A Very Long Weekend

The last driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car (or rather, from smoke inhalation over a day later in hospital) was Elio de Angelis in 1986. Although I was watching Formula One in 1986, I never saw Elio’s crash because it didn’t happen in a race. The last death to be broadcast on live TV was actually Riccardo Paletti in 1982, who died with his mother watching from the grandstand, unable to breathe, so I understand, while trapped at the chest and slowly asphyxiated by fire retardant.

After 1986, eight years of near-misses and miracles followed after the loss of Elio, until that tragic weekend at Imola in 1994. Continue reading →

Solution: Big Wrecks at Talladega and Danger to Fans

You want to know what the best solution would be to the possible future fan fatalities at Daytona and Talladega? Put the grandstands on the infield. You can’t see the track right infront of you anyway, because the angle is … Continue reading →

I think sim racing just saved me in an accident…

First, let me set the scene: It’s about 5:50am, still dark, it has been raining all night and as I was warming the car up at 5:20am, it had turned to snow. I have just dropped my wife off in … Continue reading →

Cause & Effect: Has NASCAR forgotten the drivers?

Read Cristopher Revilla’s article on Auto Racing safety and NASCAR’s Restrictor Plate racing. Continue reading →

A1 Eastern Creek: Spectacular Circuit, spectacular Accidents…

Read my report on the A1GP event at Eastern Creek. Continue reading →