Clay Regazzoni Killed in accident
Discussion
Autosport said:
Former Grand Prix driver Clay Regazzoni was killed in a car crash in Italy today. He was 69 years old.
The Swiss driver is reported to have collided head on with a truck on the A1 Motorway near Parma.
Regazzoni won five races during a career that spanned from the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix to the 1980 United States West Grand Prix in Long Beach, where he suffered spinal injuries in a big accident.
That crash brought an end to his F1 career, but he was still determined to carry on with motor sports.
He competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally in the 1980s and used a hand-controlled sportscar in some events. He also commentated on F1 for Italian TV.
What a shame. He actually scored Williamses first win.
I recall that at the Dutch GP one year, he tangled at the start with (I think) Rene Arnoux on the run down to Tarzan. At the next race it was Clay's 40th birthday (IIRC) and so Renault made him an F1 type wheel chair with wide wheels and wings and things. The tragedy of course is that within a year or so he ended up in a wheel chair permanently.
That accident came when he suffered a total brake failure at the end of the long straight at Long Beach. Being a street circuit they placed a large four ton concrete block on the road at the end of the escape road at the end of the straight (with me so far) with a big tyre wall in front. Unfortunately early on in the race a car had broken down and had been pushed into the escape road. When Clays brakes failed he shot up the escape road, but struck the broken down car which launched him clear over the tyre wall into the four ton block, which he was said to have moved by about two yards. Tragically the engine pushed into his spine, paralysing him from the waist down.
But he competed for years afterwards in adopted cars.
What a shame.
I recall that at the Dutch GP one year, he tangled at the start with (I think) Rene Arnoux on the run down to Tarzan. At the next race it was Clay's 40th birthday (IIRC) and so Renault made him an F1 type wheel chair with wide wheels and wings and things. The tragedy of course is that within a year or so he ended up in a wheel chair permanently.
That accident came when he suffered a total brake failure at the end of the long straight at Long Beach. Being a street circuit they placed a large four ton concrete block on the road at the end of the escape road at the end of the straight (with me so far) with a big tyre wall in front. Unfortunately early on in the race a car had broken down and had been pushed into the escape road. When Clays brakes failed he shot up the escape road, but struck the broken down car which launched him clear over the tyre wall into the four ton block, which he was said to have moved by about two yards. Tragically the engine pushed into his spine, paralysing him from the waist down.
But he competed for years afterwards in adopted cars.
What a shame.
Him and James Hunt were the definitive 70's superstars in terms of image. Lauda, Stewart and Scheckter may have been more successful, but he had the flair,image and raw speed.
I was only about five when I first watched a GP, but I remember thinking Clay Regazzoni had the coolest name I had ever heard!
RIP
I was only about five when I first watched a GP, but I remember thinking Clay Regazzoni had the coolest name I had ever heard!
RIP
Racingdude009 said:
heebeegeetee said:
But he competed for years afterwards in adopted cars.
What a shame.
I think you mean adapted rather than adopted car.
Head on crash on a motorway did not thing that was possible.
I did indeed.
Been looking for some pics (not very good at sizing them though):
This is him years later working with disabled drivers in the States:
And here's a gratuitous one that has Gilles Villeneuve at the forefront, with Clay behind:
God, what an era...
Racingdude009 said:
heebeegeetee said:
But he competed for years afterwards in adopted cars.
What a shame.
I think you mean adapted rather than adopted car.
Head on crash on a motorway did not thing that was possible.
I think you mean think rather than thing, then again I could be wong.
slowly slowly said:
Racingdude009 said:
heebeegeetee said:
But he competed for years afterwards in adopted cars.
What a shame.
I think you mean adapted rather than adopted car.
Head on crash on a motorway did not thing that was possible.
I think you mean think rather than thing, then again I could be wong.
I think you mean wrong rather than wong. (This could go on all day)
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff