Sad How Many F1 Drivers Survived F1 Only To Be Killed Afterward

[MTW]

Giuseppe Farina. "On his way to the 1966 French Grand Prix, Farina lost control of his Lotus Cortina in the Savoy Alps, near Aiguebelle, hit a telegraph pole and was killed instantly" (after his retirement from Formula one, of which he had a long history of accidents which although he was badly injured in many of, recovered to race to the end of his career)

Graham Hill also drove his whole career in F1 through the most dangerous period but ended up dying in a plane after retiring from the driving-side of F1.

Graham Hill. "On 29 November 1975, Hill was piloting his Piper PA 23-250 Turbo-Aztec with five other members of the Embassy Hill team aboard; they were returning to England after car testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France. While attempting to land at Elstree Airfield near London at night in heavy fog, the plane struck trees and crashed on Arkley golf course,[5][16][6][17] bursting into flames on impact."

David Purley, "Purley is best known for his actions at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix,[1] where he abandoned his own race and attempted to save the life of fellow driver Roger Williamson, whose car was upside down and on fire following a serious accident. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his courage in trying to save Williamson, who suffocated in the blaze."

"It was this car in which he suffered serious injuries in an accident during practice for that year's British Grand Prix. He survived an estimated 179.8 g when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0[5] in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches)[citation needed] after his throttle became stuck wide open and he hit a wall. This was the highest measured g-force ever survived by a human being"

"He died on 2 July 1985 when his Pitts Special aerobatic biplane crashed into the English Channel off Bognor Regis."

Then of course, Michael Schumacher's skiing accident. (though of course he isn't dead but it's very much in line with accidents after F1).

Conclusion; I just thought it pretty sad that so many drivers seemed to make it through F1 only to have some other accident outside of it. I guess you could simply put it down to them being adrenaline-junkies, in all these examples it seems they themselves were somehow involved in causing the crash. (though don't quote me on that)...(all info from wiki)

[Tourer]

It IS rather poignant the way some drivers have risked everything and survived that to then be killed in more mundane situations.
You can of course add Mike Hawthorn and Mike Hailwood to the list - no doubt there'll be others.

[Graz]

Originally Posted by Tourer

It IS rather poignant the way some drivers have risked everything and survived that to then be killed in more mundane situations.
You can of course add Mike Hawthorn and Mike Hailwood to the list - no doubt there'll be others.

David Purley was killed in a stunt plane - not all that mundane in fairness!!

De Cesaris and Regazzoni both killed in road accidents.

[E.B]

Carlos Pace. (d. March 1977)

He took part in 73 GPs, won one race, achieved six podiums, one pole position, and scored 58 championship points. (when they were hard to win) The Interlagos circuit (he was from Sao Paulo) and where he won his only GP, is now named Autódromo José Carlos Pace in his memory.

Carlos died in a private plane crash just two weeks after we lost Tom Pryce.

[Sodemo]

Slightly different, but Michele Alboreto survived F1, only to be killed testing an Audi LMP1 car in 2001.

David Leslie. Had a great motorsport career, only to die in a light plane crash in around 2008 (I think).

[GregUK]

There are too many to add to the list, but here's a few more:

• Stefan Bellof - Sportscar crash at Eau Rouge
• Mike the Bike - motorcycle crash in Warwickshire
• Rolf Stommelen - IMSA crash
• Andrea de Cesaris - road car crash
• Jo Bonnier - crash at Le Mans
• James Hunt - lifestyle crash

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by GregUK

There are too many to add to the list, but here's a few more:

• Stefan Bellof - Sportscar crash at Eau Rouge
• Mike the Bike - motorcycle crash in Warwickshire
• Rolf Stommelen - IMSA crash
• Andrea de Cesaris - road car crash
• Jo Bonnier - crash at Le Mans
• James Hunt - lifestyle crash

Bellof still was racing in F1 when he died. And to be pedantic de Cesaris was a motorbike

Could also add Pironi, killed in a powerboat accident, after his F1 career was ended by injury. There's also Harald Ertl, died in a light plane accident, along with some family members

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by GregUK

There are too many to add to the list, but here's a few more:

• Stefan Bellof - Sportscar crash at Eau Rouge
• Mike the Bike - motorcycle crash in Warwickshire
• Rolf Stommelen - IMSA crash
• Andrea de Cesaris - road car crash
• Jo Bonnier - crash at Le Mans
• James Hunt - lifestyle crash

Mike Hailwood was killed in a road car (not motorcycle), on his way home from fetching fish & chips for his family if I remember correctly.

