Posted on 05/21/2019 5:37:21 AM PDT by Rummyfan
Niki Lauda, who has died aged 70, was a three-time Formula 1 world champion, non-executive chairman of the world champion Mercedes team, and one of the biggest names in motorsport.
He was also a pilot and successful businessman, who set up two airlines and continued to occasionally captain their planes into his late 60s.
But he will be remembered most for the remarkable bravery and resilience he showed in recovering from a fiery crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix at the fearsome Nurburgring.
Lauda - leading the World Championship, having won his first title a year earlier - suffered third-degree burns to his head and face that left him scarred for life, inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs, and received the last rites in hospital.
Yet he returned to racing just 40 days later - finishing fourth in the Italian Grand Prix. By the end of the race, his unhealed wounds had soaked his fireproof balaclava in blood. When he tried to remove the balaclava, he found it was stuck to his bandages, and had to resort to ripping it off in one go.
It was one of the bravest acts in the history of sport.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
ping
Tough as nails.RIP
Another legend has moved on. R.I.P. Niki.
Yes, hail to an indomitable spirit, now gone to glory! The agony of third-degree burns and the permanent scarring that is always a daily pain from normal movement can make a curmudgeon out of the most cheerful fellow. By all accounts, Mr Lauda, made lots of lemonade in his post-burn life!
R.I.P. Niki!
It is truly a miracle that he lived as long as he did. The perseverance with which he carried on is a relic of bygone days. RIP, Mr Lauda! Your bravery will not again be seen for a long time, if ever.
Jackie Stewart called the old Nurburgring the “Green Hell” because of its many hazards as it wound through the mountainous German countryside, which had only been partially addressed by the time of the race that almost killed Lauda. It was long, winding, narrow, with bumps that could get a car airborne, had inadequate safety barriers, very few safe run-off areas, and too few safety crews. On that fateful day, the weather was bad, meaning part of the track was wet, and part dry. Lauda tried to organize a driver boycott because of the unsafe conditions that day, but he could not find enough support. Obviously, the drivers should have listened.
IMHO the greatest driver, ever. RIP.
I was at the Long Beach Grand Prix for Niki’s 1982 win. I went for about 12 years straight. loved F1 at Long Beach as a host of European beauties flew in for the event. It’s still fun, but not the same since F1 pulled out in the mid 80’s.
thx... BBC post
Too bad RIP. I doubt the fire did his lungs any good.
Ouch- Removing Balaclava !!!
I saw Him on the TV Broadcast last week and thought to Myself “He still looks pretty good considering all the crap He went through.”
If you’ve never seen it I highly recommend the movie “Rush” about the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt...one of the best sports themed movies I’ve ever seen...
God rest your soul Mr Lauda and thank you, when I was a teenager you were one of my biggest sporting heroes...
That's a tough one. Ayrton Senna? Jim Clark? Or even Juan Manuel Fangio....
In Lauda’s case, I would say his greatness isn’t based only on his on-track results (which are still pretty good).
The race at the Nurburgring was Aug 1, 1976. Lauda’s burns and other injuries were so severe that he was given the last rites.
On September 12, after qualifying 5th, he finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Always has been and shall be a personal hero.
I cannot forget the scenes of the doctors scrapping his lungs in the movie Rush. That experience added greatly to my admiration. (making me queezy right now)
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