Quote:
Originally Posted by masraum
This is a really sad photo Pierre Levegh at the 1952 24 hours of Le Mans This picture was taken just after his car had broken down in the race, with under 40 minutes of the race left to run, at the time he was four laps in the lead. He had driven the 23 hours solo a quite extraordinary feat. You can see how sad his wife felt for him. She was awarded the coupe de Dames as she had been keeping his times for the duration of the race, she is still holding the stopwatch. In those days you had to take the chequered flag to have been deemed to finish. Pierre Levegh was so close to victory but ended unclassified and did not appear in the results. Photo courtesy of Ouest France.
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I have done a 30 minute track day session in my 85 911. I was ready to quit and pull in when they waved the checked flag for the session. 30 minutes in a street car with zero pressure to win was exhausting. I can't image the pro drivers doing a 4 hour session at night at real race speeds with dozens of competitors passing and passing others. To drive for 23 hours is unbelievable. One tough man.
The winner of the Miss Atomic Bomb Pageant, 1950. Nuclear Tourism in Las Vegas
A Luftwaffe Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over Wapping and the Isle of Dogs in the East End of London.