RE: Pic of The Week: Sensational Senna

[Housey]

duncanS said:

robsco said:

So who for you Duncan, out of curiosity, is your interpretation of the greatest?

I think it tells you everything that Schumi would disagree with you too if you asked him who the best ever was. Probably the majority of the F1 grid would agree with me that it's the Brazilian bloke in the picture at the top. If you idea of F1 is sitting on a Sunday and watching it on telly then I can see why your spreadsheet will tell you who's best. If you've ever been to a race to watch, sat on your favourite corner, felt the buzz all around when you hear his name, seen how the crowd reacts when they saw Senna leave a pit lane you'll know. If you haven't or you did get that feeling then I can't tell you your wrong, we shall just have to agree to differ.

His death had sod all to do with him being a legend, it just made it even more powerful. I thought him a genius from his FF2000 days, if you know your sport its obvious...

Edited by Housey on Saturday 4th September 09:03

[dinkel]

harry010 said:

Senna was, and always will be, more than a racing driver... and it is this, I feel, that marks him apart from all other drivers.

[ForzaGilles]

RobM77 said:

ForzaGilles said:

BBS-LM said:

I remember seeing in car footage of Senna footwork when driving the Mclaren around Monaco, and I was amazed at how fast he was on and off the peddles, his ability to hill and toe was a, WTF moment.

I'd love to see that. Anyone got a copy?

Do bear in mind that every driver on the grid was doing exactly the same thing - their gearchange points would have overlapped almost exactly. What made Senna quick was not fast pedal work!

I don't have You Tube at work, but if you do a search for Senna on board at Monaco you're sure to find it - it's very famous footage.

Thanks for the pep talk I'm talking about the clip of Senna's footwork, not the outside view. As i'm sure you're aware, Senna's footwork was a little bit different...

[k-ink]

Any chance of letting us have the original un-cropped image? It looks a bit odd like that

[LukeBird]

Fantastic!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

ERDi said:

Don't know whether this was posted here before. In case it wasn't I do want to share this wonderful tribute to Ayrton and the Honda NSX with you.
Additionally featuring the Ring as well as my lovely hometown of Frankfurt am Main:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53c6o_cNPEo

Edited by ERDi on Friday 3rd September 19:54

Great video. Very evocative.

[Asterix]

olly22n said:

My new wallpaper.

10/10

This - great image.

[Rich_W]

Senna set the path that all multi WDC would follow for the next 20+ years. So where he worked tirelessly on his fitness, everyone else realised they had to too.

What Senna was though was a natural talent. Schumacher is a good talent made very, very good by expert application. I put Alonso in the same bracket.

As for MS saying he's not as good as AS. That's just him being considerate to his own idol. Did Senna ever admit to having idols?

Kimi, is an entirely different kettle of fish. Absolute speed and bravery and ability. Firing into that blown engine smoke at Spa without lifting. Around the outside at Suzuka. Still driving flat out with that mullered tyre at Nurburgring. He won at ALL the drivers tracks.

Definetly not the best driver of all time, but certainly one of the more intereting ones. And I'm a fan.

So my greatest is Schumacher then Senna.
My Favorites are Kimi and Fernando
And my "I like them but they don't come across so well at times" are Nigel, Monty and Lewis.

[ferrisbueller]

carinaman said:

ferrisbueller, thank you for that other pic. of Senna sat by the Lotus.

[RobM77]

ForzaGilles said:

RobM77 said:

ForzaGilles said:

BBS-LM said:

I remember seeing in car footage of Senna footwork when driving the Mclaren around Monaco, and I was amazed at how fast he was on and off the peddles, his ability to hill and toe was a, WTF moment.

I'd love to see that. Anyone got a copy?

Do bear in mind that every driver on the grid was doing exactly the same thing - their gearchange points would have overlapped almost exactly. What made Senna quick was not fast pedal work!

I don't have You Tube at work, but if you do a search for Senna on board at Monaco you're sure to find it - it's very famous footage.

Thanks for the pep talk I'm talking about the clip of Senna's footwork, not the outside view. As i'm sure you're aware, Senna's footwork was a little bit different...

I see what you mean now :-) The footwork is standard, other than the stance aforementioned stomping on the throttle! :-)

[GC8]

Racefan_uk said:

If you think about what Senna was doing with his right foot on the throttle pedal it's no different (albeit, somewhat basic) to what traction control does electronically, isn't it?

He loads on the power, full chat, it's not going to grip (700-1200hp on ANY surface is gonna struggle, wet or dry, I don't care how big and slick the tyres are) so he comes off, then on, then off, then on again and as the car moves forward and has more downforce and grip and is heading in the right direction without oversteer, he plants it properly.

Thatd be my guess too. Think re-phased 4cyl two-stroke grand prix bikes.....

[erics]

Well Actually, IIRC all current F1 drivers were asked who they thought the greatest driver was and they ALL came out saying Ayrton Senna.

This was in the Topgear program.

Senna on the otherhand considered Juan Manuel Fangio to be the greatest f1 driver ever. Funnily enough, in the interview on the topic, Senna did not talk much about JMF driving (well he did... but focussed mainly on other things).
Senna said what he admired most about Fangio was his attitude outside of the car and the fact he was a true gentleman.

Housey said:

duncanS said:

robsco said:

So who for you Duncan, out of curiosity, is your interpretation of the greatest?

I think it tells you everything that Schumi would disagree with you too if you asked him who the best ever was. Probably the majority of the F1 grid would agree with me that it's the Brazilian bloke in the picture at the top.

