Grand Prix: The Killer Years (60s/70s)
I know that England was playing last night (11/09/12) but there was a programme on BBC4 that was essential viewing and I am glad that I prioritised watching it over England’s lacklustre performance against Ukraine.
If you are an F1 fan and you watched the football, then you should make it a priority to get to the iPlayer and watch - Grand Prix: The Killer Years (60s /70s).
The programme’s focus was around racing safety, or rather lack of it, in those bygone decades. It has been aired before but I had not seen it until last night. Given the title, you won’t be surprised to know that it was a bit sensationalist but nonetheless you should watch it if, especially if you are like me and follow modern F1 without really being aware of the sport’s history.
In the 60s, F1 drivers took considerable personal risks when taking to the race tracks, there was precious little thought given to safety by racing organisers – no crash barriers, no run off areas; racing taking place in appalling weather conditions; poor car design from a driver safety perspective; hopelessly inadequate medical provisions at circuits; no regard at all for spectator safety, and some inexcusable corporate decision making. All in all, a shocking disregard for human life, and injuries and deaths were common!
This had always been the case but it got worse in the 60s because the cars became much lighter, much faster and much more fragile!
The programme was graphic in its portrayal of accidents actually taking place, the results of accidents, wrecked cars, trapped drivers, dead drivers, fires, burning bodies – in truth, some really grim stuff!
Drivers, relatives and team members of the time were interviewed about their experiences and some themes were clear:
Drivers were almost expendable and analogies were drawn to Battle of Britain pilots – every time they went out, there was a real risk that they wouldn’t come back. And heroic characters like Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt paid the ultimate price. When drivers died, others would be volunteering to take their places immediately! The bravery, or perhaps bravado, of these sportsman was undeniable.
Driver safety had to be the remit of the drivers who clubbed together to force the corporate mind-set to change – and nothing would have changed without the efforts spearheaded by the likes of Jackie Stewart. Team/track owners were only concerned with winning, the money and the televised spectacle!
The driver movement saw drivers go from paying for their own safety equipment and medical facilities at races, to having enough power to boycott races and determine the specification of race tracks. And thank God too because finally some common sense and decent corporate behaviour began to prevail.
I did some internet surfing about this documentary and found this site which is well worth a review – you will see some very strong opinions expressed about the content and the agenda of its makers.
My view is that you should watch the documentary and make up your own mind – don’t expect pin point accuracy and accept that sensationalism does cloud some content/presentation (for example Colin Chapman is portrayed pretty badly – maybe justifiably - but I don’t know enough to support or reject the film maker’s bias!).
The programme will help you remember and respect the characters like Jackie Oliver, John Surtees, Emerson Fittipaldi and Jacky Ickx and help you appreciate that Sir Jackie Stewart’s three driver championship wins, given the circumstances in which he raced, were pretty remarkable.
The most poignant moment though: watching David Purley (Zandvoort 1973) desperately trying, and failing, to save the life of Roger Williamson who was burning to death in his overturned racing car. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his bravery and very well deserved it was too. The footage is horrible but you may never see greater selfless bravery, or unguarded emotion presented on your TV screen and Purley deserves to be as remembered and revered in F1 circles as any of the driver champions.
As an F1 fan, I have watched pretty much every F1 race over the last 10-15 years and I am ashamed to admit that I had never even heard of David
Purley before last night’s show. This post is in part is to acknowledge my failing and to try to correct it!
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If you are an F1 fan and you watched the football, then you should make it a priority to get to the iPlayer and watch - Grand Prix: The Killer Years (60s /70s).
The programme’s focus was around racing safety, or rather lack of it, in those bygone decades. It has been aired before but I had not seen it until last night. Given the title, you won’t be surprised to know that it was a bit sensationalist but nonetheless you should watch it if, especially if you are like me and follow modern F1 without really being aware of the sport’s history.
In the 60s, F1 drivers took considerable personal risks when taking to the race tracks, there was precious little thought given to safety by racing organisers – no crash barriers, no run off areas; racing taking place in appalling weather conditions; poor car design from a driver safety perspective; hopelessly inadequate medical provisions at circuits; no regard at all for spectator safety, and some inexcusable corporate decision making. All in all, a shocking disregard for human life, and injuries and deaths were common!
This had always been the case but it got worse in the 60s because the cars became much lighter, much faster and much more fragile!
The programme was graphic in its portrayal of accidents actually taking place, the results of accidents, wrecked cars, trapped drivers, dead drivers, fires, burning bodies – in truth, some really grim stuff!
Drivers, relatives and team members of the time were interviewed about their experiences and some themes were clear:
Drivers were almost expendable and analogies were drawn to Battle of Britain pilots – every time they went out, there was a real risk that they wouldn’t come back. And heroic characters like Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt paid the ultimate price. When drivers died, others would be volunteering to take their places immediately! The bravery, or perhaps bravado, of these sportsman was undeniable.
Driver safety had to be the remit of the drivers who clubbed together to force the corporate mind-set to change – and nothing would have changed without the efforts spearheaded by the likes of Jackie Stewart. Team/track owners were only concerned with winning, the money and the televised spectacle!
The driver movement saw drivers go from paying for their own safety equipment and medical facilities at races, to having enough power to boycott races and determine the specification of race tracks. And thank God too because finally some common sense and decent corporate behaviour began to prevail.
I did some internet surfing about this documentary and found this site which is well worth a review – you will see some very strong opinions expressed about the content and the agenda of its makers.
My view is that you should watch the documentary and make up your own mind – don’t expect pin point accuracy and accept that sensationalism does cloud some content/presentation (for example Colin Chapman is portrayed pretty badly – maybe justifiably - but I don’t know enough to support or reject the film maker’s bias!).
The programme will help you remember and respect the characters like Jackie Oliver, John Surtees, Emerson Fittipaldi and Jacky Ickx and help you appreciate that Sir Jackie Stewart’s three driver championship wins, given the circumstances in which he raced, were pretty remarkable.
The most poignant moment though: watching David Purley (Zandvoort 1973) desperately trying, and failing, to save the life of Roger Williamson who was burning to death in his overturned racing car. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his bravery and very well deserved it was too. The footage is horrible but you may never see greater selfless bravery, or unguarded emotion presented on your TV screen and Purley deserves to be as remembered and revered in F1 circles as any of the driver champions.
As an F1 fan, I have watched pretty much every F1 race over the last 10-15 years and I am ashamed to admit that I had never even heard of David
Purley before last night’s show. This post is in part is to acknowledge my failing and to try to correct it!
Return to Reviews & Recommendations Home
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