Niki Lauda passes away
Discussion
'Legend' - seems entirely appropriate.
I don't care if this scene had a sprinkling of Hollwood, it's fun and feels like a small insight into the man - Rush - 'drive fast' - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kl0UBS4ZaM
I don't care if this scene had a sprinkling of Hollwood, it's fun and feels like a small insight into the man - Rush - 'drive fast' - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kl0UBS4ZaM
Edited by CocoUK on Tuesday 21st May 12:50
Formula1 - David Tremayne said:
But, equally, none better illustrates his zany sense of humour and refusal to take himself too seriously, than his response when informed that a book of every driver's race statistics ironically did not actually record him as starting the 1976 German GP because the first start, in which he had crashed, did not count as it was officially replaced by a second.
“So what happened to my ear?” he enquired amid laughter.
Forty years later, he ‘discovered’ the answer. He and his close friend Karl-Heinz Zimmermann, formerly Bernie Ecclestone’s personal chef, went to Nurburgring and visited the Bergwerk corner.
“You’re Niki Lauda!” a nearby fan exclaimed.
“I know.”
“But what are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my ear…”
At which point Lauda ducked down and picked something up and placed it near his head. It was a pig’s ear that Zimmermann had just dropped there…
Full article: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.niki-la...“So what happened to my ear?” he enquired amid laughter.
Forty years later, he ‘discovered’ the answer. He and his close friend Karl-Heinz Zimmermann, formerly Bernie Ecclestone’s personal chef, went to Nurburgring and visited the Bergwerk corner.
“You’re Niki Lauda!” a nearby fan exclaimed.
“I know.”
“But what are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my ear…”
At which point Lauda ducked down and picked something up and placed it near his head. It was a pig’s ear that Zimmermann had just dropped there…
RIP Niki Lauda!
Will always be a legend and hero in F1 and regardless of what others may think, he had the greatest comeback in sport history recovering from that crash to finish the season in 1976.
Hopefully will be having a beer and laugh with James Hunt somewhere together now...
Would be nice for Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes to honor him somehow this weekend.
Will always be a legend and hero in F1 and regardless of what others may think, he had the greatest comeback in sport history recovering from that crash to finish the season in 1976.
Hopefully will be having a beer and laugh with James Hunt somewhere together now...
Would be nice for Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes to honor him somehow this weekend.
Supersam83 said:
RIP Niki Lauda!
Will always be a legend and hero in F1 and regardless of what others may think, he had the greatest comeback in sport history recovering from that crash to finish the season in 1976.
Hopefully will be having a beer and laugh with James Hunt somewhere together now...
Would be nice for Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes to honor him somehow this weekend.
Something like this by a current driver on the grid would be amazing. Go on Kimi do it again.Will always be a legend and hero in F1 and regardless of what others may think, he had the greatest comeback in sport history recovering from that crash to finish the season in 1976.
Hopefully will be having a beer and laugh with James Hunt somewhere together now...
Would be nice for Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes to honor him somehow this weekend.
TheDeuce said:
Formula1 - David Tremayne said:
But, equally, none better illustrates his zany sense of humour and refusal to take himself too seriously, than his response when informed that a book of every driver's race statistics ironically did not actually record him as starting the 1976 German GP because the first start, in which he had crashed, did not count as it was officially replaced by a second.
“So what happened to my ear?” he enquired amid laughter.
Forty years later, he ‘discovered’ the answer. He and his close friend Karl-Heinz Zimmermann, formerly Bernie Ecclestone’s personal chef, went to Nurburgring and visited the Bergwerk corner.
“You’re Niki Lauda!” a nearby fan exclaimed.
“I know.”
“But what are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my ear…”
At which point Lauda ducked down and picked something up and placed it near his head. It was a pig’s ear that Zimmermann had just dropped there…
Full article: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.niki-la...“So what happened to my ear?” he enquired amid laughter.
Forty years later, he ‘discovered’ the answer. He and his close friend Karl-Heinz Zimmermann, formerly Bernie Ecclestone’s personal chef, went to Nurburgring and visited the Bergwerk corner.
“You’re Niki Lauda!” a nearby fan exclaimed.
“I know.”
“But what are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for my ear…”
At which point Lauda ducked down and picked something up and placed it near his head. It was a pig’s ear that Zimmermann had just dropped there…
Then Dave Tremayne, who I’ve known for some years, took my picture with Niki; we’re both grinning widely at the joke, which involved Gerhard Berger, DT was telling us as he took the snap.
A treasured memento of a hero.
Great racer, great sense of humour, great man.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st May 14:31
REALIST123 said:
I met and chatted with Niki in ‘14 at the Hungaroring. He’d just finished giving my son, who was working for Mercedes at the time, a pep talk, exhorting him to work harder on that year’s car, even though said son was actually working on the ‘15 car! Niki’s drive and focus was so evident; no excuses, just do it!
Then Dave Tremayne, who I’ve known for some years, took my picture with Niki; we’re both grinning widely at the joke, which involved Gerhard Berger, DT was telling us as he took the snap.
A treasured memento of a hero.
Great racer, great sense of humour, great man.
