- 19 Oct 09, 03:50#163999
I had always thought Imola 1994 was the greatest tragedy to come to F1 but now Im not so sure after reading about the 1960 Belgium Grand Prix which I had only just learnt about after reading a new F1 book I got last Monday, to me this has to be F1s greatest tragedy but forgotten overshadowed by Imola 94.
In a wet qualifying Stirling Moss who had currently set the fastest lap time of the day and was heading for pole position spun his Lotus at Eau Rouge flipping the car and throwing him from the cockpit, on impact with the ground Moss sustained 2 broke legs, broken ribs and nose and was knocked unconscious. Although he was back in 2 races time he would retire the following year due to leg pains as an aftermath from this incident. A few minutes later another Lotus of Mike Taylor who would be starting his 2nd GP at Belgium suffered a steering collum failure causing him to crash head first into some trees. Miraculously he survived but with a broken neck would remain totally paralysed for the rest of his life.
In the race which would be another wet day was marred by tragedy. Cooper driver Chris Bristow who was starting his 4th GP at Spa spun off in an almost identical crash to Moss the previous day at Eau Rouge while fighting for 6th place with the Ferrari of Willy Mairesse. Although his crash was identical to Moss's crash he came off a lot worse he was thrown into a barb wired fence where his head got caught in ripping it from his body, killing him instantly in a gruesome incident.
Only a few laps later the Lotus of Alan Stacey was killed in a very rare incident which would lead to his death. While racing along the Kemmel Straight, Stacey was hit in the face by an incoming bird killing both instantaneously, Staceys car now out of control flew out of control landing in some trees in an accident that would have killed Stacey even if he had survived with the bird crash.
Had to be the worse day ever for Formula 1 especially Britain as 2 of its drivers were dead and another 2 severely wounded, also it must have felt horrible for Colin Chapman and the Lotus team who had lost 2 of its drivers permanently, 1 dead another paralysed and his star driver Moss out of action for quite awhile.
I reckon Moss could have won the championship if not for this when he returned he never was the same driver.
In a wet qualifying Stirling Moss who had currently set the fastest lap time of the day and was heading for pole position spun his Lotus at Eau Rouge flipping the car and throwing him from the cockpit, on impact with the ground Moss sustained 2 broke legs, broken ribs and nose and was knocked unconscious. Although he was back in 2 races time he would retire the following year due to leg pains as an aftermath from this incident. A few minutes later another Lotus of Mike Taylor who would be starting his 2nd GP at Belgium suffered a steering collum failure causing him to crash head first into some trees. Miraculously he survived but with a broken neck would remain totally paralysed for the rest of his life.
In the race which would be another wet day was marred by tragedy. Cooper driver Chris Bristow who was starting his 4th GP at Spa spun off in an almost identical crash to Moss the previous day at Eau Rouge while fighting for 6th place with the Ferrari of Willy Mairesse. Although his crash was identical to Moss's crash he came off a lot worse he was thrown into a barb wired fence where his head got caught in ripping it from his body, killing him instantly in a gruesome incident.
Only a few laps later the Lotus of Alan Stacey was killed in a very rare incident which would lead to his death. While racing along the Kemmel Straight, Stacey was hit in the face by an incoming bird killing both instantaneously, Staceys car now out of control flew out of control landing in some trees in an accident that would have killed Stacey even if he had survived with the bird crash.
Had to be the worse day ever for Formula 1 especially Britain as 2 of its drivers were dead and another 2 severely wounded, also it must have felt horrible for Colin Chapman and the Lotus team who had lost 2 of its drivers permanently, 1 dead another paralysed and his star driver Moss out of action for quite awhile.
I reckon Moss could have won the championship if not for this when he returned he never was the same driver.
"I dont make mistakes I make prophecies that immediately turn out to be wrong"
Murray Walker
Murray Walker
