Who's this? 1950's Ferrari LM
Discussion
It seems this number 12 car was raced at Sebring in 1957. Can only find one more photo of it in action on google.
I might have to get this model to go below be photo now...!
http://www.racingmodels.com/ferrari-315-s-de-porta...
I might have to get this model to go below be photo now...!
http://www.racingmodels.com/ferrari-315-s-de-porta...
Matt Harper said:
Stuff
Never heard it put like that about Fon.He was a champion amateur jockey, flat and steeplechase. Olympic bobsleigh team for Spain with VERY respectable Cortina run times.
I can't imagine he would have been on Ferrari's F1 team if he was talentless and it was a high speed tyre failure that caused his demise not driver error.
Matt Harper said:
He was, by most accounts, the usual over-privileged, arrogant plonker with a lot more bravado than talent. He met a pretty grisly end, along with his co-driver and 10 spectators in a crash that pretty much put an end to the M di M.
Like so many of the aristocrats of the time.....
Or a different point of view would be that he was well regarded as the pre-eminent multi talented sportsman of his time. He was world class in a variety of disciplines that few have managed to rival. The closest comparison is actually a modern one...King Carlos of Sainz.Like so many of the aristocrats of the time.....
Le TVR said:
Never heard it put like that about Fon.
He was a champion amateur jockey, flat and steeplechase. Olympic bobsleigh team for Spain with VERY respectable Cortina run times.
I can't imagine he would have been on Ferrari's F1 team if he was talentless and it was a high speed tyre failure that caused his demise not driver error.
My understanding was they tyre failure happend as he smacked a curb at around 150mph - though could well be wrong. Having read an account of the accident it doesn't sound a pleasant way to go for anyone involved anyway. He was a champion amateur jockey, flat and steeplechase. Olympic bobsleigh team for Spain with VERY respectable Cortina run times.
I can't imagine he would have been on Ferrari's F1 team if he was talentless and it was a high speed tyre failure that caused his demise not driver error.
Though as you say, not talentless by any stretch of the imagination. Was never going to be an F1 World Champion, but was handy enough in a sports car. Also - every driver chased girls back then (Phil Hill being the exception that proves the rule).
Video of the crash scene, nothing horrible just the car wreck being taken away and police pointing out direction of travel. It's a sort of pre-CSI Italian police film. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai...
In my defense, I did not state that he was "talentless". However, others hinted at it...
"Portago was known as a 'two-car man', because of the many burned-out brakes, clutches, transmissions and wrecked cars for which he was responsible. He often needed several cars to finish a race."
Once Portago commented, "I won't die in an accident. I'll die of old age or be executed in some gross miscarriage of justice". Nelson (his co-driver) countered this assertion, saying de Portago would not live to be 30. According to Nelson, "every time Portago comes in from a race the front of his car is wrinkled where he has been nudging people out of the way at 130 mph (210 km/h)"
"Portago was known as a 'two-car man', because of the many burned-out brakes, clutches, transmissions and wrecked cars for which he was responsible. He often needed several cars to finish a race."
Once Portago commented, "I won't die in an accident. I'll die of old age or be executed in some gross miscarriage of justice". Nelson (his co-driver) countered this assertion, saying de Portago would not live to be 30. According to Nelson, "every time Portago comes in from a race the front of his car is wrinkled where he has been nudging people out of the way at 130 mph (210 km/h)"
Matt Harper said:
In my defence, I did not state that he was "talentless". However, others hinted at it...
"Portago was known as ...."
In a nutshell you are saying that he was a car wrecker. Tis true to say there were others more sympathetic but there were also other drivers who were also known for their total lack of mechanical sympathy and questionable attitude to infallibility. Many of them are also considered greats. "Portago was known as ...."
Rude-boy said:
In a nutshell you are saying that he was a car wrecker. Tis true to say there were others more sympathetic but there were also other drivers who were also known for their total lack of mechanical sympathy and questionable attitude to infallibility. Many of them are also considered greats.
Those were not my words, of course.So, do you consider this guy to be one of the "Greats" then?
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