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[Mikep99]

This is a fascinating story I read about Senna on another site.
Now this is what I call precision driving.

Story told by Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering (Ayrton's first race engineer with Toleman in 1984):

"Dallas was what I would call an ‘old-fashioned’ North American street circuit, delineated with concrete blocks. It was a very tricky circuit, and bumpy enough to make even Monaco look smooth: the drivers literally had to fight their cars all the way round as they skipped and jumped from bump to bump. I remember during the race, Ayrton hit the wall, and then later retired because of the damage. When he eventually made it back to the pits, he didn’t seem to understand how he could have hit the wall. It seemed to come as a complete shock to him that he had hit the wall, and his immediate reaction was “I know I didn’t make a mistake – the wall must have moved.” Remember, we were talking about a twenty tonne concrete block here, but he was so insistent that he persuaded me to walk round the circuit and take a look. When I did so, the wall had indeed moved – somebody had clearly clipped the previous block and in doing so, displaced the next one by only about 4cm. Instead of the transition from block to block being smooth, a 4cm difference had caught the rear wheel, broken it and punctured the tyre. That was when it really came home to me, the precision to which he was driving, and made me think he was a bit special… And remember this was a guy in his first season of F1, straight out of F3…"

[Rivelution]

I wish I could have been old enough to see this man race. All these stories I'm hearing about him make me think he is more of a legend, than a driver. He seriously is the greatest driver of all time. McLAren Fan will appreciate this story.

[texasmr2]

Senna was a prodigy and awe inspiring to watch as he knocked off second's per lap to catch the leader, or for a position, but he did perform a few tactic's that were questionable. In my era of watching F1 Senna is in my top three.

[Mikep99]

Yeh and hammy has only been around for 2 minutes, been nurtured & suckled by Ron from an early age. And has really not accomplished anything but some see fit to compare him to Senna and the like

Maybe one day but at the moment

[McLaren Fan]

Story told by Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering (Ayrton's first race engineer with Toleman in 1984):

"Dallas was what I would call an ‘old-fashioned’ North American street circuit, delineated with concrete blocks. It was a very tricky circuit, and bumpy enough to make even Monaco look smooth: the drivers literally had to fight their cars all the way round as they skipped and jumped from bump to bump. I remember during the race, Ayrton hit the wall, and then later retired because of the damage. When he eventually made it back to the pits, he didn’t seem to understand how he could have hit the wall. It seemed to come as a complete shock to him that he had hit the wall, and his immediate reaction was “I know I didn’t make a mistake – the wall must have moved.” Remember, we were talking about a twenty tonne concrete block here, but he was so insistent that he persuaded me to walk round the circuit and take a look. When I did so, the wall had indeed moved – somebody had clearly clipped the previous block and in doing so, displaced the next one by only about 4cm. Instead of the transition from block to block being smooth, a 4cm difference had caught the rear wheel, broken it and punctured the tyre. That was when it really came home to me, the precision to which he was driving, and made me think he was a bit special… And remember this was a guy in his first season of F1, straight out of F3…"

I wish I could have been old enough to see this man race. All these stories I'm hearing about him make me think he is more of a legend, than a driver. He seriously is the greatest driver of all time. McLAren Fan will appreciate this story.

I do appreciate it, so thanks Mike. I was fortunate to catch the tail end of his career, but saw enough in those few seasons to realise what a genius the man was. That only hardened when I read more about him and watched past Grands Prix. Senna was the biggest reason why I came to support McLaren (although I would almost certainly have supported them had Senna not been around). It may seem weird to some, but he became a little like a father figure to me, for I admired his ceaseless determination and will to win. When I'm revising for an exam and my concentration begins to waver, thinking of how Senna refused to give in helps you to continue.

When you read stories about the 1984 season, you see what a really good rookie Senna was. As far as I'm concerned, Hamilton may have the trappings of being the best rookie yet, but Senna has the substance of that accolade.

[8-ball]

Senna was before my time but the videos i have seen tells me he is one of the best to ever put on the helmet

[MarkTurismo]

May 1982 Oulton Park in Formula 2000: Fish was leading, Senna in second place and Andrews third. Andrews remembered it as if the enormity of this still lived with him.

"We were up each others gearboxes, within inches of them. Cascades is the flat left-hander going down the hill, it's very tricky and on about the third lap Senna's rear right tyre exploded. He was flat in fourth gear , doing 125mph and the car snapped sideways. He was broadside on a negative camber corner - and theres noway you can get out of that. I lifted imediately because I thought this was going to be a big shunt and I won't beable to miss it. Then I saw his ability. He controlled the car until it was pointing forwards again. I was in awe of that controll. He went through the next corner on three wheels and the corner after that and then pulled over and let me by. I wouldv'e have gone off, Calvin Fish would have gone off."

