masta Kink, the chassis was badly bent leading to him being stuck upside down in his BRM, halfway up to his waist in fuel, for over 25 minutes.

His team mate Graham Hill and Bob Bondurant both of whom had also crashed out got Jackie out of his car by getting tools from spectators to take off his steering wheel. Jackie would tape a spanner to the back of his steering wheel at races after this.

It was this experience that galvanised Stewart to lead a campaign to improve safety not only in F1 but motorsport as a whole.

[Norwegian1]

As far as favourites goes, I have always liked Tom Sneva just for the way he raced and his personality

[AlvinKarpis]

Originally Posted by Norwegian1 ↗

As far as favourites goes, I have always liked Tom Sneva just for the way he raced and his personality

Such an amazing driver

In heavy traffic you always knew who would end up coming out of the jam in the lead, I have a video of his wreck and win in 1983 when he flies past Mears and Al Jr on the lowest part of the turn that you can drive on before it turns to grass

Then right after that amazing move he gets up right on leader Al Sr's ass and drafts him for a couple seconds before passing him with such amazing authority

If this video dosent give you goose bumps then I dont know what will

His 1975 crash is first, and that showcases the amazing speed of the Indy fire crews, if it were not for them being so fast Sneva would have suffered severe burns instead of minor ones

Then his ludicrous passes followed by leaving the field in the dust and his finish

[AlvinKarpis]

Just a heads up I already posted this video so many have already watched it, but im sure sme have not

And if already watched it, watch it again, its worth another view

[windowlicker]

My top ten favorite racing drivers in photo format....

[windowlicker]

It would be easy to write pages about pre-second world war driver Bernd Rosemeyer who drove for Auto Union 1937-1938.

The German only raced cars for two and a half years, prior to this he was a motor cycling racer who tested for Auto Union in 1934 and got the drive.

He was a motor racing phenomenon starting from scratch he became European Champion in 1936 and was the quickest driver out there.

But for all of his success, his Grand Prix career was over within three years, his streamlined car hit by a gust of wind when attempting a high speed record run at the Reichsoautbahn in 1938.

He went off the road at 270 mph (432 kmh), Bernd was found lying among some trees by the road side. Germany was stunned at his death.

[imbok]

Originally Posted by windowlicker ↗

My top ten favorite racing drivers in photo format....

Great shot of 'Quick' Vic Elford.