Lauda - the untold story

[heebeegeetee]

Derek Smith said:

Eric Mc said:

There is also the BBC documentary about the Mille Miglia re-run (How About a Lift - Old Boy!)in which Moss had the late writer Ian Wooldridge as his "navigator. Moss showed his edgy and driven side on that occasion.

Thanks for that. It was indeed Wooldridge. If memory serves, Ian made a miscalculation which cost points. This upset Moss and for the balance of the drive they hardly spoke. I'm a big fan of Moss and this window on his character does not lessen my respect for him in any way. It makes him more human.

Can't find it on YT unfortunately.

My recollection was that Woolridge was inept at pretty much everything he was required to do, and Moss was furious, handing out lambastings in all directions. I did have it on VHS but I suspect it's been binned, sadly. Moss was furious that he and that magnificent car were arriving everywhere after the crowds had gone home. Moss was aware that people wanted to see that car.

It was a good prog, especially seeing the SLR driven in anger.

[Derek Smith]

heebeegeetee said:

It was a good prog, especially seeing the SLR driven in anger.

From memory, there wasn't an awful lot of filming of Moss booting it, the reason seeming to be that Wooldridge was too terrified to let go of the sides of the car.

I seem to remember Moss commenting on it some time later, suggesting that he'd really enjoyed it.

[Rude-boy]

I have been lucky enough to meet Sir Stirling and Lady Susie many times over the years as they are long term friends with the family.

One thing that was crystal from the very first time I met him was that Sir Stirling did and does not suffer fools. Full stop. If you can't do the job get out of the way and let someone else who can do it.

What I particularly admire about Sir Stirling is that he has also applied this to himself. "This afternoon I scared myself and I have always said that if I felt I was not up to it or that I was getting in the way of fellow competitors, then I would retire." Wow. And retire he did, there and then, not even considering doing the race on the Saturday morning as a swansong.

IME if you have that level of determination there will always be less attractive areas of your personality but part of that is what sets the Would Be and World Champions apart from the rest. Even Damon Hill and Jonny Herbert, as nice a pair of blokes as you are ever likely to meet have the capacity to be hard bds if the need for it arises - frankly if they didn't they would never have got to F3000.

[Derek Smith]

Rude-boy said:

I have been lucky enough to meet Sir Stirling and Lady Susie many times over the years as they are long term friends with the family.

One thing that was crystal from the very first time I met him was that Sir Stirling did and does not suffer fools. Full stop. If you can't do the job get out of the way and let someone else who can do it.

What I particularly admire about Sir Stirling is that he has also applied this to himself. "This afternoon I scared myself and I have always said that if I felt I was not up to it or that I was getting in the way of fellow competitors, then I would retire." Wow. And retire he did, there and then, not even considering doing the race on the Saturday morning as a swansong.

IME if you have that level of determination there will always be less attractive areas of your personality but part of that is what sets the Would Be and World Champions apart from the rest. Even Damon Hill and Jonny Herbert, as nice a pair of blokes as you are ever likely to meet have the capacity to be hard bds if the need for it arises - frankly if they didn't they would never have got to F3000.

People are, thankfully, a mixture. They vary from day to day, week to week and change over time. It is wrong to judge people on one aspect of their character.

He was/is a brilliant driver. He is brave. He's seems to be quite an interesting chap and I'm envious of your intimacy with him and his family. I always felt there was a lot more to him than is apparent in the media.

The first time I met him he was about to drive in the premiere sports car race of the year. Yet he was charming to my father and me, picking out something he could discuss immediately and then heaping praise on my enraptured father. Then extending a bit of hospitality which, although you could say it didn't cost him anything - a little touch of Harry in the night - it took a desire to please complete strangers.

As if not suffering fools - which I've always thought of as a character weakness - would change my regard for him.

[Eric Mc]

People who are competitive by nature - which includes by definition, most sportsmen and women - often have an intolerant streak. They need it if they are driven to win. Sometimes it's hard for them to switch from competition mode to a more relaxed mode which may be what is required for life outside the cockpit or off the pitch or off the court.

Indeed, I often think that successful sportsmen have an autistic or Asbergers aspect to their character - which can make them difficult when engaged in more normal, mundane life. There are always, of course, some exceptions.