This episode mad Dennis Rushen smile when reflected on it. Senna, you see, 'came into the pits with just bits of rubber hanging off the wheel and said: "I've got a punture..."


People were amazed by Senna's abilities before he was in F1, F2000, and even before F1600.

[Mikep99]

Master in action

[Red Racer]

I was too young to see senna aswell but ive watched alot of movies and read a book called the Life Of Senna. Its a really good book i highly reccomend it.

[texasmr2]

Mike awesome pic for a new wallpaper thank's! Look's like I will be watching old race's tonight after the barbeque!

[Big Azza]

I only heard about Senna 2 weeks ago, and I have grieved more about this man than I have when some of my close relatives died. I was going to edit my sig with Hamilton's helmet (H), three trophies (T), and Senna's helmet (S), to suggest that H+3T=S. But I can't do that. I know that Hamilton is a good racer. A better rookie than Senna as a rookie. This gives me reason to believe that Hamilton will be better than Senna. I do not want for that to happen.

If Hamilton and other future drivers outshine Senna, then his legacy will be forgotten, but unfortunately Senna isn't celebrated enough today. It is a shame that I've waited so long to hear about Senna. All I would hear is Schumacher through news headlines. I want to read a book on Senna. I also can't wait to read Hamilton's biography when it comes out.

Hamilton adored Senna. Senna was his hero. I want to be like my hero. A lot of kids want to be like their hero's. If a kid wanted to be like Mike (Michael Jordan.) So if a kid came along and played like Mike, should we immediately dismiss them? The media have a lot to contribute to Hamilton's criticism. His yellow helmet is not there to imitate Senna. His helmet is there to remind us of Senna. I think Hamilton will have to stand up and say something about to people who are comparing him with Senna.

The thing that made me cry the most about Senna was how much the other drivers meant to him. Roland Ratzenberger died the day before Senna, and has been forgotten. Not very many people went to his funeral, and yet Senna's funeral was one befitting of a king, and deservedly so. But Senna would have been at Ratzenberger's funeral. And he would have made sure that Ratzenberger had a funeral deserved of someone who died, doing what they love, without having a chance to prove themselves. That was Ratzenberger's third race of his career.

Inside Senna's car wreck was an Austrian Flag. Senna was going to dedicate his win to the memory of Roland Ratzenberger, but never had a chance to. Due to those fateful 24 hours between Saturday, 30th April and May 1st 1994, two great men are dead, and are not here today. That makes me very sad.

I don't know many details about Senna. All that I know about him is that he won 3 world championships, and he won Monaco 6 times. That is all. I have never seen videos of him, except 2: His last 14 seconds of his life, and him deliberately crashing into Alain Prost to win the championship.

R.I.P. Ayrton Senna.

[texasmr2]

That's a great post hammy08 ! I would like to add though that Senna's true greatness was not from his championship's but his never say die attitude, his determination to ALWAY'S be the fastest man ontrack and his incredible car cantrol and instinct. I did not see his Toleman year but watched him in awe since he started at Lotus in '84. If you get to see some of his race's from '84-'89 you will know exactly what I mean.

[Rivelution]

That's a great post hammy08 ! I would like to add though that Senna's true greatness was not from his championship's but his never say die attitude, his determination to ALWAY'S be the fastest man ontrack and his incredible car cantrol and instinct. I did not see his Toleman year but watched him in awe since he started at Lotus in '84. If you get to see some of his race's from '84-'89 you will know exactly what I mean.

I thought he started Lotus in 85?

[texasmr2]

That's a great post hammy08 ! I would like to add though that Senna's true greatness was not from his championship's but his never say die attitude, his determination to ALWAY'S be the fastest man ontrack and his incredible car cantrol and instinct. I did not see his Toleman year but watched him in awe since he started at Lotus in '84. If you get to see some of his race's from '84-'89 you will know exactly what I mean.

I thought he started Lotus in 85?

Sorry you are correct it was '85 I guess I need to look through my tape's and see what '84 race's I have. I'm old and my memory aint what it once was .

[Big Azza]

Yeh and hammy has only been around for 2 minutes, been nurtured & suckled by Ron from an early age. And has really not accomplished anything but some see fit to compare him to Senna and the like

For a minute there I thought you were talking about me!