Colin McRae tribute programme
Discussion
Just finished watching this, quite interesting although pushing things too far ultimately cost him his life, and even sadder the life of his 5 year old son and 2 family friends. The investigation into the helicopter crash basically said he was flying it like a cock - which is fine if you're only going to kill yourself but not when others are involved.
What a tragic loss of life.
What a tragic loss of life.
k about, and neither of them are when you have other passengers with you.Barkychoc said:
........ quite interesting although pushing things too far ultimately cost him his life, and even sadder the life of his 5 year old son and 2 family friends. The investigation into the helicopter crash basically said he was flying it like a cock - which is fine if you're only going to kill yourself but not when others are involved.
What a tragic loss of life.
Have to agree with you - my brother is a helicopter pilot and corners in maintenance/ flightpaths etc cannot be cut and the CAA rules are very explicit and there for a reason.What a tragic loss of life.
A great rally driver when driver/co-driver accept associated risks - selfish where others in the aircraft are concerned. I'm sure it wasn't intentional but the impact is nonetheless far reaching.
Scoobimax said:
Barkychoc said:
........ quite interesting although pushing things too far ultimately cost him his life, and even sadder the life of his 5 year old son and 2 family friends. The investigation into the helicopter crash basically said he was flying it like a cock - which is fine if you're only going to kill yourself but not when others are involved.
What a tragic loss of life.
Have to agree with you - my brother is a helicopter pilot and corners in maintenance/ flightpaths etc cannot be cut and the CAA rules are very explicit and there for a reason.What a tragic loss of life.
A great rally driver when driver/co-driver accept associated risks - selfish where others in the aircraft are concerned. I'm sure it wasn't intentional but the impact is nonetheless far reaching.
Only watched this last night. Great footage, interesting programme and I though Chris Hoy was excellent.
McR could have won nothing if luck had gone against him... or he'd been more lucky perhaps he'd have won rallies and championships he didn't. "If in doubt flat out"? Sounds cool but "if in doubt go at 95%" could have brought him more success. As for the helicopter incident - unforgiveable!
Great driver I enjoyed watching while freezing my bits off in Wales and the snow of Monte Carlo? Yes, absolutely.
"Legend"? Not in my opinion, especially when compared to the others in this series (Stewart & Moss)
wizzer said:
Interesting program. A great driver, but as has been said his flat out attitude cost him dearly. Very much in the same vain as Senna.
You can only push your luck so often before it bites back
I wouldn't put McRae's risk taking in the same category as Senna...You can only push your luck so often before it bites back
McR could have won nothing if luck had gone against him... or he'd been more lucky perhaps he'd have won rallies and championships he didn't. "If in doubt flat out"? Sounds cool but "if in doubt go at 95%" could have brought him more success. As for the helicopter incident - unforgiveable!
Great driver I enjoyed watching while freezing my bits off in Wales and the snow of Monte Carlo? Yes, absolutely.
"Legend"? Not in my opinion, especially when compared to the others in this series (Stewart & Moss)
Not a Legend? Can't believe you can say that Ian especially if you took the time to go freeze your balls off watching....I've never seen anybody drive like it, a total loon far more entertaining to watch through Hafren or Grizedale than any of the other drivers. Maybe it was just the car though N555 BAT ?
Don't think I'd get in a car with him driving though even if I could and as for an aircraft, what idiot gave him a pilots licence?
Agree with the rest though and might be persuaded as to the 'not a legend' status if I can be bothered to wade through the rest of the posts on the above link, although would prefer to keep my memory intact remembering him as he was - usually sideways.
Did I mention I can fly?
Don't think I'd get in a car with him driving though even if I could and as for an aircraft, what idiot gave him a pilots licence?
Agree with the rest though and might be persuaded as to the 'not a legend' status if I can be bothered to wade through the rest of the posts on the above link, although would prefer to keep my memory intact remembering him as he was - usually sideways.
Did I mention I can fly?
It seems he didn't actually have the correct licence.
http://guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/06/colin-mcrae-b...
http://guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/06/colin-mcrae-b...
Buzzlt said:
Not a Legend? Can't believe you can say that Ian especially if you took the time to go freeze your balls off watching....... a total loon .....Maybe it was just the car though N555 BAT ?
Depends how you define "legend" Greg which, because there are no scientific measures, is open to individual interpretation. I agree he was flamboyant and entertaining which in part was largely due to the risks he took. It wasn't only the car, Sainz had the same machinery. He was a brilliant fast driver, I'm not doubting that. And yes, I did get a bit chilly a couple of times watching him but I wasn't there only to see McRae - there were others like Burns, Gronholm, Sainz etc competing in those days all of whom made for a great weekends entertainment (and when I met Mrs L'rs she was massively into rallying, much more than me, and she liked nothing more than a dirty weekend in the Welsh mud 
)My view of him might have been tainted by the helicopter crash but even trying to forget about that I still don't think he's what I would call a legend, especially when compared on the wider scale to the likes of Stewart & Moss. If he had taken the "to finish first first you must finish approach" he may not have been quite so dramatic for some of the time but could possibly (imho) have won more than he did. I know he wouldn't have come so close to winning more by not going "flat out" when necessary but I think he lacked the self control needed to know when to back off a bit and take the result. You only needed to see Nicky Grist's face after another unnecessary off to prove that point...
If he'd won the events he should've won then maybe he would be a legend to me
Longers said:
Said sensible stuff + If he'd won the events he should've won then maybe he would be a legend to me
I have to agree with Lr's; as an unbiased viewer (my interest in rallying sort of dropped off during C Mc's era, not sure why) I was left feeling that Colin threw away a number of sure fire wins. Sure he had guts and was clearly a huge talent and must have been fantastic to watch close up, but I think a true driving legend would have known when to just ease of slightly or had the discipline to do so. I felt really sorry for Jimmy talking about his son's huge achievements in motorsport whilst we are all aware of huge elephant in the corner of the room that was his reckless activity on the day he crashed the helicopter.
So for me I think Moss an Stewert were deserving of the term legend, but C M'c, close but not quite.
Just watched this and I was a little disappointed tbh. I understand it is unfair to compare it with the other two episodes where the main protaganist is still alive but I just thought there was far too much of the cyclist and not enough McRae footage and interviews with those that raced with him, like Tommi but maybe some didnt want too because of said elephant in the room, that said I thought Mcrae Snr came across well, a proper Gent. But if this really was a series about British motorsport legends where was the programme about Surtees, World champ on two and four wheels?
Light blue touch paper.....stand well back
Light blue touch paper.....stand well back
Longers said:
Stone Cold said:
But if this really was a series about British motorsport legends where was the programme about Surtees, World champ on two and four wheels?
Same place as the one about Barry Sheene 
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