Edited by Housey on Saturday 4th September 09:03

[LongLiveTazio]

Races won does not equate to skill. Alain Prost has in some ways a more impressive record than Schumacher but like the clinical German lacked that extra... something that made you stuck to the screen to watch people like Senna, Mansell, Clark and so on.

I'll never forget watching Mansell give Senna a lift at the British GP, who quite correctly kicked the marshall as he was trying to tell him to get off. Magic.

Edited by LongLiveTazio on Saturday 4th September 19:07

[iiyama]

Wasn't you mooning in the background of the TV shot's was it??

[ferrisbueller]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1rvq3_ayrton-sen...

[rallyman77]

duncanS said:

robsco said:

duncanS said:

Over rated imo, would he really be so highly regarded if he was alive???

Dont think so!!

Yes he would, because the people who aren't blinded by statistics know what a truly incredible, unique and gifted driver he was, mortality has absolutely no influence in it.

I didnt say he was not gifted, however its exactly the same situation a Colin Mcrae, wasn't really a great driver but is now regarded as one of the best rally in rally.

Edited by duncanS on Friday 3rd September 20:33

Twice in the article above you do not know what you are talking about...

Colin and Ayrton were the most revered drivers (indeed world champions) NOT because:

1. They pushed everything to the absolute limit;
2. The fans were crapping their pants when they were approaching the corner flat out;
3. The had little (or none) sense of fear;
4. They were professional at everything that they did;
5. They possesed unparalleled driving skill and speed;
6. They race at an era when the opposition had at least 4-5 drivers who would have given anyone a run for their money (Prost, Pique, Mansell etc in F1 - Makinnen, Sainz, Kankkunen, Gronholm, Burns etc) World Champions right, left and centre...

BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH GENTLEMEN AND WELL RESPECTED AMONG DRIVERS AND FANS. Those who understand motorsports know what I mean.

Their death weights for nothing when it comes to their legendary status. Colin and Ayrton were legends well before they checked out of this world.

edit: the typo police..

Edited by rallyman77 on Monday 6th September 09:37

[heebeegeetee]

rallyman77 said:

BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH GENTLEMEN AND WELL RESPECTED AMONG DRIVERS AND FANS. Those who understand motorsports know what I mean.

Er, pains me to say it but Colin wasn't always a gentleman when it came to signing autographs; and i wouldn't describe Ayrton as a gentleman. I mean, i know he could be when it suited, but within the sport he rarely behaved like one.

[rallyman77]

heebeegeetee said:

rallyman77 said:

BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH GENTLEMEN AND WELL RESPECTED AMONG DRIVERS AND FANS. Those who understand motorsports know what I mean.

Er, pains me to say it but Colin wasn't always a gentleman when it came to signing autographs; and i wouldn't describe Ayrton as a gentleman. I mean, i know he could be when it suited, but within the sport he rarely behaved like one.

I beg to differ. In a sport like WRC or F1 you need a degree of swagger same as Cantona or Best had during their United days. Not only you have to be faster than the rest of the field but your opponents must know it too (hence the hype bit). In exchange of course a small minority of people will judge you for that.
As I never planned to have dinner (with either driver) or any other social activity for that matter, the swagger bit of Colin or Ayrton never bothered me.
In other words: I don't mind abit of attitude from a super star (call it hollywood actor or professional racing driver) as long as they have the talent/ability/skill to back it up.

PS. I have numerous photos, postcards, hats and T-shirts signed from Colin. He never said no to me so maybe he had something personal with you heebee (my hypothesis anyway).

[heebeegeetee]

rallyman77 said:

heebeegeetee said:

rallyman77 said:

BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH GENTLEMEN AND WELL RESPECTED AMONG DRIVERS AND FANS. Those who understand motorsports know what I mean.

Er, pains me to say it but Colin wasn't always a gentleman when it came to signing autographs; and i wouldn't describe Ayrton as a gentleman. I mean, i know he could be when it suited, but within the sport he rarely behaved like one.

I beg to differ. In a sport like WRC or F1 you need a degree of swagger same as Cantona or Best had during their United days. Not only you have to be faster than the rest of the field but your opponents must know it too (hence the hype bit). In exchange of course a small minority of people will judge you for that.
As I never planned to have dinner (with either driver) or any other social activity for that matter, the swagger bit of Colin or Ayrton never bothered me.
In other words: I don't mind abit of attitude from a super star (call it hollywood actor or professional racing driver) as long as they have the talent/ability/skill to back it up.

PS. I have numerous photos, postcards, hats and T-shirts signed from Colin. He never said no to me so maybe he had something personal with you heebee (my hypothesis anyway).

That'd be me and the small gathering waiting for him in the NEC at the Autosport show. Nicky Grist was very nice though and signed for us all.

We have quite a collection of signed pics of various drivers and Mrs Heebee, mainly acquired from Le Mans scrutineering and the Goodwood revival.

I'm afraid the only refusal we ever had was from dear old Colin. But I agree with you, the drivers aren't public property. (Although it's the public's money they're spending).

[rallyman77]

I agree with your comment on spending money (public/private/his inheritence etc), but what a better way to spend it going sideways to the left hander in Halfway or Myherin during the Wales Rally or coming down the hill (through the water splash) in Zeli (SS in Acropolis Rally) and we - as mere mortals - staring in disbelief...

PS. In that last occasion I was standing right next to Dave Richards as he landed with the helicopter to see that part... ah the memories...

PS2. Out of topic: I got the santa pod w/end ahead of me so happy days! Let's hope the weather holds out. xD

edit: typo police

Edited by rallyman77 on Tuesday 7th September 12:02