 1955 Le Mans, 77 Killed |
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| peridotian |
 Jun 11 2004, 03:09 PM
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#1
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I just bought a September 1955 Road and track which detailed the fiery crash that killed 77 people due to a flaming magnesium body Mercedes raining fiery death upon spectators. Here is the cover:
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| peridotian |
Jun 11 2004, 03:09 PM
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#2
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porsche ad from same mag
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| peridotian |
Jun 11 2004, 03:13 PM
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the full story
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| lapuwali |
Jun 11 2004, 03:41 PM
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Not another one!  Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743  |
All kinds of speculation since on exactly why Levegh's car hit the stands. The car (M-B 300SLR) was equipped with an air brake, which rose behind the driver. This moved the center of pressure back substantially and made the car directionally unstable, and reduced download on the front tires so the wheel brakes weren't as effective, either. The car still had giant drum brakes on it.
Some speculate the air brake was involved, but others insisted that it had been disabled after the stability problems showed up in practice. Others claim Levegh simply passed out for unspecified reasons. There is film of this crash, and it's a horrible sight, the engine breaking loose and cutting a swath through the crowd. Mercedes ran just a few more events that year. This was also the year they were handily leading the F1 championship, with Fangio and Moss as the drivers, arguably the strongest driver pairing ever for any team at any time (Fangio took the title, Moss was third). The team withdrew from racing completely at the end of the season, and didn't return in any capacity until the late 80s, when Peter Sauber ran a sports car team with M-B engines, initially under the table but later officially. The "junior" team car had a number of familiar names behind the wheel, including some German kid named Michael Schumacher. I'm such a geek. I wrote all that off the top of my head, just using trivia I seem to be inordinately capable of storing in my head at all times... |
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| peridotian |
Jun 11 2004, 03:42 PM
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Anyone interested in 50's sports cars and racing should buy and read IMMEDIATELY BS Levy's "The Last Open Road".
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| scotty |
Jun 11 2004, 07:44 PM
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#6
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The Fun Never Stops Group: Members Posts: 773 Joined: 20-May 03 From: Portland. Oregon (SW) Member No.: 718 Region Association: None |
Timely purchase! I had no idea...
(IMG:http://members.aol.com/healeypics/picture1.jpg) Here's a link to a story about the wreck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Quite horrific...those spectators were quite close and on the outside of the turn. |
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| ppickerell |
Jun 12 2004, 11:24 AM
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914 addicted Group: Members Posts: 1,679 Joined: 14-October 03 From: Pleasanton, CA. Member No.: 1,246 |
"Racing's Darkest Day!" 86 killed, 76 maimed. Interesting that the R&T article only mentiones 77 dead. Those pictures are HORRIFIC.
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