Lauda - the untold story
Discussion
Mon ami is always a cracking read.
Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
DJRC said:
Mon ami is always a cracking read.
Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
You could share a general overview could you not!? Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
It's not about a "right to know". It's about an interest in motivation, reasoning, what drives people, their personal strengths and failings etc. It's what makes any human endeavour interesting - whether we are talking about politics, business, war or sport.
If we weren't interested in why people tick, we would be a most boring species.
I certainly don't want things to be made public that might hurt surviving relatives etc - but as the years go on and these people who were directly involved with the character being spoken about fade away, I think it is then only right and proper that we can talk about such things openly as potential harm and upset to others is very much reduced.
On occasions, revealing the true nature of an individual should most definitely be revealed before they die - Jimmy Savile springs to mind.
If we weren't interested in why people tick, we would be a most boring species.
I certainly don't want things to be made public that might hurt surviving relatives etc - but as the years go on and these people who were directly involved with the character being spoken about fade away, I think it is then only right and proper that we can talk about such things openly as potential harm and upset to others is very much reduced.
On occasions, revealing the true nature of an individual should most definitely be revealed before they die - Jimmy Savile springs to mind.
It isn't really a question of the general public having the right to know (because in absolute terms it doesn't) but as a mere civilian in the motorsport world few things infuriate me more than being told 'of course there are lots of amazing stories I could tell you about (Sir Frank , Bernie etc) but I am afraid I can't tell you what they are as you aren't sufficiently important to be told '. Nobody likes being patronised !
LDN said:
DJRC said:
Mon ami is always a cracking read.
Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
You could share a general overview could you not!? Duncan Hamilton.
As for telling the story etc, hmm Im not so sure. Im not a great believe in the general public having a right to know anything unless told by the person themselves. Dad has more stories from the motor world of the early 50s to 80s than most alive and has regaled us with most of them over the yrs, but to me there is a big difference between a private telling and publishing. Its by the by now thats he's gonzo'd, but its quite strange how strongly I feel the moral point - that isn't like me at all!
I re-iterate though it was more a general philosophical point as the reality is sadly no longer possible. It took us 30yrs to turn any of dad's cine footage into digital - we aren't very quick in my family
sideways man said:
Slightly off topic, but anyway; every racing biography i've read has been ultimately disappointing for me, much prefer to have bit of ' warts and all' rather than everyone pretending to be squeaky clean. Anyone got any reccomendations?
Touch Wood! Duncan HamiltonOne of my favourite books and one of the funniest. Now out in paperback
Paul Dishman said:
sideways man said:
Slightly off topic, but anyway; every racing biography i've read has been ultimately disappointing for me, much prefer to have bit of ' warts and all' rather than everyone pretending to be squeaky clean. Anyone got any reccomendations?
Touch Wood! Duncan HamiltonOne of my favourite books and one of the funniest. Now out in paperback
From what I see and hear the general is there are good and bad in every walk of life. Some are able to keep their less agreeable sides out of the public eye and some have secrets that would change opinions. Fwiw I've always found Vic Lee to be a really nice bloke in every interaction I've had with him.
I think lack of the 'dark side' to people has negative effects.
I was interested in WWII as a youth, given that most of my family were involved, and I bought a paperback on the Dam Busters. The fact that Guy Gibson had died in the war seemed quite unfair. What his country needs is not fewer heroes.
I then read Enemy Coast Ahead with its attitudes which even in the 60s were a bit out of date. Then there were revelations in the press on a slow news week and my hero was shown to have feet of clay.
I spoke about it to an uncle of mine and he pointed out that he had still been a very brave man and that there's no one who is perfect, or even always good. I mentioned that he didn't have a dark side and then he mentioned, casual like, that he had a conviction for GBH and had spent time in prison for GBH with intent.
I think if kids are given heroes without blemish then they get an unrealistic view of the world, and, more importantly, what they can achieve.
I was told about Piquet's attitudes and motivation and it made a lot of the years up against Mansell a bit clearer.
F1 is an entertainment industry and it sells itself. It seems unreasonable to me for them to be partial about what really goes on. Domestic is out of reach (although other drivers' was not to Piquet it seems) but everything else that goes on should be there and honest.
I met with Moss a couple of times and each time he was great. I then read or saw (can't remember) an article from a journo who'd been in the car when he was competing at the Mille Miglia re-run one year.
It seems he gets a bit focused even when it doesn't matter. Further, ineptitude irritates him.
There was an American runner who, for reasons not explained, took a few months off the sport and then reappeared somewhat changed and somewhat improved. On their death you would think that the truth could be told but no. Threats were made and only stories of exemplary conduct are available.
Everyone knows the reason for the lay off, everyone knows the cause of death, and everyone knows that there's no comeback.
We needed to know about Savile, an it is a shame we could not know earlier. Armstrong: we needed to know.
Not only that, I have an overwhelming desire to find out the truth and what's going on. I don't think that's unreasonable.
I was interested in WWII as a youth, given that most of my family were involved, and I bought a paperback on the Dam Busters. The fact that Guy Gibson had died in the war seemed quite unfair. What his country needs is not fewer heroes.
I then read Enemy Coast Ahead with its attitudes which even in the 60s were a bit out of date. Then there were revelations in the press on a slow news week and my hero was shown to have feet of clay.
I spoke about it to an uncle of mine and he pointed out that he had still been a very brave man and that there's no one who is perfect, or even always good. I mentioned that he didn't have a dark side and then he mentioned, casual like, that he had a conviction for GBH and had spent time in prison for GBH with intent.
I think if kids are given heroes without blemish then they get an unrealistic view of the world, and, more importantly, what they can achieve.
I was told about Piquet's attitudes and motivation and it made a lot of the years up against Mansell a bit clearer.
F1 is an entertainment industry and it sells itself. It seems unreasonable to me for them to be partial about what really goes on. Domestic is out of reach (although other drivers' was not to Piquet it seems) but everything else that goes on should be there and honest.
I met with Moss a couple of times and each time he was great. I then read or saw (can't remember) an article from a journo who'd been in the car when he was competing at the Mille Miglia re-run one year.
It seems he gets a bit focused even when it doesn't matter. Further, ineptitude irritates him.
There was an American runner who, for reasons not explained, took a few months off the sport and then reappeared somewhat changed and somewhat improved. On their death you would think that the truth could be told but no. Threats were made and only stories of exemplary conduct are available.
Everyone knows the reason for the lay off, everyone knows the cause of death, and everyone knows that there's no comeback.
We needed to know about Savile, an it is a shame we could not know earlier. Armstrong: we needed to know.
Not only that, I have an overwhelming desire to find out the truth and what's going on. I don't think that's unreasonable.
Paul Dishman said:
The story about Moss that Derek refers to was when Simon Taylor accompanied him on the 40th anniversary run of the Mille Miglia in 1995. It's in the new SM book and was also in Motor Sport and Octane a month or so back
I was thinking on it and I seem to remember a TV programme. I promised myself a trip to the MM but every year I put money/time by something happened. This year I had everything planned then my daughter told me she was getting married. Then there were the RWC tickets. For the first time in yonks I did not pay off the credit card.
Next year, though.
Paul Dishman said:
The story about Moss that Derek refers to was when Simon Taylor accompanied him on the 40th anniversary run of the Mille Miglia in 1995. It's in the new SM book and was also in Motor Sport and Octane a month or so back
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.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.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff