Grand Prix: The Killer Years tonight at 23:35 BBC 2

Cosimo · 21 Aug 2011 at 12:47

Just a heads up:

Today, 23:35 on BBC Two (England, Northern Ireland, Wales only)

In the 60s and early 70s it was common for Grand Prix drivers to be killed while racing, often televised for millions to see. Mechanical failure, lethal track design, fire and incompetence snuffed out dozens of young drivers. They had become almost expendable as eager young wannabes queued up at the top teams' gates waiting to take their place.

This is the story of when Grand Prix was out of control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z8v18

TaKeN · 21 Aug 2011 at 13:51

Good watch this. Was on a month or two ago :cool:

cuke2u · 21 Aug 2011 at 13:57

Hi, I found it heartwrenching to watch especially the part where David Purley tries to save the life of Roger Williamson, for which he was awarded the George Medal, in the Dutch GP...
Chris

Skeeter · 21 Aug 2011 at 18:12

Well worth a watch.

Ovr · 21 Aug 2011 at 18:15

Sobering watch.

ShakenNstirred · 21 Aug 2011 at 23:47

seen it a few times and always very thought provoking

Slinky1989 · 22 Aug 2011 at 01:11

Just finished watching it. A very sobering insight into the troubles the drivers had in that era.

Wasn't prepared for the David Purley at the Dutch gp part though. That was truly gut wrenching

moody · 22 Aug 2011 at 02:07

"slinky" said:
Just finished watching it. A very sobering insight into the troubles the drivers had in that era.

Wasn't prepared for the David Purley at the Dutch gp part though. That was truly gut wrenching

If you think that is bad you need to see the Tom Pyrce/Van Vuuren accident.

alexthecheese · 22 Aug 2011 at 08:22

chriscatt said:
Hi, I found it heartwrenching to watch especially the part where David Purley tries to save the life of Roger Williamson, for which he was awarded the George Medal, in the Dutch GP...
Chris

Yeah, that was horrific. Watching the other cars driving past without stopping was shameful.

Skeeter · 22 Aug 2011 at 08:36

moody said:
If you think that is bad you need to see the Tom Pyrce/Van Vuuren accident.

Is that the one where he hits a marshal?

TaKeN · 22 Aug 2011 at 08:41

moody said:
If you think that is bad you need to see the Tom Pyrce/Van Vuuren accident.

Atleast they died instantly, rather than being burnt to death

Horrible accidents none the less, and may they Rest in Peace.

Mr Jack · 22 Aug 2011 at 10:44

alexthecheese said:
Watching the other cars driving past without stopping was shameful.

To be fair to the other drivers, I doubt they had much idea what was going on. They didn't have radios back then, did they?

Shame on the organisers though.

I didn't catch all of it, but it really gives you a proper context for the current concerns about safety, doesn't it?

arknor · 22 Aug 2011 at 11:15

Skeeter said:
Is that the one where he hits a marshal?

yea dont watch it if you havent already its very brutal and i dont understand why somewhere like youtube has it.....

Housey · 22 Aug 2011 at 11:58

There have been many terrible accidents in Motorsport sadly, some horrific stuff happened in the 60's and 70's as the speeds rose yet the safety didn't and even into the 80's there were some terrible deaths, some even on TV live such as Ricardo Paletti in 1982 at Monreal where he hit the back of Pironi's car on the grid, the car simply crumbled and he was jammed in it then as the cameras rolled it blew up and he was burned terribly though thankfully I believe unconscious at the time. Many a driver was burnt to death stuck in their car but Roger Williamson's was so bad as he could hear the driver screaming, one can't imagine what that would do to you and don't forget the David Purely was as hard and fearless as they came.

Duke · 22 Aug 2011 at 12:30

Housey said:
Many a driver was burnt to death stuck in their car but Roger Williamson's was so bad as he could hear the driver screaming, one can't imagine what that would do to you and don't forget the David Purely was as hard and fearless as they came.

Just watched a clip of that, how terrible

MooMoo444 · 23 Aug 2011 at 11:57

I fell asleep watching this, but it sounds like I missed a decent look back. Might check out the old iplayer

El_Watcher · 24 Aug 2011 at 15:35

To be honest, if the car designers were stupid enough to make a car out of Magnesium (highly flammable and impossible to extinguish with water), I don't think safety was ever high on anybody's list back then.

Ending is a bit gruesome, be warned.

apeZ · 24 Aug 2011 at 16:50

Just watched this...that final scene was gut-wrenching

cheets64 · 24 Aug 2011 at 18:07

They lived on the edge, shame it took so many deaths and accidents for them to make tracks safer, it was a lot more entertaining then a bit like the TT is now and people are wanting that banned because of bikers being killed every year.

You make things safer and it becomes less entertaining.

GeezerButler · 24 Aug 2011 at 20:25

The Williamson incident was the worst, as he could have so easily been saved. The sight of the marshals standing and watching David Purley trying to save Roger is sickening. Williamson wasn't even injured - he suffocated.