That's a nice memory to have. I've never been a fan of meeting a celebrity or sportsperson just for the sake of saying 'i've met them, but when there is a genuine connection (in this case via DT and your son) and it's a relaxed encounter', that's very different and of course, some people are deeply impressive and it's nice to share a few moments in their company! Then Dave Tremayne, who I’ve known for some years, took my picture with Niki; we’re both grinning widely at the joke, which involved Gerhard Berger, DT was telling us as he took the snap.
A treasured memento of a hero.
Great racer, great sense of humour, great man.
Edited by REALIST123 on Tuesday 21st May 14:31
TheDeuce said:
REALIST123 said:
I met and chatted with Niki in ‘14 at the Hungaroring. He’d just finished giving my son, who was working for Mercedes at the time, a pep talk, exhorting him to work harder on that year’s car, even though said son was actually working on the ‘15 car! Niki’s drive and focus was so evident; no excuses, just do it!
Then Dave Tremayne, who I’ve known for some years, took my picture with Niki; we’re both grinning widely at the joke, which involved Gerhard Berger, DT was telling us as he took the snap.
A treasured memento of a hero.
Great racer, great sense of humour, great man.
That's a nice memory to have. I've never been a fan of meeting a celebrity or sportsperson just for the sake of saying 'i've met them, but when there is a genuine connection (in this case via DT and your son) and it's a relaxed encounter', that's very different and of course, some people are deeply impressive and it's nice to share a few moments in their company! Then Dave Tremayne, who I’ve known for some years, took my picture with Niki; we’re both grinning widely at the joke, which involved Gerhard Berger, DT was telling us as he took the snap.
A treasured memento of a hero.
Great racer, great sense of humour, great man.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st May 14:31
He was looking good for his second WC until that August and Hunt was arguably a fortunate WC, though he had his fair share of problems too.
Like many, I have strong memories of traumatic times in F1. Niki’s accident, Peterson in ‘78, Gilles, and of course ‘94 amongst the many sad events.
To meet Niki all those years later in quite casual circumstances was a bit special for me.
REALIST123 said:
I agree. I’m just a little younger than Niki and still remember ‘76. A baking hot summer in the UK, not so good at the ‘Ring of course.
He was looking good for his second WC until that August and Hunt was arguably a fortunate WC, though he had his fair share of problems too.
Like many, I have strong memories of traumatic times in F1. Niki’s accident, Peterson in ‘78, Gilles, and of course ‘94 amongst the many sad events.
To meet Niki all those years later in quite casual circumstances was a bit special for me.
All before my time, but not beyond what I can appreciate. I've re-watched old seasons in order and certainly picked up a sense of the emotions at the time. It's not a full picture of course, I can't see all the detail and speculation the sporting press must have provided at the time.He was looking good for his second WC until that August and Hunt was arguably a fortunate WC, though he had his fair share of problems too.
Like many, I have strong memories of traumatic times in F1. Niki’s accident, Peterson in ‘78, Gilles, and of course ‘94 amongst the many sad events.
To meet Niki all those years later in quite casual circumstances was a bit special for me.
Niki in the end, I suppose is not just a loss today, but yet another fatality of the sport from back then. But in that extraordinarily long interim period, his strengths as a human easily matched his already stellar ability as a racer.
One trinket I take that I think always when thinking abotu Niki, this is in a Roebuck book.
1985, Lauda announces a press conf at Zeltweg, most press know it is likely he is retiring.
Lauda comes in, typically blunt tells it how it is, then Dennis takes over the mike and proceeds to almost admonish Niki for not thanking the team etc, everyone feels embarrassed.
But Roebuck remembers a moment at Monza 76, after qualifying when we now know Niki was struggling even to drive let alone anything else, he is in the pit and peels off his balaclava, it is red with blood.
This is what Roebuck is thinking about when Ron is doing this at this press gathering in 1985.
Brilliant piece of writing obviously, but also an insight into why for me Niki is held above even the likes of Senna, Prost, Schumacher et al, as none of them had to deal with this kind of thing in their careers. Not in driving terms, but I do not value championships in driving terms as they are not won purely on pace, but in human terms.
It is why I value tremendously both Keke and Nico's wins and Scheckters as they were not only won with speed, but also cunning and desire and the men who won them, like Niki were decent, honorable men.
1985, Lauda announces a press conf at Zeltweg, most press know it is likely he is retiring.
Lauda comes in, typically blunt tells it how it is, then Dennis takes over the mike and proceeds to almost admonish Niki for not thanking the team etc, everyone feels embarrassed.
But Roebuck remembers a moment at Monza 76, after qualifying when we now know Niki was struggling even to drive let alone anything else, he is in the pit and peels off his balaclava, it is red with blood.
This is what Roebuck is thinking about when Ron is doing this at this press gathering in 1985.
Brilliant piece of writing obviously, but also an insight into why for me Niki is held above even the likes of Senna, Prost, Schumacher et al, as none of them had to deal with this kind of thing in their careers. Not in driving terms, but I do not value championships in driving terms as they are not won purely on pace, but in human terms.
It is why I value tremendously both Keke and Nico's wins and Scheckters as they were not only won with speed, but also cunning and desire and the men who won them, like Niki were decent, honorable men.
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