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Killed Myself When I Was Young

I've read that even after seatbelts were in use that 'topless' cars were better without them, it was better to be thrown out rather than be crushed underneath (no roll bars).
Some tough guys back then.
Jim

Great song and fantastic video!!

I'm amazed how many walked (ran) away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R (Post 5885701)

I'm amazed how many walked (ran) away.

Wonder how many of those fell out as soon as the adrenalin wore off.

I'm pretty sure alot of those guys died in those wrecks too Hugh

Back when racers were real men, not little pussies who cry about racing in the dark & rain like dale jr...

Were they brave, "real man", to race without a roll bar and seat belts, or just stupid?

Just because it was less safe then doesn't mean racers are any less passionate now.

Dam !! :eek:

Stayin in the car boosts your chances until the fire starts. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schumi (Post 5886532)

Just because it was less safe then doesn't mean racers are any less passionate now.

When I was a few pits down from jr at the Rolex24 and saw him come in, and start whining about racing in the the rain,

Quote:

What is the sheit, rain & dark,

I lost complete respect for him, and when they rain that race under yellow (and yes, I have been to 24 hour races where it rained much harder and they didn't run under yellow all night & red flag the race early (The tire sponsor didn't enough rains, yet the non sponsor tire company did:p) and they were racing open cars:eek:
I would have disagree, as much of racing seems to be following the WWF lead:(

i couldn't finish it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckissick (Post 5886519)

Were they brave, "real man", to race without a roll bar and seat belts, or just stupid?

Brave? Maybe, but certainly not stupid.

Motor racing was in relative infancy and those guys were pioneers. It was a dangerous pastime and fatalities were common. Part of the 'thrill' was the speed and the danger. That's what it took to push the envelope.

The cars were little short of 100mph gas tanks. No one had thought of deformable crash structures or occupant safety. Most of the time your best bet was to be thrown clear and hope for the best. Worst thing possible would be getting trapped in the wreck. Just pray it doesn't hit you.

Above all else they all believed it would never happen to them. No one knew any different. It was an acceptable risk.

It was only in the mid sixties when Jackie Stewart started to campaign for better safety in Grand Prix cars that anything really started to change. That didn't necessarily make him particularly popular as there were some who still believed that it would take something away from the sport. Even as late as the eighties racing cars weren't exactly safe. Only in the last twenty years or so have we seen relatively large steps forward when you think about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynor (Post 5887309)

i couldn't finish it.

I was doing sort of okay until the fire....