Old Monza photos

[WelshChris]

Watching the GP last weekend prompted me to dig out and scan some photos from my last visit. One of you will no doubt tell me the year. Scutinising them illustrates just how much things have changed over the years - No pit wall fencing, random people wandering around all over the place, and much more.

Hope they're interesting - a great day, back when you could blag your way in almost anywhere by shrugging your shoulders and remonstrating with the Italian officials.

The greatest F1 venue in the world in my humble opinion.

[GCH]

'86

[Eric Mc]

Yep - definitely 1986. The 85 Williams Canon scheme had more of a downward angle to the colour scheme than the more level 86 version.

[gl20]

Great photos. Love the pitstop one with McLaren lollipop man resting his foot on the discarded tyre to stop it running away. Can't see that happening there days!

[Great Dane]

see the amount of people on the pitwall.... people sitting down having a look... and the packed grandstands.....

[Derek Smith]

Thanks for posting those fascinating pictures.

[WelshChris]

The sheer number of people milling around is amazing. I've been going to GP's since the early 70's on and off, and I remember thinking how safe it had all become in the mid-eighties. However when I dug out those photos and looked at them again I was horrified. It would only take one of those cars to slew across the startline into the pit wall and there'd be carnage.

That said, trips to Monza always left a lasting impression on me, especially when that close to the action. Haven't been recently, but I'm sure it's still the same despite the extra security / safety measures etc.

[paulyv]

Yep - you can still get pleasantly close to the cars, overlooking them from the grassy bank on the back straight before Parabolica. A wonderful circuit with a great crowd attending every year.

[Europa1]

There is a great photo of Jim Clark driving a Type 25 (I think!) at Monza with the victor's laurel wreath around him, and Colin Chapman sat just behind the cockpit holding a mahoosive trophy, and a mechanic sat behind him (must have been roasting his equipment on the engine!).