[Graz]

Originally Posted by GregUK

There are too many to add to the list, but here's a few more:

• Stefan Bellof - Sportscar crash at Eau Rouge
• Mike the Bike - motorcycle crash in Warwickshire
• Rolf Stommelen - IMSA crash
• Andrea de Cesaris - road car crash
• Jo Bonnier - crash at Le Mans
• James Hunt - lifestyle crash

Also, I thought we were talking about after racing - I know the title says F1 and all but I took it to mean 'racing' - Manfred Winklehock was killed in IMSA too for instance. We could throw in Pedro Rodrigues and so on but that's not the point I think? Jim Clarke...etc etc.

James Hunt was a heart attack, that's life and happens unfortunately. Mike the Bike killed by a truck buying fish and chips is really tragic for instance.

[rbs]

Pedro Rodriguez was killed in a Ferrari 512 while racing for BRM in F1.

[Graz]

Not F1 but Colin McRae in a heli crash - although he did test a Jordan 1996 ish...

Irish FF1600 legend Fionn Murray piloting a microlight.

[S griffin]

And the sad thing about McRae is that he was about to return to WRC

[GregUK]

Originally Posted by GregUK

There are too many to add to the list, but here's a few more:

• Stefan Bellof - Sportscar crash at Eau Rouge
• Mike the Bike - motorcycle crash in Warwickshire
• Rolf Stommelen - IMSA crash
• Andrea de Cesaris - road car crash
• Jo Bonnier - crash at Le Mans
• James Hunt - lifestyle crash

I stand corrected on the detail of a few of those....

[Greem]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And the sad thing about McRae is that he was about to return to WRC

I recommend reading the AAIB report into McRae's helicopter crash. It's an instructive document.

[MTW]

Yeah we all make one or two mistakes on the details and so do wiki, as nice as it is to always be factually correct as much as possible the truth is it's hard to get all the facts straight all of the time. Suffice to say, I knew there would be more to add the the list but it's almost uncanny how many have accidents when the racing is over, such as in planes or ordinary road vehicles.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Mike Hailwood was killed in a road car (not motorcycle), on his way home from fetching fish & chips for his family if I remember correctly.

Yes, he was in a Rover SD1 from memory, and hit a truck that pulled across his path. That’s from my very ancient grey matter......

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Yes, he was in a Rover SD1 from memory, and hit a truck that pulled across his path. That’s from my very ancient grey matter......

Yes it was an Sd1. The A435 betw Redditch & Brum. The M42 has been built since then and an island is quite near.

[coppice]

The saddest thing about the now beatified McRae was the people who also died in the accident . See also Graham Hill.....

[wnut]

Originally Posted by coppice

The saddest thing about the now beatified McRae was the people who also died in the accident . See also Graham Hill.....

Really good and pertinent point!

[Greem]

Originally Posted by coppice

The saddest thing about the now beatified McRae was the people who also died in the accident . See also Graham Hill.....

As I mentioned up thread, the accident report makes for instructive reading.

[Akrapovic]

Bob Wollek was killed whilst cycling back to his accommodation after testing at Sebring.

[S griffin]

And Brian Muir died of natural causes while driving back from the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone

[GORDON STREETER]

The mention of Mike "The Bike" Hailwood being killed brought back my memories of him as I used to follow him in the 60/70s, he was a true racer who seemed to be able to win even if he didn't have the fastest bike out there, OK I know that his father was a wealthy man that did help in his career but he had a lot of natural ability that you can't buy ! Also this year Nicky Hayden an ex Moto GP champion was killed in Italy in a road crash whist out on his push bike.
Clay Regazzoni was also killed in a road crash

[chunterer]

Dennis Hulme Bathurst '92

[GORDON STREETER]

Bruce Mclaren testing his CanAm car at Goodwood.